Events of 20 August 1914

The reason why I've photographed a tried and trusted brussell sprout recipe? Well this was a major event that happened on 20 August 1914.

On 20 August, Adolphe Max, two Aldermen and the city secretary meet the Germans at the Place Dailly. The Mayor refuses to speak German and recalls that his city gave the emperor a beautiful reception in 1910. In vain he asks to send a telegram to Emperor Wilhelm II to request not to pass through Brussels.

Immediately, the conditions of the occupation are defined: the German army demands 18,000 kg of bread and 10,000 kg of meat for the first day only! Germany also claims the sum of 50 million gold francs before 1 September. Adolphe Max protests against this violence and warns that he will not bend to these restrictions. The municipal administration is allowed to continue and the Mayor announces that he will be staying at the City Hall, where a bed will be placed.

At the end, Mayor Max refuses to shake hands with a German General. According to a witness he says:

I'm sorry, Mr. General. In these painful circumstances I can not shake hands because I can not forget that my country is suffering terribly and I hope you understand me.


At 2 pm, the occupation army enters Brussels. A symbolic moment is the arrival at the Grand-Place, where the tired and hungry troops prepare their meals in field kitchens. A German flag is hoisted on the left side of the City Hall.

On 20 August, the locals immediately realize the severity of the occupation and what they could expect for the 50 months to come: deprivation of liberty, food shortages, unemployment, house searches, arbitrary arrests,...