Siege of Namur (1914)

The Siege of Namur was a battle fought in August 1914 during the opening stages of World War I. Namur, a heavily fortified city in Belgium strategically located at the confluence of the Sambre and Meuse rivers, was considered a key point in the Belgian defense against a potential German invasion. The city was defended by the Belgian 4th Division and elements of other divisions, totaling approximately 37,000 men, under the command of General Michel.

The German assault, part of the Schlieffen Plan, involved the German Third Army, commanded by General Max von Hausen. The siege began on August 20, 1914, with a heavy artillery bombardment that quickly overwhelmed the Belgian fortifications. Namur's defenses, while modern, were not designed to withstand the massive firepower of the German 420mm "Big Bertha" mortars and other heavy artillery pieces.

The forts surrounding Namur, despite initial resistance, were systematically reduced by the German artillery. The bombardment caused significant damage and demoralization among the Belgian defenders. Within a few days, the forts began to fall, and the city itself came under direct fire.

Recognizing the futility of prolonged resistance against overwhelming odds, the Belgian forces began to evacuate the city on August 23, 1914. The German army entered Namur on August 24, 1914, effectively ending the siege. The rapid fall of Namur was a significant blow to the Allied war effort, as it allowed the German armies to continue their advance into France relatively unhindered. The speed with which Namur fell also highlighted the limitations of fortress warfare against modern artillery during World War I.