The Campaign Round Liège

The opening chapters plunge listeners into the frantic first weeks of the Great War, when the German army rolled across the Belgian border with the confidence of a tidal wave. Through vivid accounts of the siege of Liège’s forts, the narrative captures the stark contrast between the German doctrine of overwhelming numbers and the stubborn, gun‑lit defences mounted by Belgian troops. The author's meticulous detail brings the sounds of artillery, the cramped tunnels of the forts, and the frantic rush of civilians to life, while also laying bare how the unexpected resistance began to strain the invader’s timetable.

As the story unfolds, French forces join the Belgians, and the early, chaotic clashes spill into neighboring towns. Listeners hear of daring raids, the emergence of a German spy network, and the first appearances of British troops whose “customary coolness” offers a sobering counterpoint to the chaos. The account stops short of the later, larger battles, leaving the listener eager to follow the ripple effects of Liège’s brave stand on the wider war effort.