Germany's war plans provided for an invasion of Belgium. But, as a political gesture, Germany asked Belgium for permission to send troops across its territory as the easiest road to Paris, and even promised to pay after the war for any damage to Belgian property. But King Albert I of Belgium refused permission, reportedly declaring: "Belgium is a nation, not a road." A treaty which had been signed in 1839 guaranteed that Belgium would always be neutral, but when Great Britain asked Germany to respect this treaty, German Chancellor Theobald von Bethmann-Hollweg called it "a scrap of paper." On August 2, 1914, German troops moved into Luxembourg, and on August 4 they invaded Belgium. Britain promptly declared war on Germany. Germany, Austria-Hungary, and their allies became known as the Central Powers, because of their position in Europe. The nations opposing them were known as the Allies, or the Associated Powers.

The Allies sent British troops and a French army to help the Belgians. After the Belgian cities of Liège and Brussels fell, General Joseph Joffre of France allowed his soldiers to retreat slowly while he assembled more troops. German cavalry pushed to within 15 miles (24 kilometers) of Paris. But as their main forces wheeled eastward to the Marne River, they were attacked from the front and side by the Paris garrison under General Michel Joseph Maunoury. The Germans retreated to the Aisne River. The First Battle of the Marne (September 6-9, 1914) marked the first turning point in the war, because it ended Germany's chances for a quick victory.

The last major battle of 1914, the First Battle of Ypres, was fought from October 21 to November 17. Germany tried to reach the English Channel so that it could then prepare for an invasion of Britain, but the German army was stopped at Ypres, Belgium.

F. Lee Benns. Europe Since 1914 In Its World Setting. New York:F.S. Crofts & Co., 1946.
The World Book Encyclopedia. Chicago:World Book-Childcraft International, Inc., 1979.

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This page was last updated on 10/20/2011.