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Germany’s Attack on Belgium
After the initial round of war declarations, events unfolded quickly as each side tried to position itself advantageously. Germany’s troops were the first to move, crossing the Belgian border on the night of August 3, 1914, expecting to overtake the little nation quickly and to move on to their main objective of France.
The Germans found more resistance than anticipated, however, especially among civilian snipers who fired on them from hidden positions. In retaliation, the Germans burned a number of towns and villages to the ground and executed large numbers of civilians, including women and children. The heaviest fighting was around the fortress at Liege; the capital, Brussels, did not fall until August 20. All the time, however, additional German armies were gathering along the remainder of France’s eastern borders.
Russia’s Attack on Germany
Undermining Germany’s Schlieffen Plan, Russian troops attacked Germany much sooner than expected. Two Russian armies crossed Germany’s border in East Prussia on August 17. With most German forces focused on France, the Russians advanced quickly and soon threatened the regional capital of Königsberg (present-day Kaliningrad).
Vastly outnumbered and initially overwhelmed, the German commander in the region panicked and tried to call a retreat, against the advice of his staff. To prevent disaster, German military leaders quickly installed a more experienced leader, General Paul von Hindenburg, and recalled troops from the western front to help in the east.
Russia’s Invasion Ends in Disaster
Reinforced and under new leadership, the German forces struck back decisively at the invading Russian forces. Because the Russian forces were operating separately, without coordination, the Germans were able to deal with them one at a time. At the Battle of Tannenberg, two German armies attacked Russian forces at Tannenberg on August 26. When Russian troops tried to retreat a second German army cut them off, entrapping them. In the slaughter that followed almost the entire Russian force was killed or captured. To avoid capture, the Russian general committed suicide.
Hindenburg now turned to the other Russian army. On September 9, his troops faced the other Russian army at the nearby Masurian Lakes, for a near-repeat performance of Tannenberg. Though the Russians were able to retreat, they did so with heavy losses. Between the battles of Tannenberg and the Masurian Lakes, Russia lost approximately 300,000 soldiers in less than a month of fighting.
Austria-Hungary’s Losses
While Russia was suffering huge loses against Germany, it did win a victory against Austria-Hungary. On August 18, a third Russian army entered Galicia, a region along Austria-Hungary’s eastern border. The general of the Austrian forces misjudged where the main Russian attack would fall, so the armies passed each other and ended up chasing each other around in a circle. As a result, the Russian army was able to push deep into enemy territory and force the Austro-Hungarian forces to retreat one hundred miles with massive casualties.
In the meantime, Austria-Hungary was also losing its first major battle against Serbia. On August 12, Austria launched a ground invasion into Serbia at the town of Sabac. Though the town was quickly captured, the Austrian army soon ran into a brick wall as Serbian forces advanced up the Jadar Valley, ambushing the Austro-Hungarian forces. After a four-day battle, the Serbian armies forced the Austrians to retreat all the way back to the border.
Japan’s Entry into the War
On August 23, 1914, Japan declared war on Germany in solidarity with Britain. One reason for this action was Japan’s intent to retake islands in the Pacific Ocean that Germany had seized as colonies in recent decades.
Assessing the First Month of the War
The bold, risky steps that Germany and Russia took in the war’s opening month had a profound effect on the dynamics of the rest of the war and provided early hints that the war might last much longer than expected. Even in the first days of the war, Germany’s much-touted Schlieffen Plan began to unravel, as Russian troops arrived at the German borders faster than anticipated. Although Germany successfully thwarted the Russians in the east, it was forced to divert armies from its advance to the west. Meanwhile, the stiff resistance from Belgium in the west indicated that the conquest of France might likewise be more difficult than expected. On the other side, the massive losses that Russia suffered in the first month offered a similar warning sign of how costly and difficult the war might turn out to be.
Events Timeline
August 3, 1914
German troops enter Belgium
August 4
German troops enter Poland (Russian territory) and take three towns
August 5
Germans encounter first serious fighting at Liege, Belgium
August 10
France declares war on Austria-Hungary
August 12
First British troops cross English Channel into France
Britain declares war on Austria-Hungary Austrian troops enter Serbia at Sabac
August 15
Liege falls
August 17
Russian troops enter East Prussia (Germany)
August 18
Russian troops enter Austria-Hungary
August 20
Germans enter Brussels, completing occupation of Belgium
August 23
Japan declares war on Germany
August 26
Battle of Tannenberg begins on eastern front
August 30
Russian forces under Samsonov defeated at Tannenberg
September 9
Battle of the Masurian Lakes begins
September 14
Russian forces retreat after defeat at Masurian Lakes
Key People
Paul von Hindenburg
More experienced German general who routed Russians at Tannenberg and the Masurian Lakes
