Belgian plans
Belgian military planning assumed that other powers would fulfil their obligations under the Treaty of London (1839), to assist the Belgian … See more

Battle of Mulhouse, 7–10 August
The first French offensive of the war, known as the Battle of Mulhouse, began on 7 August. Joffre … See more

Battle of Haelen, 12 August
The Battle of Haelen (Halen in Dutch) was a cavalry battle at the beginning of the First World War. … See more

Battle of the Ardennes, 21–23 August
Joffre issued instructions on 18 August but held back the Third and Fourth armies because air and cavalry reconnaissance found few German … See more

French preparations
Joseph Joffre, who had been Commander-in-Chief of the French army since 1911 and the See more

Battle of Lorraine, 14–25 August
The main French offensive in the south began on 14 August when the First Army advanced with two … See more

Battle of Charleroi, 21–23 August
On 19 August the Fifth Army began to move into the angle of the Meuse and Sambre rivers … See more