Battle of Buggenhout

The Battle of Buggenhout is a famous battle at the beginning of the First World War that has taken place at Buggenhout, centrally located between the cities of Antwerp, Ghent and Brussels in Belgium. It was a Belgian offensive action against the German troops, in the direction of the South and coordinated at Dendermonde. The Belgians organised the attack on the Germans because the French hoped it would diminish the pressure on the French troops. Because King Albert I had noticed the Germans had strengthened most of their positions south of Antwerp he made the decision not to attack along the whole frontline but to make a concentrated attack against the German "37th Landwehr Brigade" who had progressed from Brussels in the direction of Dendermonde. The attack on the German troops was made by the 4th and 5th army divisions. The 4th division came from the direction of Grembergen and Hamme, whereas the 5th division, consisting of the 2nd and 5th regiments Chasseurs à pied, attacked from the left flank from Bornem and Puurs. Meanwhile the cavalry attacked Aalst from the west. The battle began on September 25, 1914 and ended on September 29, 1914.