1. Composition

The fortress of Liége or 'Le Position Fortifiée de Liége' was build on ideas and plans of Général Brialmont. It consists of twelve isolated fortresses, six large and six small equally divided over each riverbank. They encircel Liége on a distance of 6 to 8 km of the city's center. Between the fortresses is a distance wich varies from 2 (Embourg - Chaudfontaine) to 6,2 km (Embourg - Boncelles).
Brialmont the architect of these fortresses had, besides the 12 fortresses that surrounded the city, planned two other fortresses, one at Huy, upstream of the river Meuse, and another at Visé. This last one was designed to guard the river Meuse, downstream, between the city of Liége and the boundary with Nederland at a place where it is possible to wade through the river Meuse, the 'Guè de Lixhe'. All efforts and requests of Général Brialmont to build these additional fortresses where refused for budgetary reasons. It is at this point that the Germans first crossed the river Meuse. A more detailed description of the fortresses is given in the section 'Régiment Artillerie de Forteresse'

2. Les Troupes de Forteresse de Liége

The commander of the 3° Division was also governor of the 'Position fortifiée de Liége'. Therefore a général-major and a special staff was assigned to assist him in commanding the units of the 'Troupes de forteresse de Liége'.
It was stipulated that the 3° Division would be removed from his command if this division was needed in another part of the country.

(Situation august 1, 1914)