Dr. Pierre Lerneux: The Belgian Army in WW I Volume 2 - Portable Service Weapons

Publisher Militaria. Illustrated in color, 512 pages, over 1,500 color photographs, contemporary B&W photographs, tables and illustrations, linen bound with dust jacket, large format: 29.5 x 26 cm.

To write about the history of firearms without mentioning the reputation of the Belgian firearms industry would be ignoring the important place this country held in the field. The quantity and variety of weapons produced in Belgium and exported during the 19th century was exceptional.

The production capability, as well as the know-how and ingenuity of the gunsmiths, were naturally placed at the service of the Belgian Army. Modest in numbers, the army had at its disposal in 1914 decent individual armament, even if its design was twenty years old. Well trained, the soldier could exploit to the maximum the long-range precision of his weapon. However, the small number of automatic weapons, recently purchased, would prove a serious handicap when vastly outnumbered by the enemy.

The Battle of the Yser, saving a small portion of the national territory, saw the end of the war of maneuver. The war years saw the government and rear echelons multiply their efforts and ingenuity to ensure the soldier on the front line was properly armed. In addition to numerous adaptations to existing materiel, there was a large diversification in the origins of the equipment fielded. Photographs of the Belgian front allow the identification of weapons from France, the United Kingdom, United States as well as Germany and Turkey among others, weapons used as built or modified to suit the needs of the army.

Given the complexity of the subject, the masses of fresh information and photographs available, a second volume dedicated to small arms was deemed necessary to complete the overview of the Belgian Army during the Great War. Once again the collections of the Royal Military Museum of Brussels reveal their wealth and diversity. Much more than a simple catalog of weapons used by the Belgian Army, it is the story of the transformation of a small army caught in the struggles of the Great War, its adaptation to technological and tactical progress.

For deliveries to non-European countries, increased shipping costs may apply. We ask for consultation.
Pour les livraisons dans des pays non européens, des frais d'expédition plus élevés peuvent s'appliquer. Nous demandons une consultation.

296406

€ 99,00

Dr. Pierre Lerneux: The Belgian Army in WW I Volume 2 - Portable Service Weapons

This work by Dr. Pierre Lerneux on the portable service weapons of the Belgian Army in World War I represents a significant contribution to military historical research. With over 1,500 color photographs and 512 pages, this second volume documents the complex weapons history of a small but valiant army caught in an unprecedented industrialized conflict between 1914 and 1918.

The Belgian firearms industry enjoyed international renown throughout the 19th century. Cities such as Liège and Herstal developed into centers of arms manufacturing, with companies like Fabrique Nationale d'Armes de Guerre (FN), founded in 1889, achieving worldwide significance. Belgian gunsmiths combined traditional craftsmanship with industrial innovation, exporting their products to every continent.

At the outbreak of war in 1914, the Belgian Army numbered approximately 117,000 men. Their primary armament consisted of the Mauser Model 1889 rifle, a Belgian adaptation of the German system manufactured by FN in Herstal. This 7.65mm weapon was technically sound, but its design dated from the 1880s. The soldiers were well-trained and could optimally exploit the precision and range of their weapons, yet the army suffered from a severe shortage of automatic weapons.

The Battle of the Yser in October-November 1914 marked a turning point. By flooding the terrain, the Belgian Army succeeded in holding a small portion of national territory, but the war of movement had ended. The transition to trench warfare required new weapon types: machine guns, hand grenades, trench knives, and later light machine guns.

The Belgian government, evacuated to Sainte-Adresse in France, was forced to procure weapons from diverse sources. The Belgian front became an arsenal of international provenance. French Lebel rifles and Berthier carbines, British Lee-Enfield rifles, American weapons, and even captured German Mauser 98s and Ottoman weapons found employment.

Particularly noteworthy were the numerous adaptations and modifications of existing weapons. The Royal Military Museum in Brussels, whose collections form the foundation of Lerneux's research, preserves unique examples of these improvisations. Rifles were shortened for trench warfare, equipped with grenade-launching devices, or converted for different ammunition types.

Handguns comprised a variety of revolver systems, including Belgian Nagant revolvers and various automatic pistols. FN had begun production of the Browning Model 1900 pistol and later models before the war, which were popular among officers.

Machine gun equipment evolved considerably during the war. Initially, the army possessed only a few heavy machine guns, primarily the water-cooled Maxim system. Over the course of the war, French Hotchkiss and Chauchat machine guns, as well as British Lewis Guns and Vickers machine guns, were added.

The logistical challenges of this diversification were enormous. Different weapon systems required different ammunition, spare parts, and training. Belgian Army leadership had to develop a complex system to ensure front-line supply while simultaneously attempting standardization.

Dr. Lerneux's work is more than a weapons catalog. It documents the technological and tactical transformation of an army under wartime conditions. Contemporary black-and-white photographs show Belgian soldiers with their equipment at the front, conveying an authentic impression of the reality of the Great War.

The significance of this second volume lies in its comprehensive documentation of small arms. While the first volume laid the groundwork, this one explores the details and variants that complete the full picture of Belgian armament. The over 1,500 color photographs enable detailed studies of markings, modifications, and variants.

For military historians, arms collectors, and World War I researchers, this monumental work offers an indispensable reference. It documents not only the weapons themselves but also the history of a people who, despite occupation and exile, maintained their resistance and contributed to the eventual liberation in 1918.