Antwerpen14-18_Antwerp builds bridges ENG

28 july
Austria-Hungary declares war
on Serbia.
With possible conflict looming,
conscription is extended in August 1913
to one son per family. At the outbreak of
the war, it soon becomes clear that the
small, poorly armed and scarcely trained
Belgian army is no match for the mighty
German forces.
31 july
Mobilisation of the
Belgian army.
2 august
Germany would like
to attack France
and advance with its
army through neutral
Belgium.
Belgium refuses free
passage.
4 august
Germany declares war
on Belgium and crosses
the German-Belgian border
with several hundred
thousand soldiers. Germany
only wants to pass
through Belgium to be able
to attack France (the Schlieffen
Plan).
7 august
The German army conquers
Liège and for the first time in
history, carries out an aerial
bombardment on civilian
targets.
17 august
People move out of
the capital, Brussels.
The king, the government
and the army
top brass move to
Antwerp.
The Great War
comes to
Antwerp
Antwerp is the Nationaal Réduit: protected
by a double ring of fortifications
around the city, it is considered the
ultimate safe haven for the government
and military. King Albert I moves
into the Royal Palace on the Meir. The
opera is used by the Belgian House of
Commons, the Flemish Theatre becomes
the Senate. The General Staff of
the Belgian army stays in the Governor’s
Palace on the Schoenmarkt.
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