Mons, Battle of

In World War I, German victory over the British Expeditionary Force in August 1914. A planned attack on the German armies invading Belgium fell apart when French troops did not arrive, leaving the British to extricate themselves as best they could.

The British were to join two French forces in an encircling attack on the Germans under General von Kluck. However, the French force due to operate on the British left did not arrive, leaving their flank open. A German thrust broke in between the British and the French 5th Army on their right flank, which broke and began to fall back, leaving the British with both flanks open to encirclement. Assuming that the French would soon return, the British dug in and resisted German attacks but by the afternoon of 24 August it was obvious that the French would not return and the British would be overwhelmed. They were forced out of a prepared defensive position and gradually retreated southward in a series of leap‐frogging rearguard actions until the Germans over‐stretched their supply lines and slackened their pursuit. The British formed a fresh line and the retreat was over.