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.

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