Description: GERMAN POSTERSIN BELGIUM THEIR VALUE AS EVIDENCE Foreword by Henri Davignon THOMAS NELSON & SONS, London, 1918 An original WW1 edition of German Posters, detailing the atrocities carried out by the German army in Belgium in 1914. This collection of posters, texts and documents was first published in June 1915 under the title Belgium and Germany. It includes about fifty posters, all posted in Belgium during the first year of the war. Printed opposite the reproductions of posters are a series of German and Belgian documents relating to the invasion, occupation, and German atrocities committed in August 1914. Each poster is accompanied by a translation, transcriptions of related documents, and period commentary. The book comes with a loosely inserted photograph of Kaiser Wilhelm II, with the caption ’The Burden of Guilt’ printed on the rear. Henri François Julien Claude, Viscount Davignon (1854-1916) was a Belgian politician who served as Minister of Foreign Affairs from 1907-1916. At the start of the First World War he received the German ultimatum, demanding free passage through Belgium. German Atrocities, Belgium 1914: a series of systematic war crimes, especially mass murder and deportation, were carried out by German troops against Belgian civilians during the invasion and occupation of Belgium in WWI. The neutrality of Belgium had been guaranteed by the Treaty of London (1839), which had been signed by Prussia. However, the German Schlieffen Plan required that German armed forces advance through Belgium (thus violating its neutrality) in order to outflank the French Army, concentrated in eastern France. The German Chancellor, Bethmann Hollweg, dismissed the treaty of 1839 as a "scrap of paper”. Throughout the war, the German army systematically engaged in numerous atrocities against the civilian population of Belgium, including the intentional destruction of civilian property; German soldiers murdered over 6,000 Belgian civilians, and 17,700 died during expulsions, deportations, imprisonment, or death sentences. 120,000 civilians were enslaved and deported to Germany, German forces destroyed 25,000 homes and other buildings in 837 communities in 1914 alone, and 1.5 million Belgians (20% of the entire population) fled from the invading German army. In some places atrocities were premeditated - at Dinant, Liège, Andenne and Leuven. German troops, afraid of Belgian guerrilla fighters, or francs-tireurs ("free shooters"), burned homes and murdered civilians throughout eastern and central Belgium, including Aarschot (156 murdered), Andenne (211 murdered), Seilles, Tamines (383 murdered), and Dinant (674 murdered). On 25 August 1914, the German army ravaged the city of Leuven, deliberately burning the university library. German soldiers burned down civilian homes and shot citizens where they stood, with over 2,000 buildings destroyed and 10,000 inhabitants displaced. The Germans looted and transferred large quantities of strategic materials, foodstuffs and modern industrial equipment to Germany during 1914. These actions brought worldwide condemnation. Condition: In very good condition. The card cover is in good condition, with minor signs of wear, and some marks. The binding is secure. The text and illustrations are in very good condition. Published: 1918Card cover with black/red titlingIllustrated with reproductions of postersDimensions: 185mm x 245mmPages: 105 ***I have several WW1 and other military books listed at the moment. Combined postage is available*** Please email if you require any further information _gsrx_vers_1677 (GS 9.8.1 (1677))
Price: 60 GBP
Location: Lancashire
End Time: 2025-01-08T20:31:10.000Z
Shipping Cost: 17.51 GBP
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Service: Army
Country/ Organization: Great Britain
Type: Books
Issued/ Not-Issued: Issued
Era: 1914-1945
Conflict: World War I (1914-1918)
Country/Region of Manufacture: United Kingdom