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ID74
TitleBelgium in the Great War
Subtitle
AuthorJean-Michel Veranneman
Editor
Binding
PublisherCasemate Publishers
Edition
Copyright Year0
Publication Year2018
ISBN#1-52671-662-3
Pages240
Languageen
GenreHistory
Series
Series Number0
Signed
Front Cover77368c47f52edd60fae21117bd17ec53.png
Content
SummaryA historian and former Belgian diplomat sheds light on the country’s tumultuous experience during WWI. In August of 1914, the German Empire invaded neutral Belgium in order to outflank the defenses of the French army. Yet the Belgian army resisted, managing to hold a small part of unoccupied Belgian territory north of Ypres until the Armistice of 1918. Because of their heroic defense, Belgium and its King enjoyed enormous international prestige after the war. Occupied Belgium suffered civilian executions and severe destruction. It was widely stripped of its highly developed industrial infrastructure. It was saved from starvation by food shipments from the United States which came in via neutral Holland. Four and a half years later, Belgium emerged a different country with experiences that would leave a lasting on its spirit as well as wide-ranging political implications.
CommentsIn August 1914, the German Empire invaded neutral Belgium in order to outflank the defenses of the French army. Unexpectedly, the Belgian army resisted and fought on, holding a small part of unoccupied Belgian territory north of Ypres, alongside the British and French armies, until the Armistice of 1918. Because of their heroic defense, Belgium and its King, Albert I enjoyed enormous international prestige after the war. Its colonial army conquered part of German East Africa out of the Congo.Occupied Belgium suffered executions of civilians, severe destruction and was widely stripped of its industrial infrastructure, which was one of the most developed in the world. It was saved from starvation by food shipments from the United States which came in via neutral Holland.Belgium emerged from four and a half years of complete turmoil a different country and the experiences would have a lasting impact of its politics. Universal suffrage was introduced and the Flemish question was exacerbated. The war resulted in the abandonment of the countrys neutrality policy and her claims for reparation and territory, only very partially met, were to have serious foreign policy implications.
Date Created2021-08-19
Date Modified2025-10-26
Publication Date2018-11-30
Maturity RatingNOT_MATURE
Print TypeBOOK
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ISBN-101526716623
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Cover Last Updated2025-10-26
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