Belgian soldiers resting with a dog-pulled Maxim machine-gun, August 20, 1914. Colourised by @mementocolores. Today 109 years ago, on August 5, 1914, the Battle/Siege of Liège began between Belgian and German forces, which can be considered the first major battle of the Western Front. Liège is a city in eastern Belgium with a protective ring of 12 forts, built in 1892. Liège was a railway hub connecting Brussels, Paris and Germany, meaning if conquered, it could be a useful asset to Germany. The Belgians realized this and sent 32,000 soldiers and 280 guns to defend the city and forts. On August 4, 1914, the Germans declared war on Belgium and invaded them, and had by August 5 reached Liège. On the night of August 5, 1914, 30,000 German troops attacked the villages and forts surrounding Liège. The Germans met fierce resistance from the Belgian soldiers and even civilians, who in house-to-house fights managed to inflict many casualties on the Germans, and following Belgian artillery...