IrishGunner

Certainly the world seemed "safer" when we all were outside playing soldier as kids. Even growing up in the 60s, I had little knowledge of Vietnam - until my neighbor's son didn't come home and my brother went to Southeast Asia. Even then, I knew nothing of what was going on in African wars. There always were nasty little wars going on somewhere. We just didn't know about them. Now with advancements in media, we know minute by minute what's going on... The world never was safe. We were just unaware. Now that we are aware. We still can't make it safe. We are just animals caught up in the battle for survival. Only we are more efficient, brutal, and don't eat our kills.

Perhaps the squirrels are the best off - but even they are nasty little critters. They eat young birds in their nests - I shot 50 in 2 months in my garden in the Uk to protect them. Perhaps a desert island would be best...... Mervyn, I know you meant this statement in a light hearted manner; however, I think it really gets to the crux of the world's obsession with conflict. No one has ever "grown up" in a "safe world." There have always been and will always be "nasty little critters" and we will always choose sides. In the battle for survival (squirrels have just as much right to survive as birds), you chose a side and became an Iron Dome for the birds. This is not a criticism of your statement, rather more a statement of cynicism on my part.

Memorial to the defenders of Fort de Loncin, Liège

German optimism and the effects of the 42cm Dicke Bertha

On 4 August 1914, a German battle group consisting of six infantry brigades and three cavalry divisions crossed into Belgium with the objective of taking the rail junction and Meuse River crossings at Liege. Liege was defended by a series of 12 forts, approximately 10km from the city; each fort was armed with a mix of Krupp 120mm, 150mm, and 210mm guns, howitzers, and mortars with overlapping fields of fire. Close-in defense was provided by dozens of Belgian-produced Canon 57mm Cockerill – Nordenfelt M1888. Along with the 4500 fortress troops manning the guns and 12,000 militia, the 25,000 troops of the Belgian 3rd Infantry Division and the 15th Infantry Brigade defended the city. The field artillery batteries of the Belgian infantry division were equipped with the Krupp 75mm Model 1905 field gun. German staff estimates called these Belgian troops "Praliné-Soldaten.” However, German troops, tasked with Liege as their objective, would quickly discover that the defenders of the Belgian forts would not simply melt away like Belgian chocolate in the summer sun. Belgian artillery would be The Guns of August that scored the first hits. Fort Barchon was the first position attacked on 5 August, but the 10.5cm leichte Feldhaubitze 98/09 of Klevesches Feld-Artillerie-Regiment Nr.43 had no effect on the fort and the German 53. Infantrie Regiment suffered heavy losses from the Belgian fort's guns. By 16 August, however, it would be German guns that were the true Guns of August. The devastating effects of Germany’s 28cm and 42cm “Dicke Bertha howitzers,” along with attachments of 30.5 Skoda mortars from its ally, Austria-Hungary, which destroyed the Belgian forts, would foreshadow the role artillery attained as the most effective killer on the battlefield. (This is an excerpt from an upcoming article that I am working on about the Belgian artillery and the Battle of Liege.) Belgian artillery: a battery of Krupp 75mm Model 1905 field guns and a fortress artilleryman.

Odulf, thanks for these photos. The info regarding who wore the gun and who wore the grenade on their beret is quite useful. Do you know the meaning of the white lanyard?

Nice pieces. I'm surprised the USMC pin in photo 3 has blue stones instead of red.

A forgotten country at the front of the storm...but a country that does not forget. August 2nd 2014: Luxembourg marks Centenary of German invasion in 1914 today

Ahhh...deja vu huh?

Thanks for this... Excellent read.

Eric, since it's a British hosted forum, I doubt disagreeing with an American will get you banned. In fact, it may get you a knighthood.

Eric, yes, I am a citizen of the United States. I guess that makes me a North American. (Not sure what that has to do with the discussion.) And I've spent time living in Europe if that matters. Why?

Nice! I was wondering if the "battle participants" list went below Division. Is this online? Or your personal copy?

One of the most detailed pieces I've seen online regarding the road to war in July 1914 is this blog: Centennial Countdown to the Great War

It's after 4pm CET, maybe some of our French members can provide some first-hand comments. http://www.centenarynews.com/article?id=2845

Lambert, thanks! That's awesome

Agreed. Superb artwork. Why on a German helmet instead of a US?

I am sure this has been covered and discussed (and I either missed it or forgot it), but what was the purpose of the "bolts" on the helmet?

I think this will be the case for most people with the Centenary. The anniversary of the battles will get more attention. I think this is unfortunate, however. Even if the "terrible carnage and lost of life" is commemorated, as a society we learn very little from this approach. To avoid the "lamps going out again," we must study, learn, adapt, and change based upon the lessons of the political causes of conflict. Fighting a war is "easy." Avoiding a war is darn near impossible - as the historical record and the character of mankind shows. Study of the battles only provides lessons for more efficient fighting in the future. Study of the causes provides for more efficient diplomacy and policy in the future. Let's go back a bit further in time and remember the theories of Clausewitz: War resides in the social realm. War is merely the continuation of politics by other means.

I would hardly call Grey's own memoirs "well documented." There is no diary. There is only one witness. There were only two people in Grey's office that evening. Himself and, his friend, John Spender, the editor of the Westminster Gazette. (Of course, a newspaper editor would never "stretch" the truth or spin a tale. Or would he?) The quote was not well known until Grey himself put it in his memoirs in 1925. (Hmmm.) And the "witness" didn't say anything about it until 1927, two years after the memoirs were published. Don't get me wrong. It's a great statement. And will inspire poignant commemorations on 3 August. According to The Guardian: "The lamps will go out in the Foreign Office itself: all the lights will be turned out except one in a window overlooking the street, and another overlooking St James's Park." But...like many things...there is a certain bit of lore. As for the spark - long fuse - etc. I disagree - in part. Please, join the most recent GMIC discussion in Brian Wolfe's blog.

Agree. Excellent book. One of the best in my library.

Actually, there is some contention that the words were never actually spoken at all. But with Austria-Hungary declaring war on 28 July, Germany mobilizing on 30 July with Russia declaring war on 31 July in response, German declaring war on 1 August and occupying Luxembourg on 2 August, we were well "in it" days before Sir Edward Grey, UK Foreign Secretary, allegedly spoke the words on 3 Aug.

Bernhard, true, the Europeans, Canadians, and Australians seem to be having significant coverage. And you could be right about the reason for coverage in the US being a bit sparse. But I really doubt it will get any better here. WWI just doesn't resonate here like the Second World War.

100 Years Ago Today: Russia starts full mobilisation of its troops 30 July 1914 - Germany mobilizes. 31 July 1914 - Russia declares war. 23 July 2014 - Russia accused of firing artillery into Ukraine. 29 July 2014 - Europe, U.S. Significantly Expand Sanctions Against Russian Economy Yea, all that stuff 100 years "back then" - old news. We have new news to entertain us.

The US news is dominated by Gaza, Ukraine, and the illegal alien crisis. Anything to do with the Centenary has to be sought out by interested parties. It just isn't in the mainstream news. How is it in your country? Does the Centenary get any media attention? To what level? Does anyone care? Except us old curmudgeons isolated in our oak paneled club rooms? Or is everyone preoccupied with making a buck, flogging their wares, fighting the rush hour commute, fussing over the temperature of the coffee and wine, the price of fish and chips, the calories in a Big Mac? I am wondering if the general population is even aware. If they are aware, do they even care... Does it even matter? If this topic doesn't reach "hot" status and generate as much debate as Blackadder, I'll have my answer, I think. Just a hypothetical question.