Late November 1914
It's attempt frustrated by the German Army, the Russian Army falls back to the town of Lodz. Pushed out from there, the Russians retreat to the east and dig in. Meanwhile, the last independent action led by the Austria commander Conrad von Hotzendorf (one of the main prewar hawks) begins and ends. He takes advantage of confusion in the Russian retreat to attack further south in the Carpathians. The Russians are kept out of the Hungarian capital, Budapest, but the Austrian Army is finally halted and has been utterly devastated. Loyal Austrians have been thrown away in the quest for glory and their places taken by men far less invested in the empire, such as recently conquered Slavs from the east. The Austrian Army will become increasingly an auxiliary of the German.
Monday, November 24, 2014
Sunday, November 16, 2014
2nd Warsaw and Diggin In
November 1914
The French command looks at the situation and decides the thing to do is to strengthen their positions along the Western front. The British, sensing blood, decide that the correct strategy is to dominate no-mans-land between the hastily dug trenches. Raids on axis trenches become their tactic in the west. At the same time, Canadian and India forces are arriving to reinforce the BEF.
After a long series of local battles, the German Army is consolidating its position around Ypres in Belgium, but is unable to dominate the British and French fighting tenaciously in its defense. At the climactic moment on November 11, a cobbled up force of British cooks and drivers manage to turn back an offensive by the elite German First Guards Regiment and send them scurrying for cover. Audacious!
In Poland, on November 11, the Russian command, flush with success in defending Warsaw, decides to press their advantage and go on the attack. Unfortunately for them, the German Ninth Army had similar ideas, struck hard, and forced a retreat on the Russians. The Russians realize their tenuous position and retreat to Lodz, where they are able to hold off the German advance. Thus, Russian plans for winter in Berlin are frustrated.
The French command looks at the situation and decides the thing to do is to strengthen their positions along the Western front. The British, sensing blood, decide that the correct strategy is to dominate no-mans-land between the hastily dug trenches. Raids on axis trenches become their tactic in the west. At the same time, Canadian and India forces are arriving to reinforce the BEF.
After a long series of local battles, the German Army is consolidating its position around Ypres in Belgium, but is unable to dominate the British and French fighting tenaciously in its defense. At the climactic moment on November 11, a cobbled up force of British cooks and drivers manage to turn back an offensive by the elite German First Guards Regiment and send them scurrying for cover. Audacious!
In Poland, on November 11, the Russian command, flush with success in defending Warsaw, decides to press their advantage and go on the attack. Unfortunately for them, the German Ninth Army had similar ideas, struck hard, and forced a retreat on the Russians. The Russians realize their tenuous position and retreat to Lodz, where they are able to hold off the German advance. Thus, Russian plans for winter in Berlin are frustrated.
Thursday, October 30, 2014
Ypres Continues
October 30, 1914
The small battles for villages along the ridge at Ypres results in many places being taken, lost and retaken many times by both sides. In the end, winter will come and force an end to the carnage. Both sides will declare victory and with some justification. The Allies have successfully stood between the Axis and the channel. The Germans have maintained and improved their grip on most of Belgium. Germany has lost 100,000 men, the Allies a similar number. Winter forces both sides to form makeshift defenses where they can nervously await spring.
The small battles for villages along the ridge at Ypres results in many places being taken, lost and retaken many times by both sides. In the end, winter will come and force an end to the carnage. Both sides will declare victory and with some justification. The Allies have successfully stood between the Axis and the channel. The Germans have maintained and improved their grip on most of Belgium. Germany has lost 100,000 men, the Allies a similar number. Winter forces both sides to form makeshift defenses where they can nervously await spring.
Friday, October 17, 2014
First Warsaw and Ypres
October 17, 1914
To the east the first Battle of Warsaw is being fought. The Russians advance over sodden swampy roads. The Germans and Austrians attempt to break their advance but fail and are obliged to retreat.
Meanwhile, Sir John French is moving the BEF eastward toward Flanders and toward a German Army that they have no idea is in their path. It is the beginning of the first Battle of Ypres. British, French and the remains of the Belgian Army converge on a Germany Army that is tired of retreat. The winter is coming on and cold and damp become a way of life for both armies.
King Albert of Belgium is told in no uncertain terms that he cannot expect to hold his crown after hostilities are concluded, if he loses the last piece of Belgian territory to the Axis. Out of desperation, he opens the sluice gates and floods wide stretches of ground. The advancing Germans have to scramble back and fight for higher ground.around Ypres. All around the battle field, entrenchments become man-made ponds and muddy canals. The terrible conditions favor the defenders and deadlock is the result.
A brigade of reserves composed of German schoolboys advance with linked arms and singing school songs are mowed down by machine gun fire. The horror of modern warfare is becoming clearer to all the participants.
To the east the first Battle of Warsaw is being fought. The Russians advance over sodden swampy roads. The Germans and Austrians attempt to break their advance but fail and are obliged to retreat.
Meanwhile, Sir John French is moving the BEF eastward toward Flanders and toward a German Army that they have no idea is in their path. It is the beginning of the first Battle of Ypres. British, French and the remains of the Belgian Army converge on a Germany Army that is tired of retreat. The winter is coming on and cold and damp become a way of life for both armies.
King Albert of Belgium is told in no uncertain terms that he cannot expect to hold his crown after hostilities are concluded, if he loses the last piece of Belgian territory to the Axis. Out of desperation, he opens the sluice gates and floods wide stretches of ground. The advancing Germans have to scramble back and fight for higher ground.around Ypres. All around the battle field, entrenchments become man-made ponds and muddy canals. The terrible conditions favor the defenders and deadlock is the result.
A brigade of reserves composed of German schoolboys advance with linked arms and singing school songs are mowed down by machine gun fire. The horror of modern warfare is becoming clearer to all the participants.
Friday, October 10, 2014
Moving the BEF
October 8-19, 1914
The battle along the extreme northern end of the front has narrowed to a flat featureless district in Belgium known as Flanders. The British Army, including elements of cavalry and East Indian regiments, is being moved here to protect the channel ports from domination by the Germans. The hard fighting Belgium Army, evacuated from Antwerp, regroups after the surrender of the city and joins them. The forces concentrate around the Belgian city of Ypres. The French call it "eep", to the tommies it is called "wipers".
The French Commander Joffre is a little worried that the proximity of the British forces to the English Channel may facilitate a return to their home island if the war takes a turn for the worse for the Allies. Her urges caution on Sir John French.
On October 10th, forces of the German Army finally occupy Antwerp after a difficult siege. It's another disaster for the Allies.
The battle along the extreme northern end of the front has narrowed to a flat featureless district in Belgium known as Flanders. The British Army, including elements of cavalry and East Indian regiments, is being moved here to protect the channel ports from domination by the Germans. The hard fighting Belgium Army, evacuated from Antwerp, regroups after the surrender of the city and joins them. The forces concentrate around the Belgian city of Ypres. The French call it "eep", to the tommies it is called "wipers".
The French Commander Joffre is a little worried that the proximity of the British forces to the English Channel may facilitate a return to their home island if the war takes a turn for the worse for the Allies. Her urges caution on Sir John French.
On October 10th, forces of the German Army finally occupy Antwerp after a difficult siege. It's another disaster for the Allies.
Monday, September 29, 2014
Overconfidence at Warsaw
September 29-October 18, 1914
The Germans, under Hindenburg and Ludendorf, fresh from their victory at Tannenberg begin to move their armies south toward Warsaw in what they imagine as a mopping up effort to destroy what they could of Russian forces. But the Russians have plans of their own and reinforcements from the other end of the Russian empire are arriving to strengthening them. By October 18th, Ludendorf understands that he has to retreat or face disaster. In all the activity, 300 miles to the south, the Austrian Army, which has been trying to cooperate with the Germans is devastated by the Russians.
The Germans, under Hindenburg and Ludendorf, fresh from their victory at Tannenberg begin to move their armies south toward Warsaw in what they imagine as a mopping up effort to destroy what they could of Russian forces. But the Russians have plans of their own and reinforcements from the other end of the Russian empire are arriving to strengthening them. By October 18th, Ludendorf understands that he has to retreat or face disaster. In all the activity, 300 miles to the south, the Austrian Army, which has been trying to cooperate with the Germans is devastated by the Russians.
Friday, September 19, 2014
More from Britain
September 19, 1914
A marine force of the British Royal Navy lands today at Dunkirk and with it comes the the First Lord of the Admiralty, Winston Churchill. This action demonstrates the Churchill's concern of a possible occupation of the channel ports by Germany.
This shift of focus is to the north where Germany has been conducting a siege of the pivotal Belgian port city of Antwerp where the Belgians have been hanging on bravely. Both sides have been transferring troops in an attempt to exploit weaknesses of the other north of the River Aisne all the way to the English Channel.
A marine force of the British Royal Navy lands today at Dunkirk and with it comes the the First Lord of the Admiralty, Winston Churchill. This action demonstrates the Churchill's concern of a possible occupation of the channel ports by Germany.
This shift of focus is to the north where Germany has been conducting a siege of the pivotal Belgian port city of Antwerp where the Belgians have been hanging on bravely. Both sides have been transferring troops in an attempt to exploit weaknesses of the other north of the River Aisne all the way to the English Channel.
Saturday, September 13, 2014
Results
September 13, 1914
The end result of the pivotal Battle of the Marne is that there is no end result. The master battle plans, the French Plan 17 and the German Schlieffen plans have both failed and left both sides exhausted and in positions from which they could not retreat. There are still battles to fight this year, and the war will expand its horizons but the reality of a terrible static war of attrition is beginning to sink in.
The end result of the pivotal Battle of the Marne is that there is no end result. The master battle plans, the French Plan 17 and the German Schlieffen plans have both failed and left both sides exhausted and in positions from which they could not retreat. There are still battles to fight this year, and the war will expand its horizons but the reality of a terrible static war of attrition is beginning to sink in.
Tuesday, September 9, 2014
First Marne
September 5-12, 1914
Due to the pull back at the western end of the front, Paris is under threat from the German 1st and 2nd Armies, a threat that French high command has to take very seriously. In response to it General Joffre agrees to create a new army, the French 6th for the defense of the capitol. He put that defense under the command of a canny but ailing retired general, Joseph Gallieni. It is a fateful decision. It is his idea to use the defense forces in cooperation with the other French armies in an assault on the Axis.
The German Army "shortcut" to the east of Paris is threatening to collide with the westernmost flank of the combined forces of the French army and the British Expeditionary Force, both of which are in increasing disarray. British General French is making plans to withdraw back across the channel to rest and refit, when he is ordered to make a stand at the River Marne, which flows eastward into the Seine at Paris. A widening gap between the German armies is a golden opportunity for the Allies.
As the newly formed French 6th Army attacks the German 1st, the BEF exploits the gap between the German armies. Reconnaissance from the air, is effective in informing the French and British where opportunities lie. 6000 French troops are ferried to the front by Parisian taxi cabs, which are impressed into service. By September 9th, the situation is so critical for the Germans, that they order a retreat of their own back to the River Aisne. It is a very encouraging result for the Allies, who have been wondering where their long retreat would end.
Due to the pull back at the western end of the front, Paris is under threat from the German 1st and 2nd Armies, a threat that French high command has to take very seriously. In response to it General Joffre agrees to create a new army, the French 6th for the defense of the capitol. He put that defense under the command of a canny but ailing retired general, Joseph Gallieni. It is a fateful decision. It is his idea to use the defense forces in cooperation with the other French armies in an assault on the Axis.
The German Army "shortcut" to the east of Paris is threatening to collide with the westernmost flank of the combined forces of the French army and the British Expeditionary Force, both of which are in increasing disarray. British General French is making plans to withdraw back across the channel to rest and refit, when he is ordered to make a stand at the River Marne, which flows eastward into the Seine at Paris. A widening gap between the German armies is a golden opportunity for the Allies.
As the newly formed French 6th Army attacks the German 1st, the BEF exploits the gap between the German armies. Reconnaissance from the air, is effective in informing the French and British where opportunities lie. 6000 French troops are ferried to the front by Parisian taxi cabs, which are impressed into service. By September 9th, the situation is so critical for the Germans, that they order a retreat of their own back to the River Aisne. It is a very encouraging result for the Allies, who have been wondering where their long retreat would end.
Tuesday, September 2, 2014
Modification to the Master Plan
September 2, 1914
Allied armies have been falling back in the face of the strengthening Germany Army in the west. The Germans are pushing back both the French Army and the BEF. Now the dilemma for the German 1st army is whether to press it forward around Paris and into the flank of the French Army, as was originally envisioned in the Schlieffen plan, or to take the "short cut" inside Paris and attempt to separate the enemy force from his capitol. Recognizing the difficulty of lengthening lines of supply, Moltke opts for the latter. This, of course, opens his own flank to attack from forces stationed in Paris to protect the city. For commanders, war is always about minimizing certain facts on the ground in favor of others.
It becomes a time of endless marching for infantry of both sides. Soldiers are learning how to sleep standing up and cavalry soldiers simply doze off and fall off their horses.
Now, the field commander of the crucial French 5th Army is changed. The "worn out" General Lanrezac is replaced by an agressive corp commander General Franchet d'Esperey, who has recently demonstrated energy and initiative during the great strategic retreat. The British, who nickname him, Desperate Franky, seem to approve of the change, and their commander General French, has developed a poor regard for Lanrezac. The retired Lanrezac does receive, in retrospect, credit for keeping the 5th Army an effective mobile fighting force in being during one of the most difficult times of the war for the Allies.
Meantime further east, the Germans have won a major battle, the battle of Tannenberg in Prussia by concentrating against two massive Russian armies, stiking the blow before the two armies could (or would) unite. Prussian General Paul von Hindenberg is made a national hero by saving the source of German military pride from debasement by the slavs. The chief-of-staff of the German 8th Army is a young officer recently promoted, Erich Ludendorf. The German victory owes much to mistakes made by the Russian commander, Zilinski, and a long standing antipathy between the two Russian army field commanders, the First Army's Pavel Rennenkampf and the Second Army's Alexander Samsonov.
For the Axis, the situation is encouraging in the west, where the Allies seem to be in full retreat, and in the center, where Russian numbers seem no match for German tactical superiority and discipline. The situation looks less hopeful in South-Eastern Europe where the Austrians are being handled easily by the Serbs and their big brothers, the Russians. The situations of both sides are still fluid and evolve rapidly.
Allied armies have been falling back in the face of the strengthening Germany Army in the west. The Germans are pushing back both the French Army and the BEF. Now the dilemma for the German 1st army is whether to press it forward around Paris and into the flank of the French Army, as was originally envisioned in the Schlieffen plan, or to take the "short cut" inside Paris and attempt to separate the enemy force from his capitol. Recognizing the difficulty of lengthening lines of supply, Moltke opts for the latter. This, of course, opens his own flank to attack from forces stationed in Paris to protect the city. For commanders, war is always about minimizing certain facts on the ground in favor of others.
It becomes a time of endless marching for infantry of both sides. Soldiers are learning how to sleep standing up and cavalry soldiers simply doze off and fall off their horses.
Now, the field commander of the crucial French 5th Army is changed. The "worn out" General Lanrezac is replaced by an agressive corp commander General Franchet d'Esperey, who has recently demonstrated energy and initiative during the great strategic retreat. The British, who nickname him, Desperate Franky, seem to approve of the change, and their commander General French, has developed a poor regard for Lanrezac. The retired Lanrezac does receive, in retrospect, credit for keeping the 5th Army an effective mobile fighting force in being during one of the most difficult times of the war for the Allies.
Meantime further east, the Germans have won a major battle, the battle of Tannenberg in Prussia by concentrating against two massive Russian armies, stiking the blow before the two armies could (or would) unite. Prussian General Paul von Hindenberg is made a national hero by saving the source of German military pride from debasement by the slavs. The chief-of-staff of the German 8th Army is a young officer recently promoted, Erich Ludendorf. The German victory owes much to mistakes made by the Russian commander, Zilinski, and a long standing antipathy between the two Russian army field commanders, the First Army's Pavel Rennenkampf and the Second Army's Alexander Samsonov.
For the Axis, the situation is encouraging in the west, where the Allies seem to be in full retreat, and in the center, where Russian numbers seem no match for German tactical superiority and discipline. The situation looks less hopeful in South-Eastern Europe where the Austrians are being handled easily by the Serbs and their big brothers, the Russians. The situations of both sides are still fluid and evolve rapidly.
Tuesday, August 26, 2014
First British Blood
August 26, 1914
On the 21st of August, on the western front, the advancing German Army has encountered the French near Charleroi. The British, taking up their places on the battle front, move up to Mons eight miles west, to cover the French flank. Immediately, they are brought into action defending the Mons canal, four skilled and experienced divisions facing six German.
General Alexander von Kluck commands the First Army at the German right. He knows it is up to him to wheel south and make quick work of France, so German attention can be refocused to the east. It is his preference to move further west around the flank of the BEF, but he has been commanded to remain in close contact with the Second Army to his left. Therefore, he opens with artillery against the seasoned British troops standing in his way. A major opportunity for an early German victory, based on maneuver rather than toe-to-toe slugging it out, is lost.
Given that the French line to the right of the BEF has made a "strategic retreat", the British Army has no choice but to do likewise. Pulling back while engaged in an intense battle is a recipe for military disaster, but the British pull it off. Sir John French saw the withdrawal as a betrayal of the British by the French Army. Relations between the allies, never very cordial, begin to fray badly. On August 26th, the British Army makes a desperate stand in the way of the Germans at La Cateau, where 55 thousand Brits slow the advance of almost three times as many Germans.
Along the rest of the front, French practitioners of "always forward" thinking have been throwing themselves at German artillery and machine guns, with predictable results. Terrible losses are already forcing the French high command, in the person of General Joseph Joffre, to consider digging in and holding on.
On the 23rd of August, Japan comes in and declares war on Germany.
Strangely, Serbia, the proximate cause of the conflagration, has been almost forgotten in all the hubbub. The Austrian Army, after some initial success, has been pushed back out of Serbia. Poland to the north (Germany's sacred Prussia) is understood to be the site of the real battle with Russia.
On the 21st of August, on the western front, the advancing German Army has encountered the French near Charleroi. The British, taking up their places on the battle front, move up to Mons eight miles west, to cover the French flank. Immediately, they are brought into action defending the Mons canal, four skilled and experienced divisions facing six German.
General Alexander von Kluck commands the First Army at the German right. He knows it is up to him to wheel south and make quick work of France, so German attention can be refocused to the east. It is his preference to move further west around the flank of the BEF, but he has been commanded to remain in close contact with the Second Army to his left. Therefore, he opens with artillery against the seasoned British troops standing in his way. A major opportunity for an early German victory, based on maneuver rather than toe-to-toe slugging it out, is lost.
Given that the French line to the right of the BEF has made a "strategic retreat", the British Army has no choice but to do likewise. Pulling back while engaged in an intense battle is a recipe for military disaster, but the British pull it off. Sir John French saw the withdrawal as a betrayal of the British by the French Army. Relations between the allies, never very cordial, begin to fray badly. On August 26th, the British Army makes a desperate stand in the way of the Germans at La Cateau, where 55 thousand Brits slow the advance of almost three times as many Germans.
Along the rest of the front, French practitioners of "always forward" thinking have been throwing themselves at German artillery and machine guns, with predictable results. Terrible losses are already forcing the French high command, in the person of General Joseph Joffre, to consider digging in and holding on.
On the 23rd of August, Japan comes in and declares war on Germany.
Strangely, Serbia, the proximate cause of the conflagration, has been almost forgotten in all the hubbub. The Austrian Army, after some initial success, has been pushed back out of Serbia. Poland to the north (Germany's sacred Prussia) is understood to be the site of the real battle with Russia.
Thursday, August 21, 2014
The Trap Has Sprung
August 21, 1914
Since the first foray of the German Army into Luxembourg, the dominoes have been falling, almost as if it was preordained. Belgium's King Albert, most courageously, has defied the German sugar coated offer of "no harm - no foul" regarding a violation of Belgium's national borders and has begun ordering the blowing up of bridges and railroad lines to hinder the German advance. He also mobilizes his small army. The German violation, which the allies have been waiting for, unavoidably brings Great Britain in on the side of France and Russia and against Germany and Austria-Hungary. The British Expeditionary Force (BEF), is also small, but is composed of some of the best trained and best equipped infantry soldiers in the world. It's field commander, Sir John French, is told that, at all costs, the BEF must not be put at risk, since it is composed of the lion's share of Britian's effective military force. The BEF takes its place at the far western end of the allies line of defense, facing Germany's most rapidly moving advance guard.
The western front extends along 400 miles, from the English Channel eastward along the northern border of France to the Alsatian frontier with Germany and bending southward from there. The French Army, based on their Plan XVII, are attacking the Germans near the disputed Alsace/Lorraine region and the German army is proving equal to the task of keeping them out. The more important action is shaping up at the farthest west end of the front, where Germany from Belgium, is attempting to quickly outflank the French Army. None of the supreme military commands has seen fit to modify their guiding spirit of "forward to victory"... yet.
Since the first foray of the German Army into Luxembourg, the dominoes have been falling, almost as if it was preordained. Belgium's King Albert, most courageously, has defied the German sugar coated offer of "no harm - no foul" regarding a violation of Belgium's national borders and has begun ordering the blowing up of bridges and railroad lines to hinder the German advance. He also mobilizes his small army. The German violation, which the allies have been waiting for, unavoidably brings Great Britain in on the side of France and Russia and against Germany and Austria-Hungary. The British Expeditionary Force (BEF), is also small, but is composed of some of the best trained and best equipped infantry soldiers in the world. It's field commander, Sir John French, is told that, at all costs, the BEF must not be put at risk, since it is composed of the lion's share of Britian's effective military force. The BEF takes its place at the far western end of the allies line of defense, facing Germany's most rapidly moving advance guard.
The western front extends along 400 miles, from the English Channel eastward along the northern border of France to the Alsatian frontier with Germany and bending southward from there. The French Army, based on their Plan XVII, are attacking the Germans near the disputed Alsace/Lorraine region and the German army is proving equal to the task of keeping them out. The more important action is shaping up at the farthest west end of the front, where Germany from Belgium, is attempting to quickly outflank the French Army. None of the supreme military commands has seen fit to modify their guiding spirit of "forward to victory"... yet.
Thursday, August 14, 2014
Brave Belgium
The German commander, Moltke has written "Our advance in Belgium is certainly brutal, but we are fighting for our lives and all who get in the way must take the consequences". Burning towns and the murder of local priests in Belgium commences. It is called the "rape of Belgium" in the western press. Worldwide public opinion, particularly in the USA, is watching.
At the same time, the German army is bringing up the huge siege artillery that will be used to reduce Belgium's fortresses.
Saturday, August 2, 2014
Tiptoeing into Luxembourg
August 2, 1914
The powers have been playing a game of international chicken - all the players assuming that, if they are given all due respect by the other players, war could certainly be avoided. Problem is, as is so often is the case in human affairs, respect due to me from you is very different depending on the whose perspective it is considered from.
The entire German national defense plan, called the Schlieffen plan, is predicated on the idea that "the best defense is a good offense". She is concerned that if war comes, she will be fighting both the French army to the west and the massive but unwieldy Russian army to the east. Therefore, the conventional wisdom goes, she must make quick work of France before turning her efforts to defense in the east. That makes it very difficult for her to play the waiting game. If war is to come, Germany must not be caught flat footed. The German foreign office has already issued an ultimatum to Belgium informing her that, if she allowed the passage of the German military force, she would not be harmed and would otherwise retain her sovereignty after the war was won. Has there ever been a more arrogant demand made in the history of warfare?!
Today, Germany makes her first tentative move to the west by sending an advance force of mounted cavalry into Luxembourg to seize the railways Germany would need to transport men and material to Belgium on her hurried way to the northern border of France.
The powers have been playing a game of international chicken - all the players assuming that, if they are given all due respect by the other players, war could certainly be avoided. Problem is, as is so often is the case in human affairs, respect due to me from you is very different depending on the whose perspective it is considered from.
The entire German national defense plan, called the Schlieffen plan, is predicated on the idea that "the best defense is a good offense". She is concerned that if war comes, she will be fighting both the French army to the west and the massive but unwieldy Russian army to the east. Therefore, the conventional wisdom goes, she must make quick work of France before turning her efforts to defense in the east. That makes it very difficult for her to play the waiting game. If war is to come, Germany must not be caught flat footed. The German foreign office has already issued an ultimatum to Belgium informing her that, if she allowed the passage of the German military force, she would not be harmed and would otherwise retain her sovereignty after the war was won. Has there ever been a more arrogant demand made in the history of warfare?!
Today, Germany makes her first tentative move to the west by sending an advance force of mounted cavalry into Luxembourg to seize the railways Germany would need to transport men and material to Belgium on her hurried way to the northern border of France.
Thursday, July 31, 2014
To Mobilize or Not to Mobilize? That is the question
July 31, 1914
The royal houses of Europe are trying to prevent the outbreak of a general war all over the continent. They understand that once war begins, anything can be the outcome. But they all have foreign ministers and military chiefs-of-staff and loads of other councilors, all of whom have devoted their lives to contingency planning in case of war. Those contingency plans and the associated international agreements make it impossible for anything to be done to prevent the coming apocalypse.
Telegrams are flying over the last few days between the ruling houses of Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Russia as they attempt to advise each other on how to avoid the catastrophe. As of today, only Germany of the European powers has not yet begun to position troops and material in preparation for war. The others are tiptoeing around trying to put the most innocuous public face on their preparations. Meanwhile, Germany is becoming acutely aware that this situation could present a major problem for her if she doesn't get with it. Her plans for war secretly call for her to march across Belgium and into France from the north in an early prototype of what would later be called "blitzkreig". She rather boldly attempts to "buy" British neutrality by assuring her that she will restore the borders of France and Belgium after the war which is seeming more and more inevitable.
"BELGIUM?! - who said anything about Belgium?!" wonders Great Britain. Very quickly the answer is pretty obvious to the British military planners.
The royal houses of Europe are trying to prevent the outbreak of a general war all over the continent. They understand that once war begins, anything can be the outcome. But they all have foreign ministers and military chiefs-of-staff and loads of other councilors, all of whom have devoted their lives to contingency planning in case of war. Those contingency plans and the associated international agreements make it impossible for anything to be done to prevent the coming apocalypse.
Telegrams are flying over the last few days between the ruling houses of Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Russia as they attempt to advise each other on how to avoid the catastrophe. As of today, only Germany of the European powers has not yet begun to position troops and material in preparation for war. The others are tiptoeing around trying to put the most innocuous public face on their preparations. Meanwhile, Germany is becoming acutely aware that this situation could present a major problem for her if she doesn't get with it. Her plans for war secretly call for her to march across Belgium and into France from the north in an early prototype of what would later be called "blitzkreig". She rather boldly attempts to "buy" British neutrality by assuring her that she will restore the borders of France and Belgium after the war which is seeming more and more inevitable.
"BELGIUM?! - who said anything about Belgium?!" wonders Great Britain. Very quickly the answer is pretty obvious to the British military planners.
Sunday, July 27, 2014
Ships pass in the night
July 29, 1914
Two telegrams, between Kaiser Wilhelm and his cousin, Czar Nicholas II pass each other intransit today. Both are conciliatory. Nicholas asks the Kaiser to do what he can to restrain his ally Austria-Hungary. The Kaiser is thinking along the very same vein, but does scribble later in the margins of Nicholas' wire that this demonstrates Russia's obvious weakness. The telegrams are signed from "Nicky" and "Willi". The royal houses are remembering that war very often results in unintended consequences and the world of the early 20th century is rife with unpleasant possibilities. Still in the end all three of the royal houses will allow pride to overcome self-interest. There's an eternal lesson from history there!
Two telegrams, between Kaiser Wilhelm and his cousin, Czar Nicholas II pass each other intransit today. Both are conciliatory. Nicholas asks the Kaiser to do what he can to restrain his ally Austria-Hungary. The Kaiser is thinking along the very same vein, but does scribble later in the margins of Nicholas' wire that this demonstrates Russia's obvious weakness. The telegrams are signed from "Nicky" and "Willi". The royal houses are remembering that war very often results in unintended consequences and the world of the early 20th century is rife with unpleasant possibilities. Still in the end all three of the royal houses will allow pride to overcome self-interest. There's an eternal lesson from history there!
Friday, July 25, 2014
Gears turn slowly at first
July 25, 1914
Austria-Hungary, deeply offended by the assassination of the heir to the throne of the dual monarchy, knows that one possible response is war on Serbia. Chief of Staff of the A-H army Conrad von Holtzendorf is fairly champing at the bit to make that happen. The royal family sees the hazards of that course of action so for the last three and a half weeks has been gauging the feelings of Austria's stronger ally, Germany. There are plenty of dogs of war there, chief among them the high warlord, Kaiser Wilhelm II who is itching to show the world just what he is made of. Austria-Hungary, encouraged by the noises coming from Germany, decides to issue an ultimatum to Serbia, with a deadline of today. Serbia, although conciliatory, cannot accept those demands in full.
Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Russia all begin to mobilize for war. German war plans call for her to deliver a quick knockout punch to her enemy to the west, France. She must find a way to get this thing started, so as not to allow time for Russia to prepare for the encirclement of Germany.
Austria-Hungary, deeply offended by the assassination of the heir to the throne of the dual monarchy, knows that one possible response is war on Serbia. Chief of Staff of the A-H army Conrad von Holtzendorf is fairly champing at the bit to make that happen. The royal family sees the hazards of that course of action so for the last three and a half weeks has been gauging the feelings of Austria's stronger ally, Germany. There are plenty of dogs of war there, chief among them the high warlord, Kaiser Wilhelm II who is itching to show the world just what he is made of. Austria-Hungary, encouraged by the noises coming from Germany, decides to issue an ultimatum to Serbia, with a deadline of today. Serbia, although conciliatory, cannot accept those demands in full.
Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Russia all begin to mobilize for war. German war plans call for her to deliver a quick knockout punch to her enemy to the west, France. She must find a way to get this thing started, so as not to allow time for Russia to prepare for the encirclement of Germany.
Thursday, July 24, 2014
Death of an Archduke
The Habsburgs are a ruling family moribund and steeped in the history of old Europe. The royal history of the family goes back to 1273, when Rudolf I was crowned the first king of Germany. In its long and varied history, the family expanded, mostly by marriage, and endured contraction, usually due to rising nationalism, of its holdings all over the continent.
The current Habsburg emperor of the Austo-Hungarian empire, Franz Ferdinand is aging at 66. In 1899, his only son had committed suicide in a pact with a commoner with whom he had been conducting a tempestuous love affair. He was the famous Crown Prince Rudolf.
Into the vacuum reluctantly stepped a nephew, Franz Ferdinand. In yet another eruption of nationalist fervor, he and his wife are assassinated by a Serbian terrorist who is deeply offended by the encroachment of German outsiders into his Slavic country. The assassination occurs on June 28, 1914. In weeks to come the dominoes will inevitably fall that lead to a most destructive war, but this event is the trigger that sets is all in motion.
The action fulfilled a prophecy made back in 1888. The German genius statesman Otto von Bismark had predicted "One day the great European war will come out of some damned foolish thing in the Balkans." He was a careful and pragmatic architect of modern Europe and his antipathy to the blustering Kaiser Wilhelm II was the undoing of his brilliant political career.
The current Habsburg emperor of the Austo-Hungarian empire, Franz Ferdinand is aging at 66. In 1899, his only son had committed suicide in a pact with a commoner with whom he had been conducting a tempestuous love affair. He was the famous Crown Prince Rudolf.
Into the vacuum reluctantly stepped a nephew, Franz Ferdinand. In yet another eruption of nationalist fervor, he and his wife are assassinated by a Serbian terrorist who is deeply offended by the encroachment of German outsiders into his Slavic country. The assassination occurs on June 28, 1914. In weeks to come the dominoes will inevitably fall that lead to a most destructive war, but this event is the trigger that sets is all in motion.
The action fulfilled a prophecy made back in 1888. The German genius statesman Otto von Bismark had predicted "One day the great European war will come out of some damned foolish thing in the Balkans." He was a careful and pragmatic architect of modern Europe and his antipathy to the blustering Kaiser Wilhelm II was the undoing of his brilliant political career.
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