Chapter 151
Chapter 151
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 151
Chapter Title: Border Battle (1)
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The true prelude to the World War was heralded not by the Austria-Hungary Empire or the Russian Empire, but by the French Third Republic.
Although Austria-Hungary had declared war on Serbia, their war preparations were not yet complete. They were limited to localized skirmishes along the Serbian border and sending small ships up the Danube River to lurk near Serbia's capital, Belgrade.
While Austria-Hungary prepared its offensive against Serbia, France, on July 16, 1913, delivered a notification to Belgium through the French embassy in Brussels.
"To prepare for a German invasion, French forces will be stationed in Belgium."
It was not even an ultimatum—just a unilateral declaration.
"...Have you eaten some spoiled escargot? Or are you feeling ill?"
Of course, Belgian Prime Minister Charles de Broqueville's reaction was, What the hell did these baguette-munching bastards eat?
But France was dead serious. Broqueville soon realized they meant it when he learned French troops were actually marching toward Belgium. His face flushed red as he bellowed.
"Absolutely not! Belgium is a neutral country and will remain so!"
"We understand your position, Prime Minister. In that case, France will proceed with its own affairs."
"What? Ambassador! Ambassador—!"
Of course, France knew full well that Belgium wouldn't accept unless they lost their minds.
This notification was merely a formality. The moment word reached French Army headquarters, Commander-in-Chief Joseph Joffre issued orders to the troops waiting at the border to advance into Belgium.
"All forces will swiftly cross the Belgian border, capture Brussels, and seize the western fortress zones. Vive la France!"
"Vive la France!!"
Just hours after the notification, over 400,000 French troops from the French 1st Army under Auguste Dubail and the French 2nd Army under Noël de Castelnau crossed the Belgian border en masse.
As all of Europe erupted into war, Belgium's forces—who had trusted solely in their early declaration of neutrality—turned pale, then ashen, in the face of France's massive offensive that dyed the earth blue.
Boom! Kwang!
"Alert! Incoming shellllls—!!!"
"Everyone, grab your weapons and assemble! The baguette bastards are crossing our border!"
"Damn it, this isn't a joke! Real French troops are invading across the border! Send reinforcements nowwww!!!"
The Belgian troops stationed along the French border plunged into utter chaos.
They had been enjoying another peaceful day, convinced the gathering storm clouds over Europe had nothing to do with them. Then suddenly, shells rained down before their eyes, and countless French soldiers charged with battle cries. Only a madman wouldn't lose their mind.
"Report! French forces advancing on Kortrijk!"
"Mons is surrounded! If we don't send reinforcements soon, it'll fall!"
"French troops passing through Florenville! Southern Wallonia is in danger!"
The Belgians, naturally, had made zero preparations for a French invasion.
Belgium's formidable fortress zones, exemplified by Liège and Namur, had been built to counter a potential German incursion—not a French one—so they offered no help whatsoever against these attackers.
Moreover, Belgium's manpower and equipment were hopelessly outmatched.
It was a bolt from the blue for Belgium. Prime Minister Broqueville and the government clutched their heads and screamed like it was doomsday, desperate for a way out.
"Everyone, calm down!"
But Belgium still had King Albert I, a wise ruler.
Unlike his uncle, who had chopped off Congolese hands, Albert possessed true talent and leadership. He had no intention of abandoning his nation's fate, flickering like a candle in the wind.
"Belgium will never yield to those perfidious Frenchmen. Our soldiers are fighting valiantly against the invasion in border villages and towns right now. What good does it do if we whine weakly here?"
"Your Majesty, even if we scrape together every last soldier, we only have about 100,000 men. The French at the border outnumber us over 400,000!"
Albert nodded gravely at the shout, acknowledging the truth.
"Indeed. Belgium alone cannot hold. But we are not alone. Prime Minister Broqueville!"
"Yes, Your Majesty."
"Request aid from Britain and Germany immediately."
"Germany too?"
Broqueville's question drew a nod from Albert.
With France invading Belgium, the only powers that could help were Britain, guarantor of Belgian neutrality, and Germany, Britain's ally and France's foe.
France's sudden attack on Belgium was ultimately to counter Germany. They wouldn't sit idly by.
"But it will take time for British and German reinforcements to arrive."
"Yes. We must hold the French off until then. Major General Leman!"
"Yes, Your Majesty!"
An elderly general stepped forward from among the Belgian officers, his voice booming with vigor.
Gérard Mathieu Joseph Georges Leman.
Director of the Belgian Army Officer Academy. In the original history, as Liège fortress commander in 1914, he had grabbed the German advance by the ankles, derailing their invasion plans through Belgium and buying time for the Entente to regroup. Belgium's greatest hero and savior of Liège.
To Albert, he was also his military tutor and most trusted general.
"Gather the remaining forces and hold against the French until reinforcements arrive. It's a dire situation and a tough mission, but hold as long as you can. Can you do it?"
"We must abandon the border villages and towns first."
Leman pointed to the Belgian border on the map.
It was already too late; French forces were pouring in.
"Therefore, I propose establishing a defense line linking Ghent, Brussels, Namur, and Liège."
"That means giving up most of Wallonia, including Charleroi!"
Broqueville, a Catholic Party man whose French name betrayed his roots, and Walloon politicians and officials stirred uneasily at Leman's words.
No one wanted to hand their homeland to invaders.
"And using the capital Brussels as the forward line...?"
"We have no choice. French forces are advancing relentlessly even as we speak. Considering time to build defenses, Brussels is optimal."
"I agree."
Albert backed Leman.
"First, relocate the government from Brussels to Antwerp. Evacuate refugees north as much as possible. That's our best option now."
"Understood, Your Majesty."
Broqueville and the officials sighed but nodded, knowing it was inevitable.
They couldn't surrender all of Belgium.
"Major General Leman, move quickly. Hold your assigned positions to the end with your division."
"Yes, Your Majesty. I will defend the Belgian homeland from these French invaders with my life!"
Leman saluted with steely resolve. Albert returned it with a trusting gaze.
Thus, under Leman's command, Belgian forces ignited their will to resist the oncoming French and stepped up to defend their country.
Their goal: hold until British and German reinforcements arrived.
But contrary to Belgium's expectations of delay, the Germans reached Belgium far sooner.
"Y-Your Highness! French forces just crossed the Belgian border!"
"Oh, Lord..."
Rewind time slightly to when the French offensive on Belgium had just begun.
The palace of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, Belgium's tiny neighbor, was gripped by shock at news of the French invasion.
"You were right, Marquis. Those French really invaded Belgium!"
Marie Adélaïde Theresia Hilda Wilhelmina, who had ascended as Grand Duchess of Luxembourg at the tender age of 18 last year, turned pale and trembled toward me.
"I didn't want this outcome, but France has made the worst choice: invading another nation to defend its own."
I shook my head regretfully as I visited Luxembourg the moment war broke out.
"The situation is spiraling out of control. France won't stop at Belgium. Under the pretext of protecting their homeland from our German Empire, they'll surely thrust their filthy boots into Luxembourg too!"
Marie Adélaïde and the Luxembourgers exchanged horrified glances.
The odds of France actually attacking Luxembourg were low, but having witnessed the unprecedented Belgian invasion, they couldn't help fearing for themselves.
Luxembourg's geopolitics left them vulnerable.
That's why I'd come in person.
"W-What should we do?"
"Open the way for Imperial forces. The German Empire will safely protect Luxembourg amid this great war."
"But that would..."
Marie hesitated.
It was tantamount to abandoning neutrality and siding with Germany.
"Marie, France has already trampled neutral Belgium. Luxembourg can't hide behind neutrality anymore."
"...Brother Rupprecht."
"Trust me and Germany."
But the gentle voice of Rupprecht Maria Luitpold Ferdinand, Bavarian Crown Prince and her distant eighth cousin, whom I'd brought to persuade her, shook her resolve once more.
She whispered with her advisors at length, then sighed heavily and decided.
"Hoo... Very well. The Grand Duchy of Luxembourg welcomes the German Empire."
"Thank you, Your Highness. You won't regret today's choice."
"I hope so, Marquis."
I kissed her hand in courtesy, then left the court with the Crown Prince.
Once out of sight, we dropped the masks and burst into laughter.
"Well done, Crown Prince Rupprecht."
"No trouble at all. Tricking innocent Marie pains me a bit, but it was more fun than expected. Things went smoother than thought."
"With France rampaging like that, Luxembourg had few options."
Besides, Marie Adélaïde was pro-German.
Too pro-German; during World War I, she got along so well with the occupying Germans that she lost public support and had to yield the throne to her sister.
"Now the real work begins?"
"Yes. Now it begins."
As soon as Belgium's plea arrived, the 1st Army under Colonel General Alexander von Kluck and the 2nd Army under Colonel General Karl von Bülow, waiting near the Belgian border, would enter.
Of course, just as Rupprecht and I hadn't come to Luxembourg for nothing, the gifts we'd prepared for France weren't limited to that.