(4 Aug 2014) Heads of state and foreign dignitaries united on Monday to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the start of World War I, with Belgium, France, Britain and Germany standing together in a spirit of reconciliation,.
Belgian King Philippe and Queen Mathilde welcomed German President Joachim Gauck under cloudy skies for the late-morning ceremony at the Cointe allied memorial amid pomp and military honour.
During the ceremonies, the former enemies sat together, listening and applauding each other's speeches.
French President Francois Hollande and German President Joachim Gauck both spoke of conflicts that continued to threaten peace today.
"The peace that we here enjoy together as allies and partners does not simply mean no more bloodshed. It means something deeper than that. The fact that the presidents of Germany and Austria are here today and that other nations, then enemies, are here too, bears testimony to the power of reconciliation," Britain's Prince William said.
Monday's ceremony in Liege was significant since the battle for the forts around the city meant the first delay for the German enveloping move through Belgium, the so-called Schlieffen Plan strategy to defeat France in a matter of weeks.
Liege held much longer than expected and allowed the allied forces to gather strength and keep Germany at bay within dozens of kilometres of Paris.
By the end of the autumn, both sides dug in, and from the early movement battles, the war quickly changed into four years of trench warfare on the Western Front.


Find out more about AP Archive: [ Ссылка ]
Twitter: [ Ссылка ]
Facebook: [ Ссылка ] ​​
Instagram: [ Ссылка ]


You can license this story through AP Archive: [ Ссылка ]

свернуть