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The Germans governed the occupied areas of Belgium (over 95% of the country) while a small area around Ypres remained under Belgian control. An occupation authority, known as the General Government , was given control over the majority of the territory although the two provinces of East and West Flanders were given separate status as a war zone ...
Nevertheless, Belgium was the second country, after Britain, in which the industrial revolution took place. It developed into an open economy focused on industrial exports with strong ties between the banking sector and industry. [54] Industrialization took place in Wallonia starting in the mid-1820s, and especially after 1830. The availability ...
Before World War II, the events of 1914–1918 were generally known as the Great War or simply the World War. [1] In August 1914, the magazine The Independent wrote "This is the Great War. It names itself". [2] In October 1914, the Canadian magazine Maclean's similarly wrote, "Some wars name themselves. This is the Great War."
Before the war, Belgium was a constitutional monarchy and was noted for being one of the most industrialised countries in the world. [1] On 4 August 1914, the German army invaded Belgium just days after presenting an ultimatum to the Belgian government to allow free passage of German troops across its borders. [2]
On 30 June 1930, after speeches and the lowering of flags, the last troops of the Anglo-French-Belgian occupation force withdrew from Germany. [143] Belgium maintained an occupation force of roughly 10,000 troops throughout the initial years. [138] This figure fell to 7,102 by 1926, and continued to fall as a result of diplomatic developments.
The annexation caused widespread resentment in France, giving rise to the desire for revenge that was known as revanchism. French sentiment was based on a desire to avenge military and territorial losses and the displacement of France as the pre-eminent continental military power. [ 21 ]
The Battle of Liège (5–16 August 1914) was the opening engagement of the German invasion of Belgium and the first battle of the First World War.The city of Liège was protected by a ring of modern fortresses, one of several fortified cities to delay an invasion to allow troops from the powers which had guaranteed Belgian neutrality to assist the Belgian Army in the expulsion of the invaders.
24 May – Belgian general election, 1914; July. 25 July – General mobilisation for the eventuality of war. August. 4 August – German invasion with attendant atrocities: beginning of Belgian involvement in World War I. 5 to 16 August – Battle of Liège. 12 August – Battle of Haelen (1914) 20 to 25 August – Siege of Namur (1914)