Gerard Mathieu Joseph Georges, count Leman (8 January 1851 – 17 October 1920) was a Belgian general. He was responsible for the military education of King Albert I of Belgium. During World War I he was the commander of the forts surrounding the Belgian city of Liège. The German Forces had to use heavy artillery to break through the defences and capture Leman as a prisoner of War. He was released at the end of the war and died a hero, in 1920.
Leman was the son of an artillery captain who was a professor at the Military School. He entered the Military School at Brussels, and when he left it in 1869 had acquired a reputation for brilliance. During the Franco-German War, he served in a Belgian observation corps. In 1882, he became a member of the teaching staff of the Military School, and both then and later, as head of the school, he exerted considerable influence on military matters, becoming famous as a mathematician.[1] During this period he was responsible for the military education of King Albert I of Belgium and the Filipino general Antonio Luna.
Preparing Liège
In January 1914, he was appointed commander of the forts surrounding the Belgian city of Liège as well as the 3rd division of the Belgian army.[1] Leman was determined to hinder the German advance as much as possible. Over 18,000 labourers were set to work building fortifications around Liège. During a visit by a Belgian minister, Leman was told that these projects would compromise the neutrality of Belgium. Leman was unimpressed and replied that Belgium would come to thank him if war would break out; if no war came "they could take away his general’s stars".[citation needed]
Battle of Liège
In August 1914, German forces under the command of General Otto von Emmich appeared before Liège and summoned it to surrender. On Gen. Leman's refusal, the fortress was attacked, and the Battle of Liège began.[1] Gen. von Emmich's forces were initially unable to break through his fortifications: only after they used very heavy artillery (Big Bertha and other heavy guns, brought from Germany and Skoda works), against the forts did they succeed in knocking them out. Leman was knocked unconscious by the bombardment, and was rescued by the Germans from under the debris of Fort Loncin. He was held as a prisoner of war in Germany until 1917, when he was repatriated to Switzerland due to ill health.[2] As a token of respect, he was allowed to retain his sword.[1] Leman insisted that the report of his capture mentioned that he did not surrender, but was captured unconscious.[3]
After the war
After the war, he returned to a hero's welcome in Belgium. He died in 1920, aged 69.
^ abcdChisholm, Hugh, ed. (1922). "Leman, Gérard Joseph Mathieu Georges" . Encyclopædia Britannica (12th ed.). London & New York: The Encyclopædia Britannica Company.
^Baker, Chris (2009). "Brave Little Belgium". Retrieved 4 July 2022.
^Meyer, G.J. (2007). A World Undone: The Story of the Great War 1914 to 1918. Delacorte Press. p. 135..
gérard, leman, this, article, needs, additional, citations, verification, please, help, improve, this, article, adding, citations, reliable, sources, unsourced, material, challenged, removed, find, sources, news, newspapers, books, scholar, jstor, january, 200. This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Gerard Leman news newspapers books scholar JSTOR January 2007 Learn how and when to remove this template message Gerard Mathieu Joseph Georges count Leman 8 January 1851 17 October 1920 was a Belgian general He was responsible for the military education of King Albert I of Belgium During World War I he was the commander of the forts surrounding the Belgian city of Liege The German Forces had to use heavy artillery to break through the defences and capture Leman as a prisoner of War He was released at the end of the war and died a hero in 1920 Gerard Mathieu Joseph Georges LemanBorn 1851 01 08 8 January 1851Liege BelgiumDied17 October 1920 1920 10 17 aged 69 Liege BelgiumNationalityBelgianKnown forOrganising the defence of Liege during World War I Contents 1 Pre World War I 2 Preparing Liege 3 Battle of Liege 4 After the war 5 Title and honours 5 1 Military awards and decorations 6 References 7 External linksPre World War I EditLeman was the son of an artillery captain who was a professor at the Military School He entered the Military School at Brussels and when he left it in 1869 had acquired a reputation for brilliance During the Franco German War he served in a Belgian observation corps In 1882 he became a member of the teaching staff of the Military School and both then and later as head of the school he exerted considerable influence on military matters becoming famous as a mathematician 1 During this period he was responsible for the military education of King Albert I of Belgium and the Filipino general Antonio Luna Preparing Liege EditIn January 1914 he was appointed commander of the forts surrounding the Belgian city of Liege as well as the 3rd division of the Belgian army 1 Leman was determined to hinder the German advance as much as possible Over 18 000 labourers were set to work building fortifications around Liege During a visit by a Belgian minister Leman was told that these projects would compromise the neutrality of Belgium Leman was unimpressed and replied that Belgium would come to thank him if war would break out if no war came they could take away his general s stars citation needed Battle of Liege EditIn August 1914 German forces under the command of General Otto von Emmich appeared before Liege and summoned it to surrender On Gen Leman s refusal the fortress was attacked and the Battle of Liege began 1 Gen von Emmich s forces were initially unable to break through his fortifications only after they used very heavy artillery Big Bertha and other heavy guns brought from Germany and Skoda works against the forts did they succeed in knocking them out Leman was knocked unconscious by the bombardment and was rescued by the Germans from under the debris of Fort Loncin He was held as a prisoner of war in Germany until 1917 when he was repatriated to Switzerland due to ill health 2 As a token of respect he was allowed to retain his sword 1 Leman insisted that the report of his capture mentioned that he did not surrender but was captured unconscious 3 After the war EditAfter the war he returned to a hero s welcome in Belgium He died in 1920 aged 69 Title and honours EditGerard Mathieu Leman rose to the rank of lieutenant general and was made a count Military awards and decorations Edit Grand cordon of the order of Leopold with palm Grand officer of the order of the crown War cross WWI with palm Liege medal WWI Victory medal WW I commemorative medal Military cross first class Commemorative medal of the reign of King Leopold II Knight grand cross of the order of St Michael and St George Grand cross of the legion of honor France Grand officer of the order of military merit Spain Commander of the order of the redeemer Greece Order of the double dragon China Order of the star of Romania Romania War cross with palm France War merit cross Italy References Edit a b c d Chisholm Hugh ed 1922 Leman Gerard Joseph Mathieu Georges Encyclopaedia Britannica 12th ed London amp New York The Encyclopaedia Britannica Company Baker Chris 2009 Brave Little Belgium Retrieved 4 July 2022 Meyer G J 2007 A World Undone The Story of the Great War 1914 to 1918 Delacorte Press p 135 External links EditNewspaper clippings about Gerard Leman in the 20th Century Press Archives of the ZBW Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Gerard Leman amp oldid 1131532148, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
