Translations:CP 03786/14/en
- ↑ An allusion to the resistance put up by Lièges at the time of the invasion of Belgium by the German army in the First World War. In reality, the city of Liège was not encircled by walls and did not undergo a siege: the German army was able to invade it without any great difficulty as early as 7 August 1914. But as the town was encompassed by a line of twelve forts, General Leman, commander of the defence of Liège, transferred his general staff and headquarters to the fort at Loncin in order to put up a resistance. Surprised, the commander of the German infantry had to assemble an army of 100,000 men, while the Liège forts were subjected to intense bombardment from Zeppelins and heavy German artillery. General Leman was captured on 15 August 1914 and the last fort surrendered on the 16th. This resistance earned the city very significant media coverage in the French press, and the Légion d'honneur was awarded to the city of Liège on the 7 August 1914. Liège was occupied for the entire duration of the war. [FL]