Ceremony in Belgian city of Liege marks anniversary of outbreak of World War invaded neutral Belgium on the next four years , and Liege declared war . Over August 4 , 1914 , 16 million people died in the conflict , many on Belgian battlefields . Prince William said the people of Belgium had been among the war 's first victims , and their `` resistance was as gallant as their suffering was great . '' Duke said war was now `` unthinkable '' between nations who had fought .
Ceremony in Belgian city of Liege marks anniversary of outbreak of World War invaded neutral Belgium on the next four years , and Liege declared war . Over August 4 , 1914 , 16 million people died in the conflict , many on Belgian battlefields . Duke said war was now `` unthinkable '' between nations who had fought .