Zeppelin attack

7 August 1914

The German army employed a new weapon yesterday in their siege of the Belgian city of Liège: a Zeppelin.

Zeppelin Z VI

Under the command of Hauptmann Kleinschmidt, army airship Z VI  departed Cologne at 2200 on the night of 5 August, and by 0300 yesterday morning was over Liège. There, she dropped a load of 15-cm and 21-cm grenades onto the Belgian fortifications.

Illustration of the attack by Felix Schwormstädt
for Illustrierte Zeitung, Leipzig

However, the airship was struck by artillery fire, and began losing gas. Heading for home, she eventually made a forced landing in a forest at Walberburg and was damaged beyond repair.

Z VI was 140 metres (460 feet) long and first flew in July last year.

The French and British air services

6 August 1914

Having invested heavily in aviation technology in recent years, both France and Great Britain bring significant aviation assets to the war.

The French army air service

The Aéronautique Militaire possesses 126 aeroplanes in front-line service, organised into 23 escadrilles (“squadrons”). The organisation of these units is noteworthy, as each of the escadrilles is composed of only a single aircraft type, and specialises in a particular rôle. Escadrilles contain six aeroplanes each.

Aéronautique Militaire units mobilised by 3 August 1914

Aviation unit	Commanding officer
1ère armée
Escadrille BL 3	Lieutenant Georges Bellemois
Escadrille MF 5	Lieutenant Michel le Ray d’Abrantès
Escadrille BL 9	Capitaine Armand Des Prez de la Morlais
Escadrille BL 10	Capitaine Constantin Zarapoff
Escadrille BL 17	Capitaine Georges Benoist
Escadrille BL 18	Capitaine Max Boucher
2ème armée
Escadrille HF 1	Capitaine Camille Fuzier
Escadrille MF 8	Capitaine Fassin
Escadrille HF 19	Capitaine Michel Jolain
Escadrille MF 20	Capitaine Maurice Marquer
3ème armée
Escadrille MF 2	Lieutenant Léon Bretey
Escadrille HF 7	Lieutenant Adrien Gautier
Escadrille HF 13	Capitaine André Provillard
Escadrille MF 16	Capitaine Vaudein
4ème armée
Escadrille V 14	Lieutenant Mouchard
Escadrille V 21	Lieutenant Guichard
5ème armée
Escadrille D 4	Capitaine Albert Marie Adrian
Escadrille D 6	Capitaine Jules Aubry
Escadrille C 11	Lieutenant Jacques Pégat
Escadrille N 12	Commandant Charles Tricornot de Rose
Escadrille REP 15	Capitaine André Geibel
Corps de cavalerie
Escadrille BLC 2	Lieutenant Charles Mendès
Escadrille BLC 4	Lieutenant Emile Gouin

The prefixes on the squadron numbers indicate the type of aeroplane operated:

• BL and BLC — Blériot XI (the “C” suffix denotes a cavalry unit)
• C — Caudron G.3 
• D — Deperdussin Type TT
• HF — Henri Farman HF.20
• MF — Maurice Farman MF.7
• MS — Morane–Saulnier Type L
• N — Nieuport Type VI
• REP — REP Type K
• V — Voisin Type L

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Britain’s Royal Flying Corps

Although smaller than its continental counterparts, Britain’s Royal Flying Corps is equipped with very modern aeroplanes. British squadrons generally contain twelve machines.

Royal Flying Corps units mobilised by 4 August 1914

Unit	Commanding officer
1 Squadron	Major Charles Longcroft
2 Squadron	Major Charles Burke
3 Squadron	Major Robert Brooke-Popham
4 Squadron	Major George Raleigh
5 Squadron	Major John Higgins
6 Squadron	Major John Becke
7 Squadron	Major John Salmond

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Montenegro enters the war

Montenegro has declared war on Austria–Hungary.

Great Britain enters the war

5 August 1914

Last night, Great Britain entered the war in Europe after an 11 p.m. deadline passed without the German government agreeing to respect the neutrality of Belgium. It will be recalled that the German position is that France had already violated that neutrality.

Early this morning, a supplement to the London Gazette published the following notice:

Wednesday, 5 August 1914 A state of war His Majesty’s Government informed the German Government on August 4th 1914, that, unless a satisfactory reply to the reqeuest of His Majesty’s Government for an assurance that Germany would respect the neutrality of Belgium was received by midnight of that day, His Majesty’s Government would feel bound to take all steps in their power to uphold that neutrality and the observance of a treaty to which Germany was as much a party as Great Britain. The result of this communication having been that His Majesty’s Ambassador at Berlin had to ask for his passports. His Majesty’s Government have accordingly formally notified the German Government that a state of war exists between the two countries as from 11 p.m. to-day. Foreign Office August 4th, 1914

The Times reports:

War declared Note rejected by Germany · British ambassador to leave Berlin · Rival navies in the North Sea · British Army Mobilizing · Government control of railways The following statement was issued from the Foreign Office at 12.15 this morning: Owing to the summary rejection by the German Government of the request made by His Majesty’s Government for assurance that the neutrality of Belgium will be respected, his Majesty’s Ambassador at Berlin has received his passports and His Majesty’s Government have delcared to the German Government that a state of war exist between Great Britain and Germany as from 11 p.m. on August 4.

His Majesty
King George V

War spreads to France

4 August 1914

A state of war now exists between Germany and France. Although no formal declaration of war has been made, the German Chancellor, Theobald von Bethmann Hollweg, has recalled the German ambassador from Paris, and German newspapers this morning are reporting that Germany considers itself at war with France.

The Berliner Tageblatt reports:

 

Der Krieg mit Frankreich
Abbruch der diplomatischen Beziehungen
Berlin, 3 August (Amtliche Mitteilung)

Bisher hatten deutsche Truppen, dem erteilten Befehl gemäß, die französische Grenze nicht überschritten.

Dagegen greifen seit gestern französische Truppen ohne kriegserklärung unsere Grenzposten an. Sie haben, obwohl uns die französische Regierung noch vor wenigen Tagen die Innehaltung einer unbesetzen Zone von zehn kilometern zugesagt hatte, an verschiedenen Punkten die deutsche Grenze überschritten.

Französische  kompagnien halten seit gestern nacht deutsche Ortschaften besetzt. Bombenwerfende Flieger kommen seit gestern nach Baden, Bayern und unter Verletzung der belgischen Neutralität über belgisches Gebiet in die Rheinprovinz und versuchen, unsere Bahnen zu zerstören.

Frankreich hat damit den Angriff gegen unseröffnet und den Kriegszustand hergestellt. Des Reiches Sicherheit zwingt uns zur Gegenwehr. Seine Majestät der kaiser hat die erforderlichen Befehle erteilt.

Der deutsche Botschafter in Paris ist angeweisen, seine Pässe zu fordern.

* * *

The war with France
Severance of diplomatic relations
Berlin, 3 August (official release)

So far, German troops have not violated the orders given to them concerning the French border.

In contrast, since yesterday, French troops attack our border posts without declaration of war. Despite the French government having promised us a few days ago the observance of an unoccupied zone of ten kilometers, they have crossed the German border at various points.

Since last night, French units hold German occupied villages. Since yesterday, bomb-throwing fliers come to Baden, Bavaria and—in violation of Belgian neutrality on Belgian territory—to the Rhine province and try to destroy our railways.

France has thus made attacks on us, and produced a state of war. The security of the empire forces us to fight back. His Majesty the Emperor has issued the necessary commands.

The German ambassador in Paris has been instructed to demand his passports.

The Imperial German and Imperial Russian air services

3 August 1914

The entry of Germany and Russia into the war in Europe greatly expands the role of aviation in that conflict. While Austria-Hungary had so far managed to mobilise three of her eight aviation companies, plus a fourth yesterday; and Serbia has no military aviation to speak of; Germany has instantly mobilised thirty-three units of comparable size of the Austro–Hungarians’; and Russia has the largest air service in the world, with over 220 aeroplanes.

German aviation units mobilise: army aeroplanes

The air service of the German army is known as the Fliegertruppen des deutschen Kaiserreiches and is structured along similar lines to its Austro–Hungarian counterpart already in the field. Each Feldflieger Abteilung (“Field-flyer division”, FFA for short) consists of six aircraft, together with their aircrew, support personnel, and transport vehicles. Reserve aircraft are held ready by an Etappen Flugzeugpark (“aircraft staging park”) shared by several FFAs. Yesterday, thirty Prussian FFAs mobilised, together with three Bavarian FFAs, as set out in the following table:

Fliegertruppen des deutschen Kaiserreiches units mobilised, 2 August 1914

Army formation	Attached aviation unit	Commanding officer
1. Armee	FFA 12	Hauptmann Günther von Detten
II Korps	FFA 30	Hauptmann Felix Wagenführ
III Korps	FFA 7	Hauptmann Wilhelm Grade
IV Korps	FFA 9	Hauptmann Alfred Musset
IX Korps	FFA 11	Hauptmann Hellmuth Wilberg
2. Armee	FFA 23	Oberleutnant Otto Vogel von Falkenstein
Gardekorps	FFA 1	Hauptmann Jasper von Oertzen
VII Korps	FFA 18	Hauptmann Ernst von Gersdorff
X Korps	FFA 21	Hauptmann Franz Geerdtz
3. Armee	FFA 22	Hauptmann Karl von Blomberg
XI Korps	FFA 28	Hauptmann Georg Freytag
XII Korps	FFA 29	Hauptmann Ferdinand von Jena
XIX Korps	FFA 24	Hauptmann Horst von Minckwitz
4. Armee	FFA 6	Hauptmann Job-Heinrich von Dewall
VI Korps	FFA 13	Hauptmann Alfred Streccius
VII Korps	FFA 10	Hauptmann Maximilian Hantelmann
XVIII Korps	FFA 27	Oberleutnant Alfred Keller
5. Armee	FFA 25	Hauptmann Ernst Blum
V Korps	FFA 19	Hauptmann Florian von Poser und Großnädlitz
XIII Korps	FFA 4	Hauptmann Wilhelm Haenelt
XVI Korps	FFA 2	Hauptmann Eugen Kirch
6. Armee	FFA 5	Hauptmann Werner Kerksieck
XXI Korps	FFA 8	Oberleutnant Horst Jerrmann
I Korps (Bavarian)	FFA 1 (Bavarian)	Hauptmann Erhard
II Korps (Bavarian)	FFA 2 (Bavarian)	Rittmeister Luitpold Graf Wolffskeel von Reichenberg
III Korps (Bavarian)	FFA 3 (Bavarian)	Hauptmann Hermann Pohl
7. Armee	FFA 26	Hauptmann Gustav Walter
XIV Korps	FFA 20	Hauptmann Erwin Barents
XV Korps	FFA 3	Hauptmann Paul Genée
8. Armee	FFA 16	Hauptmann Wilhelm Schmoger
I Korps	FFA 14	Hauptmann Heinrich
XVII Korps	FFA 17	Hauptmann Dincklage
XX Korps	FFA 15	Hauptmann Hans Donat

These units fly a variety of two-seat monoplanes and biplanes that this journal will describe in the coming days.

German aviation units mobilise: army airships

The German army has an enviable fleet of rigid airships at its disposal, including six very modern military ships purpose-built by the Zeppelin company of Friedrichshafen (numbers Z IV through Z X) plus a seventh built by the Schütte-Lanz company of Mannheim-Rheinau (number SL 2).

All seven ships are under the direct command of the Oberste Heeresleitung (“Supreme Army Command”, or OHL for short). Again, more details on these soon.

German aviation units mobilise: navy aeroplanes

The German Imperial Navy (Kaiserliche Marine) operates a small fleet of seaplanes from its base at Kiel, independent of the army aviation units. Although the navy has tested flying boats in recent years, the German preference is very much for floatplanes, as it is felt that this arrangement provides for greater stability in the rough conditions of the North Sea.

German aviation units mobilise: navy airships

Presently, the Kaiserliche Marine has only a single airship (number L 3), its predecessor having been destroyed in last year’s Johannisthal air disaster.

Russian army aviation

The Imperial Russian Air Service (Императорскiй военно-воздушный флотъ, “Emperor’s military air fleet”) is currently in the process of being reorganised to separate units of aeroplanes (авиационные роты, “aviation companies”) from more general aviation units that include airships and (particuarly) balloons (воздухоплавательные роты, “aeronautical companies”). Each company contains several squadrons (авиацио́нные отря́ды),each of six aircraft plus airmen and support crew.

The aircraft themselves, while very numerous, are mostly obsolete French types or locally manufactured copies of the same.

A fourth Austro–Hungarian aviation unit mobilises

Now well and truly overshadowed by the aviation units of the other great powers, the Austro–Hungarian army continues to slowly mobilise its forces. Yesterday,  FliK 2 mobilised against Serbia, commanded by Oberleutnant Robert Baar.

The aeroplane of Nürnberg

Unsubstantiated reports have been circling since yesterday that German forces around Nürnberg have come under attack from bombs thrown from a French aeroplane.

Germany declares war on Russia

2 August 1914

Germany declares war on Russia

The Berliner Tageblatt reports this morning that His Imperial Majesty Kaiser Wilhelm II has ordered the German army and navy to mobilise against Russia:

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In a special edition, the National Gazette published the following imperial edict:

I hereby decree:

The German Army and the Imperial Navy are to deploy ready for war in accordance with the mobilisation plan for the German Army and the Imperial Navy.

2 August 1914 is set as the first day of mobilisation.

Berlin, 1 August 1914

—Wilhelm, emperor and king
—von Bethmann-Hollweg

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The Note that the German ambassador to Russia, Count Friedrich Pourtalès, presented in St Petersburg reads as follows, in the original French, with English translation following:

Le Gouvernement Impérial s’est efforcé dès les débuts de la crise de la mener à une solution pacifique. Se rendant à un désir qui lui en avait été exprimé par Sa Majesté l’Empereur de Russie, Sa Majesté‚ l’Empereur d’Allemagne d’accord avec l’Angleterre s’etait appliqué à accomplir un rôle médiateur auprès des Cabinets de Vienne et de Saint-Pétersbourg, lorsque la Russie, sans en attendre le résultat, procéda à la mobilisation de la totalité de ses forces de terre et de mer. À la suite de cette mesure menaçante ne motivée par aucun présage militaire de la part de l’Allemagne, l’Empire allemand s’est trouvé vis-à-vis d’un danger grave et imminent. Si le Gouvernement Impérial eût manquè de parer à ce péril, il aurait compromis la sécurit‚ et l’existence même de l’Allemagne. Par conséquent le Gouvernement allemand se vit forcé de s’adresser au Gouvernement de Sa Majesté l’Empereur de Toutes les Russies en insistant sur la cessation desdits actes militaires.

La Russie avant refusé de faire droit à cette demande et ayant manifesté par ce refils que son action était dirigée contre l’AIlemagne, j’ai l’honneur, d’ordre de mon Gouvernement, de faire savoir à votre Excellence ce qui suit:

Sa Majesté l’Empereur, mon auguste Souverain, au nom de l’Empire, relevant le défié se considère en état de guerre avec la Russie.

* * *

Since the beginning of the crisis, the Imperial Government has tried to drive a peaceful solution. Following a desire expressed to him by His Majesty the Emperor of Russia, the German Emperor, in agreement with Great Britain, applied himself to accomplishing a rôle of mediator between the Cabinets of Vienna and St. Petersburg. However Russia, without waiting for the result, proceeded to a general mobilisation of her forces on land and sea. Following this menacing measure—which was not motivated by any military proceedings on the part of Germany—the German Empire found itself face-to-face with a grave and imminent danger.  If the Imperial Government had failed to prepare against this peril, it would have compromised the security and the very existence of Germany. Consequently, the German Government was forced to address the Government of His Majesty the Emperor of All the Russias, insisting on the cessation of the aforementioned military acts.

Russia having refused to comply with this demand, and having shown by this refusal that her action was directed against Germany, I have the honour, on the orders of my Government, to make known to your Excellency as follows:

His Majesty the Emperor, my august Sovereign, in the name of the  Empire, accepts the challenge, and considers himself at war with Russia.

via Staatsbibliothek zu Berlin

Der „Reichsanzeiger“ veröffentlicht in einer Sonderausgabe folgenden kaiserlichen Erlaß:

„Ich bestimme hiermit:
Das deutsche Heer und die kaiserliche Marine sind nach Massgabe des
Mobilmachungsplans für das deutsche Heer und die kaiserliche Marine kriegsbereit
aufzustellen.
Der 2 August 1914 wird als erster Mobilmachungstag festgesetzt.
Berlin, den 1 August 1914

Wilhelm I. R.

v. Bethmann Hollweg“

His Imperial Highness
Kaiser Wilhelm II

A third Austro-Hungarian army aviation unit mobilises

Yesterday, Fliegerkompanie (FliK) 1 mobilised against Serbia. Commanded by Oberleutnant Josef Smetana, it is the third unit of Austro-Hungarian army aeroplanes to be deployed.

The Lohner flying boats

1 August 1914

Austria–Hungary begins aerial patrols of Adriatic

Austria–Hungary’s k.u.k. Kriegsmarine (Imperial and Royal Navy) has commenced seaplane patrols over the Adriatic from their base at Kumbor, on the Bay of Cattano. Three “Type E” flying boats have deployed there over the course of the last week, conveyed from their base at Pola aboard three battleships SMS Erzherzog Franz Ferdinand, SMS Radetzky, and SMS Zrínyi as the diplomatic situation with Serbia deteriorated.

These aeroplanes are produced for the navy by the Jacob Lohner Company of Vienna. A distinctive feature of the design is the long, pointed bow that gives it excellent sea handling characteristics. Note too the streamlined nacelle that encloses the flying boat’s single engine, and the swept wings that are a hallmark of the Lohner-Werke, all visible in the photograph below:

The Type E is the brainchild of the Lohner-Werke’s chief aeronautical engineer, Karl Paulal, and the firm delivered the first example to the Navy for evaluation last November. This was followed into service by another four examples in May. The three machines currently operating from Kumbor are all from this batch.

Second Austro–Hungarian army aviation company mobilises

Yesterday, a second Fliegerkompanie of the Austro–Hungarian army  mobilised against Serbia. FliK 4, commanded by Oberleutnant Matthias Bernáth, joins Flik 5, which mobilised three days ago.