Information Board 14-18 Sambre Rouge 14-18 The Forgotten Battles Of The Sambre

Information Board near the entrance of the French War Cemetery Belle Motte.

Germany declared war on France in early August, 1914. On 4 August the German Chiefs-of-Staff violated Belgium’s neutrality and sent more than 7000.000 men to attack Belgium. The German Second Army, commanded by General Karl von Bülow, crossed our country via Maubeuge with the aim of invading France and taking Paris. France’s Fifth Army was commended by General Charles Lanrezac.

Battles raged in Tamines, Arsimont and Auvelais on 21 August. Le Roux, Aiseau, Roselies, Carnières, Anderlues and Leernes were attacked on 22 August. On 23 August the fighting continued in Lobbes, Gozée and Marbais-la-Tour. Opposite the German army’s heavy artillery, the French counteroffensives claimed many lives.

The trench warfare that followed these troop movements lasted four years and cost millions of lives. The horrendous conflict ended with the Allied forces’ victory and the armistice of 11 November.

Legally, the 1919 Treaty of Versailles ended the war between German and the Allies. It set out the sanctions against Germany and its allies and announced the creation of the League of Nations, which was replaced by the United Nations Organization in 1945. Considered in the past to be a huge blood-soaked battlefield, Europe is now perceived as an example of reconciliation and partnership amongst different peoples.

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