E-Book Overview
While small in numbers, the Belgian Army played a vital role in World War 1 that is often overlooked. Germany's invasion of neutral Belgium, which led Britain to declare war in August 1914, should have been swift and fierce yet the unexpected heroic defense, against great odds, of Belgian fortresses, frustrated the German Schlieffen Plan for a thrust to Paris and a lightning victory. The plucky Belgian resistance proved successful in buying time for French and British troops to mobilize and report to the front, where the Belgians would then go on to fight, stubbornly defending the northern end of the Allied trench line for the rest of the war. Discover the story of this determined Army, from their organization and commanders, to their uniforms and equipment. The only main combatant army of World War I not previously covered by Osprey, this volume will be an important addition to any enthusiast's collection, accompanied by detailed artwork and archive photographs.
E-Book Content
Men-at-Arms The Belgian Army in World War I R Pawly & P L i e r n e u x • Illustrated by P Courcelle OSPREY PUBLISHING R O N A L D P A W L Y w a s b o r n in A n t w e r p , B e l g i u m in 1 9 5 6 a n d still l i v e s a n d w o r k s in t h a t city. CONTENTS H e is a r e s p e c t e d m e m b e r of several international societies for Napoleonic studies, a n d a n HISTORICAL BACKGROUND expert o n 19th century military portraiture. H e is t h e a u t h o r o f t h e m o n u m e n t a l The Lancers: Anatomy Napoleonic • National origins - neutrality and independence Red of a Regiment (Crowood P r e s s , 1998), a n d of a s t u d y of N a p o l e o n i c v e t e r a n s ' t o m b s in B e l g i u m . H e h a s w r i t t e n including Men-at-Arms 355, Belgian 1815; MAA 371, Dutch Allies Napoleon's Guards Allies Wellington's 1815; Red INVASION 8 M A A 389, Lancers; Napoleon's and M A A 378, • Army strength and organization - the defence plan • The German ultimatum several books for Osprey, Wellington's THE MILITARY SITUATION IN 1914 of Honour. Although, a leading Napoleonic historian, Ronald Pawly has also always • The defence of Liege, Namur and Antwerp, 5 August-10 October 1914 - the 'Race to the Sea': the battle of the Yser - defence and flooding, October-November 1914 b e e n fascinated by t h e First World W a r and has heavily researched the Belgian REBUILDING THE ARMY 20 THE WATCH ON THE YSER, 1915-17 23 i n v o l v e m e n t in t h i s c o n f l i c t . P I E R R E L I E R N E U X , b o r n in • Conditions on the Belgian front B r u s s e l s in 1 9 6 5 , r e c e i v e d h i s d o c t o r a t e in h i s t o r y a t t h e C a t h o l i c U n i v e r s i t y of L o u v a i n . H e has w o r k e d for 20 y e a r s at the Royal Army M u s e u m Brussels, where he in o r g a n i s i n g e x h i b i t i o n s in r e o r g a n i s i n g t h e in assisted and LIBERATION 34 • The Kaiserschlacht: the battle of the Lys, April 1918 • The counter-offensive in Flanders, September-November 1918 permanent collections on display. Pierre L i e r n e u x is a s p e c i a l i s t in t h e THE BELGIAN AIR FORCE 38 THE APPEARANCE OF THE BELGIAN INFANTRYMAN 40 field of military u n i f o r m s . PATRICE COURCELLE b o r n in n o r t h e r n was France in 1 9 5 0 a n d h a s b e e n a profes