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.
Thursday, October 30, 2014
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.
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