Preparation for War

On 28 July, 1914, Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia. With that, the dominoes began to fall across Europe. As British foreign secretary Sir Edward Grey, said, on the eve of war, "The lamps are going out all over Europe; we shall not see them lit again in our lifetime."

One European country woefully unprepared for war was Belgium. Due to her neutral position, her armies faced in every direction. Preparations were indeed last minute. Would they be sufficient to stop the German juggernaut massing on her eastern border?

Preparation of the Liège position began after the Austrian declaration of war. General Leman was appointed Governor-General and began to issue orders to the army and to the local population of Liègois. Immediate preparations consisted of the reinforcement of defensive lines at the foot of the fortification's glacis, preparation of the intervals between the forts, and mobilization of troops, which was completed on the evening of 5 August. Preparation also consisted of the destruction of man-made features in the path of the German line of march.

- On 31 July, detachments of engineers were sent to Hombourg, Nasproué, Trois Ponts and Stavelot to prepare for the destruction of the railroad tunnels on the east-west lines. On 3 August, Leman ordered the tunnels destroyed.

- On 31 July, explosive charges were set at the Meuse bridges of Visé and Argenteau. The explosives were set off at 2200 on 3 August but the destruction was incomplete. New charges were quickly set and the bridge at Visé was totally destroyed at 0400, 4 August, the Argenteau bridge at 0500.

- On the same day, 4 August, the bridges of Hermalle-sous-Huy, Engis, and Ombris were destroyed.

- Finally, on 6 August, the bridges of Maghin and Pont des Arches in Liège were destroyed.

The results were mixed. At the Hombourg tunnel the charges blew only on the western end of the tunnel. German repairs took from 7 to 18 August before the railroad line was passable. Only one charge worked at Nasproué. To complete the destruction, several locomotives were derailed inside the tunnel. The track was cleared on 19 August.

At Trois Ponts, repairs were not completed until 27 November. At Stavelot, destruction was incomplete and repairs were completed on 8 August. Destruction was effected at the tunnels of Coo, Roanne-Coo, Remouchamps, and Verviers-Est by derailment of locomotives. Repair and clearing took from 8 to 15 August.

General Leman designed a defense in depth around Liège, one that complemented the fortifications and one that was hastily completed under fire and retreat. Liège would be protected by 3 lines of defense:

A first line of redoubts and trenches just behind the fortress perimeter line. The first line consisted of 31 redoubts and 63 trenches of which 15 redoubts and 52 trenches were on the right bank. The line was 48 kilometers in circumference. Prepration included clearing up to 600 meters in front of the fort and the interval defenses.
A second line 2 kilometers to the rear of the forts, 1 to 1 and 1/2 kilometers in depth. As much as possible was completed on 5 August between La Xhavée and the Chateau of Saive. Work was halted due to German attacks.
A third line above the city limits, consisting of trenches and fortified strong points. Orders were received on 5 August to construct this line with all urgency. Work began on the plain of Bressoux à Rivay, near Fortress Chartreuse. It consisted of trenches, spaced widely apart and several strong points in fortified houses. Work continued up to the withdrawal of the 3rd Division from Liège, a withdrawal that would have been impossible had this 3rd line not been built.

3 temporary bridges were also built over the Meuse to facilitate the movement of troops from one bank to another.

Jupille
Renovy
Coronmeuse

The position of Liège was also organized into 4 sectors:

Sector A - encompassed Forts Pontisse and Barchon and the half intervals Barchon-Evegnée and Pontisse-Liers.

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Sector B - included Forts Evegnée, Fleron, and Chaudfontaine and the half intervals Evegnée-Barchon and Chaudfontaine-Embourg.

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Sector C - Forts Embourg, Boncelles, and Flémalle and the half intervals Embourg-Chaudfontaine and Flémalle-Hollogne.

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Sector D - Forts Holligne, Loncin, Lantin, and Liers and the half intervals Hollogne-Flémalle and Liers-Pontisse.

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Sectors A and C were defensive sectors only, with fewer troops and more defensive obstacles. Sectors B and D, on the enemy line of march, would permit offensive action. Sector B had the least troops assigned to it.

Leman was not lacking for manpower as the citizens of Liège proudly put their backs into the works. This dedication reflected on the character of the Belgian people, a character that was to be sorely tested over the next two weeks.

Next Page - The Battle of Liège

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