Poor Little Belgium

Reasons for Resisting

• Belgium had remained strictly neutral (did not participate in alliances)
• If Belgian neutrality was violated, Belgium intends to fulfill their obligations
• treaties of 1870 vouch for the independence and neutrality of Belgium
• Belgium has always been faithful to international obligations
• flagrant violation of international law

Hague Conventions (1899)

• failed to put a limitation on armaments
• did adopt conventions defining the conditions of a state of belligerency
• prohibited the use of asphyxiating gases and expanding bullets
• prohibiting the discharges of projectiles or explosives from balloons
• adoption of the Pacific Settlement of International Disputes

HAGUE CONVENTION 1907

• the proposal for the limitation of armaments was not accepted
• adapted more rules in relation to weapons and combat
• should handle international problems with series of conferences
• Germany's invasion: was a violation of the 1907 Convention
• states that hostilities must not commence without explicit warning

THE SCHLIEFFFEN PLAN Parts

• Attack on France through Beglium if Russia went on the offensive
• Germany had 6 weeks to defeat France
• Defeat France
• Transport troops to Russia to defeat (railroads)

THE SCHLIEFFEN PLAN FAILURES

• Russia was the key to it all, so if Germany wasn't prepared it didnt matter
• As soon as Russia made a move, Germany would attack France
• 6 weeks to defeat France was based on mobilizing troops
• Assumed they could defeat france in 6 weeks (attacked at Liege)
• Believed France was their greatest enemy (sought westward expansion)

Belgian Army Defense

• Leman and the 3rd Division
• 12 forts surrounded the center of Liege and Namur was strongly defended
• Russian pressure from the east
• Germans pulled troops from France to defend east side from Russia
• Led to long war with France (Trench Warfare)