Monthly Archives: August 2014

MORE BAD NEWS FOR THE FRENCH

French troops shattered; Prisoners shot; First British Soldier Killed Special to The Great War Project (21 August) Things continue to worsen for the French. Yesterday, this date a century ago, near the northern French town of Morhange,  “French troops were shattered as they charged uphill into machine-guns,” according to one historian. 20,000 French troops taken…

EARLY DISASTERS FOR THE FRENCH

“We saw the whole horizon burst into flame” Special to The Great War Project (20 August) Less than three weeks into the war, German troops seize Brussels, Belgium’s capital, this day a century ago. This is the first time a European capital has been occupied by a conquering army in nearly half a century, observes…

A GERMAN VICTORY AND AN AUSTRIAN DEFEAT

Brussels can’t hold out; a humiliation for Vienna Plotting jihad in Berlin Special to The Great War Project (18-19 August) Brussels, the Belgian capital, is threatened, and the Belgian government decides to move its operations north to the port city of Antwerp. Hugh Gibson, an American diplomat in Brussels, writes in his diary on 19…

THE GREAT PANIC BEGINS

Terrorized civilians fleeing by the thousands Special to The Great War Project (16-17 August) Civilians are fleeing the war zones – thousands of them on every front by the third week of the war. Historian Martin Gilbert quotes one French officer: “We were in contact for the first time with the Great Panic. These were…

A WAR OF SAVAGE REPRISAL

The atrocities mount Special to The Great War Project (15 August) Massacres of civilians are spreading on several fronts: *Austria-Hungary invades Serbia on 12 August. Men rounded up and shot, children killed, women raped. *Similar reprisals take place as German troops march through Belgium. *In the mining town of Dinant, just one example, the Germans shoot…

GERMAN SUCCESSES ON TWO FRONTS

Ferocious German fire power. Enormous French losses. Special to The Great War Project (14 August) Germany is fighting on two fronts – in the west in Belgium with sights set on Paris and in the east in Poland with its sights set on Russian-occupied Warsaw. On this day a century ago Germany is making progress…

MONSTER ARTILLERY; HUNDREDS DEAD WITH A SINGLE SHELL

Fierce fighting and an allied victory in Belgium Special to The Great War Project (13 August) The devastating impact of modern weapons quickly becomes apparent. The German assault at Liege is nearing its end, and the enormous heavy German artillery guns are proving to be decisive. Among the murderous German artillery pieces, are four 420mm…

THE SLAUGHTER SPREADS; SERB CIVILIANS TARGETED

Serbian guerrilla war brings Austrian reprisals Special to The Great War Project (12 August) Today, a century ago, the forces of Austria-Hungary invade Serbia – the almost forgotten conflict that ignited the war. The Austrians are met with a level of resistance – from armed civilians using guerrilla tactics — they do not anticipate. The…

GERMANY PLOTS HOLY WAR AGAINST THE BRITISH

A secret German deal with Ottoman Turkey British troops head for France; the war at sea Special to The Great War Project (9-11 August) The first troops of the British Expeditionary Force leave Britain by ship for France on 9 August a century ago. The German navy makes no attempt to stop them. The war…