zaterdag 6 februari 2016

Three days in Augusts 1914

Three days in Augusts 1914
From a book written in the Netherlands called Was het anders gelopen (English: did it happen differently) about what if things turn out differently in Dutch history. One of the chapters is called Three days in Augusts 1914 (Dutch: drie dagen in Augustus 1914).

Augusts 3rd (Day 1)

The chapter begins when German units along the border of Belgium are ordered to begin their attack into Belgium but because a mistake made by the German headquarters the German units station at the border of the Netherlands province of Limburg also receive the orders to move into the province of Limburg in order to attack Belgium.

Later in the day while German cavalry units and Infantry are moving true central-Limburg towards Belgium and small fire fights are happening between German and Dutch army units there the German ambassador to Netherlands who is summed by the Netherlands minster of foreign affairs to explain , tells that the movement of German forces true the province of Limburg towards Belgium was a mistake due a fault by the German HQ but that as the attack was already under way the Germans were planning to continue until all German forces had enter entered Belgium, the German ambassador to Netherlands also informs the Netherlands minster of foreign affairs that Germany is offering to pay any damages caused by the German movement true Limburg but if the Netherlands soldiers continue to engage German units crossing the province of Limburg towards Belgium are attack then Germany will be at war with the Netherlands.

Augusts 4th (Day 2)

Despite the Germans claiming that the movement true the Netherlands province of Limburg towards Belgium was a mistake and panic sweeping the country the Netherlands government still is getting reports of fighting across central-Limburg as German cavalry and Infantry units continue to enter the province of Limburg as they had towards Belgium a German ultimatum is given to the Netherlands government in which the German demand the ending of hostilities against German forces in the province of Limburg ore the German Empire will considers itself in war with the Netherlands.

When a Netherlands General informs the minster of War that a birthday party by some high ranking German officers at a farms just across the border in Germany is to be held for a very high ranking German officer , the minster of War suggest to kidnap that officer to be used as a leverage in negations with the German Empire.

So this Netherlands plan is executed when Netherlands forces in Limburg kidnap the German officer who turns out to be none other than the Crown Prince Friedrich Wilhelm commander of the German 5th Army who is taken in custody and brought to Den Hague, The German government unaware that the crown prince has been kidnaped in the meantime has decided to declare war onto the Netherlands when they are informed about the Crown Prince Friedrich Wilhelm kidnaping and results that the German emperor decides to back down on declaring war onto the Netherlands as he thinks that Germany would made a foul when it becomes known that a handful of Netherlands soldiers mange to kidnap the German crown prince near the German border and he orders the German minster of foreign affairs to contact his Netherlands counterpart for their demands in releasing the Crown prince.

Augusts 5th (Day 3)

After a day the Netherlands demands are made known to the German Government witch are:

- All German forces present in the province of Limburg are to have left the territory by the end 15.00 clock.

- About the kidnaping ore the enragements with Germany will not be made public.

- Germany will respect the neutrality of the Netherlands.

- News bulletins will be considered to be just unconfirmed.

- The crown prince will be handed over to German officials at a border post near the town of Venlo at 16.00 clock.

- Germany will pay for damages caused by the fighting in the province of Limburg.