August 7, 1914

One hundred years ago today Russia declared war on Germany (Germany had declared war on Russia six days earlier on the first of August).

The first British troops started to arrive in France (In an army known as the British Expeditionary Force, or BEF). Britain, which relied on volunteer for its army, calls for 100,000 more men to enlist.   

The French army invade German territory along the Franco-German boarder and is initially successful at defeating German forces.  Additionally French troops start to enter Belgium in large numbers to assist the Belgian army. The Germany army is still bogged down at the fortresses of Liege.

This day was considered the start of the campaign which would later become known as "The Battle of the Frontiers." Is would consist of series of battles that took place between the city of Liege in east central Belgium to the city of Mulhouse near the border with Switzerland in what was then Germany and is today France (over two hundred miles away). The Battle of the Frontiers would last until September 13th. Over the next forty-three days it is estimated that approximately 660,000 Belgium, French and German soldiers would be reported killed, wounded or missing. That comes to about eleven casualties every minute over the entire course of the forty-three days.