The Belgian Army of the First World War (1915 - 1918) - The Renewed Army of King Albert I

The Belgian Army of the First World War fought against the invading Germans during the German invasion of Belgium in 1914. This was the beginning of the Western Front of WW1 in Europe. The Belgian army (Armée belge) had old dark blue uniforms but had descent weaponry. The Germans were stopped at the Yser and from 1915 to 1918 King Albert I led his newly formed army at the Yser Front. In this video you're gonna learn about the renewed Belgian Army in WW1.
History Hustle presents: The Belgian Army of the First World War (1915 - 1918) - The Renewed Army of King Albert I.
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SOURCES
- The Belgian Soldier (Pierre Lierneux).
- The Belgian Army in World War I [Men-at-Arms 452] (R. Pawly & P. Lierneux).
IMAGES
Images from commons.wikimedia.org and the Museum aan de IJzer (www.museumaandeijzer.be/nl/home/)
VIDEO
Video material from:
• overstroming aan het i...
overstroming aan het ijzerfront 21 10 1914 inondations Yser
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MUSIC
"Crossing the Chasm" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License
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"Constancy Part One" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License
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SOUNDS
Freesound.org.
Wanna ask something? Send me an email at: [e-mail]

[@HistoryHustle]

GERMAN INVASION OF BELGIUM (1914): kzbin.info/www/bejne/qX7CdWekjM9rfZY BELGIUM ARMY (1914): kzbin.info/www/bejne/mYSclZqCoZWXrck YSER FRONT (1914 - 1918): kzbin.info/www/bejne/nJrLhHZ9jLWFrpI

[@danielhammersley2869]

Thank you for this insight into the Belgian Army of WW1. They fought their own war, under their own King, and avoided some of the mass stupidity of endless charges into machinegun outposts their Allied brethren repeatedly did.

[@HistoryHustle]

Thanks for your reply & support!

[@danielhammersley2869]

@@HistoryHustle You're most welcome. here in America, we learn more about either the French or the British campaigns before Americans entered the war in 1917. I do appreciate your looking into the other fronts of the Allied & Central powers as well!

[@alswann2702]

It's American law law that our troops will not fight under foreign command specifically because because they were used as cannon fodder by our "allies" in WW1 as you describe.

[@beeldpuntXVI]

King Albert did not want to Ally whit the French nor the British. They remained their own battle force. Especially France wanted to ally. Albert did not wanted to. Perculiar question why? If Belgium became official ally of France and England, France wanted to have supreme command of Belgium and France and practical assimilate Belgium. By not allieying whit France and Engeland but fighting along side, we had a fighting chance rebuilding our army, we could grow to a number of 200.000 in 18. By not allying whit England and France, king Albert kept his army out of the great offensives, which would they participated, would cost his army. Albert was not loved for this actions in allied command. But gradually we repopulated the front in Belgium with soldier, overtaking many parts of the front from the French till Ieper, where we had the position tot participate in the end offencive. For this action Albert was well loved under his men. Everyone know the poppy as a remembrance flower, But for Belgium: daisy (margrieten of madeliefje) France cornflower (bluette of koornbloem) Commonwealth : poppy although India has its own Germany: for get me not ( vergeet me niet)

[@sherirobinson6867]

I did not know that King Albert stayed with his troops. This is very admirable considering in modern warfare all the big wigs stay far from the front while the minions are killed. Salute to the memory of Albert!

[@HistoryHustle]

👍

[@jamesgibbs7872]

Very interesting facts and explanations that clearly give an understanding of the Belgium Campaign history in WWI.

[@HistoryHustle]

Thanks James!

[@nickpapagiorgio5056]

Absolutely fantastic video professor Stefan! My 11th graders are studying the First World War and I wrapped up my lesson today with your video and we all enjoyed it very much!

[@HistoryHustle]

That's awesome to read. Many thanks!!

[@mosinnagant412]

As always, very interesting. Thanks.

[@HistoryHustle]

👍👍👍

[@gerarddecocker1962]

Thankyou for this video. My grandfather fought in the Belgian Army during this period.

[@HistoryHustle]

👍 thanks for your reply.

[@gumdeo]

Very interesting, I like the old blue uniforms.

[@HistoryHustle]

Yes, I covered this about a year ago! See pinned comment.

[@rudolphguarnacci197]

Glad you followed up your Yser vid with this as i became interested in Belgium tactics, especially how you explained their king took a direct role in the battles.

[@HistoryHustle]

Thanks for watching!

[@packhorsetriumph5319]

Great video, full of fun facts

[@HistoryHustle]

👍👍👍

[@judik06]

Do you have anything on the Belgiums who went in to Holland for refuge during WW1 My Grandfather went there

[@HistoryHustle]

Perhaps one day in the future! Interesting for sure.

[@xvsj5833]

Stefan, great history hustle , love these detailed updates. Fascinating information 🤙

[@HistoryHustle]

Many thanks, Jesse!

[@luxembourgishempire2826]

Thanks for the video on the Belgian Army in WW1 Stefan! Good luck with moving as well! 🙂

[@HistoryHustle]

Thanks LE🇱🇺👍

[@shawnflynn1713]

Thank you for making so many interesting videos. Keep up the great work.

[@HistoryHustle]

👍👍

[@theodorossarafis7370]

great video as always stefan

[@HistoryHustle]

Thanks!

[@GhostCountries]

Really interesting video as always Stefan! I have to admit, I did not know much about the Belgian Army's uniform in WWI, but somewhat recently came across a video exploring the history behind the telnyashka and since then I've been looking into the evolution of various army uniforms, camouflages, helmets, etc. It's a fascinating part of history unto itself!

[@HistoryHustle]

Thanks for your reply!

[@ipsylon7297]

Interesting. Thank you.

[@HistoryHustle]

👍

[@johnfrederickson]

Very interesting

[@HistoryHustle]

Thanks for your reply!

[@HowlingWo1f]

Another Fascinating video, I’m here to feed KZbin algorithm wish a comment & thumbs up 👍 You definitely deserve. Keep doing what you do, your work is amazing.

[@HistoryHustle]

Yes, great! Thanks.

[@user-yk4ey3xl9s]

Thank you for the video - would also be great to learn about the Belgian resistance in WW2

[@HistoryHustle]

One Day 👍

[@marcelgroen6256]

Thanks for sharing Stefan. Interesting topic. Maybe some maps would give the narrative more insight.

[@HistoryHustle]

Ok👍

[@1991jerzy]

Good job.

[@HistoryHustle]

👍

[@johndeleon7415]

Yey new video

[@HistoryHustle]

👌

[@jamesbodnarchuk3322]

Question? The helmet was used both by the French & Belgian forces . What were the differences?

[@HistoryHustle]

Yes. The Belgians had a lion plate in front. The French the letters RF: republique francaise.

[@jamesbodnarchuk3322]

@@HistoryHustle thanks!

[@otisfreeman8766]

Cool 😎👍🍺

[@HistoryHustle]

🇧🇪👍

[@hobartw9770]

Hardly anyone talks about the Belgian army. Great content.

[@HistoryHustle]

Fairly overshadowed. Glad you liked it

[@arozes8324]

Kinda sad that we Belgians not really have Belgian KZbinrs that talk about the stuff you do so im really happy you talk about belgian history much love!

[@HistoryHustle]

🇧🇪👍

[@GuntherSDoumson2178]

Check Ace Destroyer. He´s Belgian. HwH gets some things wrong.

[@nickpapagiorgio5056]

Also I wanted to tell you I will be visiting my family in Haarlem for a few weeks this summer in August and I hope our schedules match up one day while I’m there because I will be taking the train to Utrecht to visit castle De Haar and would love to meet for coffee in town at some point!

[@HistoryHustle]

Yes, please e-mail me or DM me via Instagram. August is often my holiday month but we shall see.

[@nickpapagiorgio5056]

@@HistoryHustle alright I will be in touch!

[@eleanorkett1129]

Interesting presentation which showed how underprepared Belgium was for war.

[@HistoryHustle]

Glad you found it interesting, Eleanor.

[@tonnywildweasel8138]

Hats off to those Belgians! Great vid again sir. Greets from the Netherlands 🌷, T.

[@HistoryHustle]

Cheers, T.!

[@williamromine5715]

Very informative video as always. Bye the way, in the U.S. the "h" in the word "Khaki" is silent, and the "a" is pronounced like the word "candy". No big deal, however, but it took me awhile to realize you were saying "Khaki". I really enjoy your videos. Some of the best on U-TUBE. Thank you for the effort you put into your videos.

[@HistoryHustle]

Thanks for your reply!

[@socratrash]

I actually wrote my history masterthesis about the Belgian Infantry regiments from 1914 to 1918 at the university of Ghent and i am very curious to watch this.

[@HistoryHustle]

Cool!

[@Morally_Reprehensible]

can i read it bro

[@socratrash]

@@Morally_Reprehensible a masterthesis is the property of the university so everyone can read it online but its in dutch, not english. You can also find it in some military libaries in Belgium. The army asked for two copies.

[@jrooney58]

Very nice presentation. What museum did you you film the Belgian rifle in ? I thought that I saw a very rusted shotgun next to the rifle. Was that an American Winchester 1897 trench gun? A couple other questions, perhaps for a later video: First, with so much of Belgium occupied by the Germans, was the Belgian army ever able to get new recruits? And if so, how? How much did the size of the Belgian Army change during the war? Second, was the Belgian Army entirely dependent upon the British and French for supplies during the war? What arms did they adopt as the war went on? Thanks!

[@HistoryHustle]

Hi Joe, thanks for your reply. It was the museum of the Yser Towers (IJzertoren) and yes, that was the American shotgun. Belgium did get new recruits by Belgian men who crossed the border to the Netherlands and made it by boat to France. The Belgians did rely on the British and French during the war. There uniform colour and webbing became British and its looks resembled the French poilu. As for arms it remained the same and Belgian mausers were produced in Britain I believe.

[@ryanvalicek7291]

just opening the sluices and that stopped em in there tracks just like that

[@HistoryHustle]

Yes.

[@gibraltersteamboatco888]

Very informative. BZ Must have been a tough slog being isolated from family and friends for that long. Even the German occupation forces were rotated home on leave.

[@HistoryHustle]

Indeed! Most had family and friends in the other part that was now occupied.

[@46FreddieMercury91]

take a look at the 1914 French Cuirassier uniform. It is Napoleonic, from 100 years earlier. Weird when you look at it in the context of WW1

[@HistoryHustle]

Ah yes. One day for sure.

[@alswann2702]

@@HistoryHustle I'd love episodes on the use of Cavalry in WW1 and WW2. The last US Cavalry charge occurred in the Philippines during WW2, with mounted Filipino troopers and American officers wielding sabers and 1911 pistols to drive a Japanese infantry force that outnumbered them 2 to 1 from a town at a vital river ford.

[@PUAlum]

Thanks for this one! Belgium as a whole and its ww1 king in particular seem like largely unsung heroes of world war 1.

[@HistoryHustle]

Thanks for replying!

[@gerarddecocker1962]

My grandfather fought in the Belgian Army during this time.

[@HistoryHustle]

Interesting, do you know anything about his experiences?

[@mammuchan8923]

I always wonder how many lives would have been saved had the Adrian helmet been used at the outset if the war😭. But at least they hit them in 1915

[@HistoryHustle]

Yes. I do have to say the French helmet wasn't the best but it was better than the kepi.

[@Bunny-zn7ke]

@@HistoryHustle the french adrian was pretty good, was widely purchased from other countries. And soldiers in 1914 actually used skull caps under their kepis, so they still got some protection

[@stansfieldmcelroy]

Are citizens permitted firearms ownership in the Netherlands? It would be great to see you testing out some period rifles

[@HistoryHustle]

Only with licence, but gun laws are strict.

[@micheltibon6552]

Do you know if flooding was used as a standard war strategy in Belgium or was this a last ditch effort by the Belgium army?

[@HistoryHustle]

I believe the latter.

[@micheltibon6552]

@@HistoryHustle Dank je.

[@akk-nd3vj]

latest in belgian battlefield fashion

[@HistoryHustle]

lol

[@nerozero8266]

👍

[@HistoryHustle]

👍

[@TheConfederate1863]

Waar verbleef Albert 1 tijdens de oorlog? Ergens diep in Frankrijk ofzo?

[@HistoryHustle]

Nee nee, dicht bij het front. Waar precies weet ik niet.

[@jokodihaynes419]

Hope you do a special on the Russian expeditionary forces in france and the Russian legion

[@HistoryHustle]

Mention them here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/pWGze2Vti6Z5n8U

[@jokodihaynes419]

The king of Belgium and his men were welcome home as heroes but many soldiers who flee abroad were called traitors

[@HistoryHustle]

Interesting topic also.

[@danielhammersley2869]

Not seeing my name on the list of patrons still...

[@ProvidenceNL]

Must be an honest mistake, but one i would say you are justified in bringing up!

[@HistoryHustle]

Will come. Reason is that this video was pre-uploaded two weeks in advance. Reason for that is that I'm moving places.

[@danielhammersley2869]

@@HistoryHustle , was wondering about that. Please be safe moving!

[@marcoskehl]

I would like to know what the people of this channel may think about the flemish community (Flanders) and the french-speaking community (Wallonia) becoming independent states. Could the Luxembourgish Empire bite a chunk of it? 😊 Obrigado! 🇧🇷

[@HistoryHustle]

Ah yes, LE? 🇱🇺👍

[@alswann2702]

What?? No Rowan Atkinson jokes about Belgians??

[@HistoryHustle]

🤣lol

[@sirdarklust]

All this and they still didn't sew Chimay patches on their uniforms? Take care and ding dong...

[@HistoryHustle]

Lol 🤣

[@emperorshowa8842]

🇧🇪🇳🇱 💪

[@HistoryHustle]

Ok.

[@emperorshowa8842]

@@HistoryHustle Thx

[@poil8351]

belgian army 1915 the british look cool so we will copy them. also the belgian army we need a helmet lets copy the french.

[@HistoryHustle]

Lol. Fair point though. Similar to the 1940 army.

[@josefrietveld219]

3:27 new conspiracy theory: Covid19 already a reality in WWI :)

[@HistoryHustle]

Lol I knew people would say that 🤣

[@maximilianolimamoreira5002]

@@HistoryHustle I heard the Canadian troops at the battle of Ipres had to wear cloth covered in piss, to deal with the gass, must have been stinky

[@Bunny-zn7ke]

@@maximilianolimamoreira5002 wasnt just canadians, a lot of nations that didn't have gas masks, used cloth.