Brunant in World War I

Brunant was involved in World War I from 1915 until 1918.

Brunant's entry
From September 1914, there was much interest in the unfolding war in Europe. Many Brunanters, most notably King Johan II, sympathized with the Entente (Britain and France) against perceived German and Austrian aggression. Still, few in government or the military wanted a war. The economy was still shaky, the military was distrusted by some, and the war was not seen as Brunant's fight.

Several events, like the invasion of neutral Belgium (a number of Brunanters had Belgian ancestry), and the death of six Brunanters in the sinking of the RMS Lusitania by a German U-Boat in May 1915 began to change public opinion. King Johan attended a vigil for the dead, which included 12 year old Emily Townsend of Carrington.

The change of sides by Italy from the alliance to the entente proved providential. Having Brunant's neighbors on the side of Britain (and Spain clearly neutral) gave the military the courage to suggest some sort of action. Prime Minister Van Liesneck and the Whites put forth a resolution for declaring war on Germany. The king had much to do with this; in his wish to step out of his mother's shadow and not be seen as close to Germany (unlike her), he made his pro-war views well known. On 28 May, he wrote that <>, and indeed those who advocated neutrality in congress found it increasingly harder to defend their views. While not as significant as in North America or Great Britain, the Lusitania did rouse a common national outpouring of sympathy for the allied cause at the least.

Declaration of war
On 4 June, congress passed and approved the declaration of war. The Whites won a political victory over the (mostly Liberal) anti-war factions and Johan asserted his leadership.

Brunant's first action of the war was at the Second Battle of Champagne in September.