1 9 1 4 ▁ ▁On ▁ 2 ▁August ▁ 1 9 1 4 , ▁the ▁Belg ian ▁government ▁refused ▁the ▁passage ▁of ▁German ▁troops ▁through ▁Belg ium ▁to ▁France ▁and ▁on ▁the ▁night ▁of ▁ ▁the ▁Belg ian ▁General ▁Staff ▁ordered ▁the ▁Third ▁Division ▁to ▁Li ège ▁to ▁ob struct ▁a ▁German ▁advance . ▁Cover ed ▁by ▁the ▁Third ▁Division , ▁the ▁Li ège ▁for tr ess ▁g arrison , ▁a ▁screen ▁of ▁the ▁Caval ry ▁Division ▁and ▁det ach ments ▁from ▁Li ège ▁and ▁Nam ur , ▁the ▁rest ▁of ▁the ▁Belg ian ▁field ▁army ▁closed ▁up ▁to ▁the ▁river ▁G ete ▁by ▁ 4 ▁August , ▁covering ▁central ▁and ▁western ▁Belg ium ▁and ▁the ▁communic ations ▁towards ▁Ant werp . ▁The ▁German ▁invasion ▁began ▁on ▁ 4 ▁August , ▁when ▁an ▁advanced ▁force ▁of ▁six ▁German ▁brig ades ▁from ▁the ▁ 1 st , ▁ 2 nd ▁and ▁ 3 rd ▁Arm ies , ▁crossed ▁the ▁German - Bel g ian ▁border . ▁Belg ian ▁resistance ▁and ▁German ▁fear ▁of ▁Fran cs - t ire urs , ▁led ▁the ▁Germ ans ▁to ▁implement ▁a ▁policy ▁of ▁sch reck lichkeit ▁( f right ful ness ) ▁against ▁Belg ian ▁civ ili ans ▁soon ▁after ▁the ▁invasion , ▁in ▁which ▁mass ac res , ▁execution s , ▁host age ▁taking ▁and ▁the ▁burning ▁of ▁towns ▁and ▁villages ▁took ▁place ▁and ▁became ▁known ▁as ▁the ▁R ape ▁of ▁Belg ium . ▁ ▁On ▁ 5 ▁August , ▁the ▁advanced ▁German ▁forces ▁tried ▁to