After Germany, Italy, Austria, France and Russia declared war on each other, Britain, another giant of the Entente, became a little unusual at this time.
Within a week, the United Kingdom dismissed six minister-level officials. The reason why the United Kingdom went to such great lengths to dismiss officials was because there was a pro-German faction in the United Kingdom. This faction believed that the United Kingdom should be friendly with Germany and avoid
Draw Britain into the war.
However, when most ministers agreed to participate in the war, this faction was abandoned, and ministers with pro-German attitudes were purged from the government.
At this time, Britain had just completed its domestic integration and was preparing to join this war.
At this time, Germany sent an excellent reason, which made the British government feel like a treasure.
That is to implement the Schlieffen Plan, the day after Germany declared war on France, it submitted a request to Belgium to allow German troops to transit.
Since France and Belgium have a good relationship, there are no fortifications deployed on the border between the two countries, and the two sides have very few troops on the border.
As for the German-French border, France has begun to build fortifications since its defeat in the Franco-Prussian War. They built a series of forts centered on four cities along the 150-mile French-German border. An impenetrable barrier from Switzerland to the southeast
Beginning in the Alps, solid concrete fortresses stretch from Belfort, Erbinal, Tours and Verdun.
A wide gap was designed between Erbinal and Tours as a huge trap to welcome the enemy in, which was then destroyed with crossfire from well-covered concrete box bunkers. Approximately north of Verdun
Just 20 miles away is Luxembourg, Belgium and the rugged Ardennes Forest.
Compare the undefended border with France and the densely fortified border with Germany and France. You don’t have to think about which side to break through.
For Schlieffen, who was planning the war between Germany and France at the time, this was simply the perfect breakthrough. As long as the German army passed through Belgium, it would suddenly appear in northern France for so long, and the French army, which was contained on the German-French border, would never be able to react.
Come here. As long as the German army follows his plan and implements a revolving door-like combat plan, France will be wiped out near the German-French border.
So for Germany, passing through Belgium is an inevitable choice.
In this case, time must be quick. In order not to give France time to react, it submitted a request to Belgium to allow German troops to transit the border the next day.
In the face of Germany's request, the relatively young Kingdom of Belgium, led by King Albert I, rejected the German request, saying that the German request destroyed Belgium's neutral status.
In addition, he also informed Britain and France of the news. After receiving the news, Britain immediately issued a warning to Germany, saying that if Germany violated Belgium's neutral status, Britain would declare war on Germany.
At this time, it was impossible for the German troops who were implementing the Schlieffen Plan to stop. If they were afraid of the British warning, it would bring chaos to the German army.
Therefore, even if the British threaten to declare war, the Germans cannot stop. Besides, the Triple Alliance is not much worse than the Triple Entente, so there is no fear of the British threat. And as early as when Marshal Schlieffen formulated the plan, he was aware of the variables.
The British prepared responses in advance.
According to his estimate, Britain might send 100,000 troops to help France when implementing the plan.
It can be seen that Schlieffen is worthy of being a great military strategist, and the plan he formulated has taken all factors into consideration.
As for the Kingdom of Belgium's refusal of Germany's request for military access, it also had its confidence, and that was the Liege Fortress. The city of Liege is located at the narrow gap between the Dutch territory and the Aden Forest, guarding the railway transportation hub in Belgium.
Unless the German army borrowed a passage from the Netherlands, they would have to pass through the Liege Fortress before marching south to France.
The Liege Fortress was built on a steep slope on the west bank of the Meuse River, 100 meters higher than the river bank. The Meuse River just became a natural moat. There are 12 forts in total within 30 kilometers of the river bank.
Liège is 6 kilometers
, the distance between the forts is also 6 kilometers. Of these 12 forts, 6 are on the east bank facing the direction of Germany, and 6 are on the west bank protecting the rear of Liege, radially surrounding the city of Liege and crossing the Meuse River.
Forming a circular fire network.
Each fort is made of reinforced concrete and is mostly built underground, with only the triangular top exposed.
All the weapons and personnel of the fort are hidden underground, and it is equipped with a total of 400 cannons and a large number of light and heavy machine guns.
On average, each fort has 8 120mm fortress guns and 8 210mm howitzers. All turrets are protected by steel armor, can rotate 360 degrees, and can also be automatically raised and lowered. The turret is also equipped with a searchlight for night instruction shooting, and
Turret One
It can be raised and lowered, and there are rapid-fire cannons and machine guns to block the wilderness around the fort and nearby blind spots. Under the fort, there are passages extending in all directions and various basements, which store a large amount of food, drinking water, ammunition, medical supplies and
Power supply facilities.
There are also deep protective trenches dug around each fort, with a large number of barbed wire fences and obstacles outside the trenches. The Belgian army guarding each fort is generally 2 artillery companies and 1 infantry company, with a total of 400 people.
There are also mobile infantry companies defending the wilderness in between, with a total strength of 25,000. The entire Liege defense system is considered the strongest fortress in Europe.
One more thing, many of the cannons used in the Liege Fortress came from Krupp.
Although the Belgians used the Liege Fortress in their hands as a barrier to block the German army's attack.
But as the saying goes, the arrow is on the string and must be fired.
So after Belgium rejected Germany's request, Germany submitted a declaration of war to Belgium that night.
Faced with Germany's declaration of war on Belgium, the British did exactly what they wanted. Early the next morning, London declared war on Germany on the grounds that Germany had violated the Treaty of London signed by various countries in 1839.
In the face of the British declaration of war, the Germans also declared war on them. Although William II still had a certain favorable impression of Britain, the German people were generally dissatisfied with Britain, especially the German business community.
.Because the other side refused to allow their own goods to enter their colonial market, these people supported the declaration of war against Britain with both hands.
Since Germany had declared war, Italy and Austria, as allies, were no exception. They also declared war on Britain two days later.
The British Empire also declared war on Italy and Austria. At this point, the two camps of the Alliance and the Entente officially kicked off the European War.
