August 25 - Louvain destroyed

Louvain is destroyed by German forces.

Destruction in Louvain

A contemporary caption to this photograph states, "All that remains of the world-famous library at Louvain, the intellectual metropolis of the Low Countries. The wreckage represents the triumph of German "culture" over the scholarly culture [of] Louvain ..."

The bombing of Antwerp

Antwerp is bombed by a Zeppelin. This artist's impression (left) was accompanied by this caption, "The Zeppelin bombardment of Antwerp, in defiance of the Hague Convention. The airship dropped shrapnel bombs ... These raids aroused much indignation both in Europe and America ..."



In Galicia, Austria-Hungarian 1st Army defeats the Russian 4th Army.


The Allies continue to retreat, fighting rearguard actions. The 26th Brigade, RFA, retires from La Longueville to Dompierre.


The Royal Flying Corps claims its first victory, Increasing numbers of reconnaissance flights take place during the "Great Retreat". On this day, three aircraft of No.2 Squadron chase an enemy monoplane and force it to land. It was destroyed by the RFC on the ground. Another German aircraft was also captured later.