Two German marines, of the IX and XI Marine Artillery, watching in the dunes along the North Sea or Baltic Sea coast.
Lieb Vaterland magst ruhig seinDünenwache.XI and IX Matrosen ArtillerieDear fatherland, you want to be quietDunes guard.XI and IX sailors artillery
"Might is on the side of the Germans. Opposite our front, in contrast to the situation we have been faced with since 1914, Germany has grouped several excellent divisions. Moreover, she has given us proof of this. For a month we have suffered important losses. On the 18th March [1918] alone we lost 1,100 men. We must not deceive ourselves; the enemy is in a position to teach us a lesson whenever he likes. It is a mistake to count too much on military aid from the Allies, for in fact what aid they could bring us would be weak and tardy. Our politicians adopt a haughty and provocative attitude towards Germany, and the Army bears the brunt."
Excerpt from the entry for March 20, 1918 from the diary of Albert, King of the Belgians. Much of the unusually long entry concerns the introduction of the Flemish (Dutch) language into the Belgian Army. Albert continues with our quotation, responding to what he considers unrealistic arrogance towards the Germans on the part of his ministers and to the question he asks himself, 'What, in fact, is the situation?'
The War Diaries of Albert I King of the Belgians by Albert I, pp. 196–197, copyright © 1954, publisher: William Kimber
1918-03-18, 1918, March, Belgian front, Belgian casualties, casualty, Flemish, dune watch
