[Sailor Steve]

August 5

The Schlieffen Plan goes into effect. In 1893, alarmed by an alliance between France and Russia, German Chief of the General Staff Count Alfred von Schlieffen developed a plan to capture France quickly, before Russia could mobilize her huge armies. The plan involved invading through Belgium and The Netherlands with 90% of the Geman army, violating the neutrality of both those countries, then into France to quickly capture Paris. The remaining German forces would guard the French and Russian borders. Then, after capturing France, the main armies would rush eastward to the Russian border.

When Schlieffen retired in 1906 his successor, Helmuth von Moltke, modified the plan, believing that Russia could mobilize more quickly than previously thought. Moltke's plan placed 15% of the army on the eastern border, and 25% in Alsace-Lorraine, leaving 60% to attack Belgium. The Netherlands were left out of the plan, since Moltke thought Britain would not go to war over Belgium if Dutch neutrality was still respected.

As Britain began to mobilize the German admiralty informed von Moltke that they believed they could prevent British troopships from reaching France. Moltke replied "This is not necessary, and it will even be of advantage if the Arimies of the West can settle with the 160,000 English at the same time as the French and Belgians." The Kaiser's Order of the Day for August 4 said his First Army would "...exterminate the treacherous England, walk over General French's contemptible little army."

As German troops moved into Belgium they were met with sniper fire. Believing the attack came from the village of Hervé they fell on the town and destroyed most of the houses and the church, killing many of the villagers in the process. The Belgian Government protested, and the German government counter-protested, both citing the Hague Convention of 1907. Ultimately the Belgian government would forbid its citizens from resisting the Germans.

The first serious battle began at Liége. Thirty-five thousand German troops attacked the twelve forts defending the city, and failed to make a dent in the defenses.