Postcard of Kaiser Wilhelm II and Kaiser Franz Joseph, in the Secessionist style. Kaiser Wilhelm is wearing the uniform and shako of the Death's Head Hussars.

Völkerkrieg (people's war)

1914; In Treue Fest



People's War

Firm in Loyalty

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Sunday, August 16, 1914

"Liège, 16 Août 1914

. . .

Sire,

Vous apprendrez avec douleur que ce fort a sauté hier, à 5 h. 20 environ, ensevelissant sous ses ruines, la majeure partie de la garnison, peut-être les 0,8.

Si je n'ai pas perdu la vie dans cette catastrophe, c'est parce que mon escorte m'a tiré d'un endroit où j'allais être asphyxié par les gaz de la poudre. J'ai été porté dans le fossé où je suis tombé . . .

Je suis certain d'avoir soutenu l'honneur de nos armes. Je n'ai rendu ni la forteresse, ni les forts.

Daignez me pardonner, Sire, la négligence de cette lettre; je suis physiquement très abimé par l'explosion de Loncin.

En Allemagne, où je vais être dirigé, mes pensées seront ce qu'elles ont toujours été : la Belgique et son Roi. J'aurais volontiers donné ma vie pour les mieux servir, mais la mort n'a pas voulu de moi.

Le lieutenant-général,

Leman.

Liège, August 16, 1914

. . .

Sire,

You will learn with sorrow that this fort blew up yesterday at about 5:20 [P.M.], burying most of the garrison, perhaps 80%, in its ruins.

If I have not lost my life in this disaster, it is because my escort pulled me from a place where I would be asphyxiated by gases from the powder. I was taken into the moat where I fell. . .

I am sure I maintained the honor of our arms. I have surrendered neither the fortress, nor the forts.

Condescend to forgive me, sir, the carelessness of this letter; I was badly injured by the explosion of Loncin.

In Germany, where I am being conducted, my thoughts will be what they always have been: Belgium and her King. I would have gladly given my life to serve them better, but death did not want me.

Lieutenant-General,

Leman."

Quotation Context

Letter from Lieutenant-General Gérard-Mathieu Leman, commander of the forts of Liège, to King Albert of Belgium on August 16, 1914, the day the last of the forts fell, and on which he was taken into captivity. Leman was unconscious in Fort Loncin when German forces took it. The remaining two forts of Liège surrendered the same day.

Source

General Leman and his letter to King Albert on August 16, 1914, the day the last forts of Liège fell by Gérard-Mathieu Leman, Postcard face, publisher: Ligue Nationale du Souvenir, publication date: 1914-08-16

Tags

Gérard-Mathieu Leman, Leman, 1914, August, 1914-08-16, Liège