THE KING THAT DEFIED THE KAISER

KING ALBERT I OF BELGIUM

1875-1934

Resolutely defending Belgium throughout WWI after it was invaded by Germany, Albert led his troops bravely while continually searching for a peaceful solution to the war. He also helped to reform Belgium socially and politically throughout his reign.

On the morning of 2 August 1914, Claus von Below-Saleske, the German Ambassador in Brussels, delivered the following ultimatum to the Belgian government…

VERY CONFIDENTIAL

Reliable information has been received by the German Government that French forces intend to march through Belgian territory against Germany.

It is essential for the self-defence of Germany that she should anticipate any such hostile attack and Germany [therefore must], for her own protection, enter Belgian territory.

This is no act of hostility against Belgium. In the event of Belgium being prepared in the coming war to maintain an attitude of friendly neutrality towards Germany, the German Government bind themselves to evacuating Belgian territory on the conclusion of peace.

Should Belgium oppose German troops, [however], Germany will be compelled to consider Belgium as an enemy.

Just a month before it was issued, the heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne, Arch-Duke Franz Ferdinand, had been murdered. A pan-continental conflict was now brewing between Britain, France and Russia on one side and Germany and the Austro-Hungarian Empire on the other. Belgium, whose neutrality and independence was enshrined in international treaties recognised by both sides, and under the guidance of its king, Albert I, had done whatever it could to stay out of it. With war now seemingly inevitable, however, Belgium found itself very much in the way. Germany had already marched into Luxembourg to get its forces within striking distance of France, and – in the giant game of Risk that Germany’s Kaiser Wilhelm II was now playing – Belgium looked like it would be next on his list.

The Kaiser must have figured