In the Battle of Tannenberg before the Battle of the Marne, the German Eighth Army in East Prussia completely wiped out the Russian Second Army. The commander-in-chief of the army, Alexander Samsonov, said that he had failed the Tsar in a woods.
Shoot yourself.
The consequences of the failure of the Battle of Tannenberg were extremely serious. In the subsequent Battle of Lake Mazury, the First Army also suffered heavy losses and was forced to withdraw from East Prussia. From this time until the end of the World War, Russia never again attacked Germany.
Organize an effective attack.
There were many factors for the Russian army's disastrous defeat. The most fatal factor was Russia's insufficient mobilization. Count Schlieffen estimated in 1905 that Russia would need six weeks to complete total mobilization. As a result, Russia mobilized 800,000 troops in six days.
Among the 800,000 troops, 300,000 had not received any military training before the war.
In the Battle of Tannenberg, there was also a big gap between the commanders of the German and Russian armies. The Eighth Army had a group of outstanding generals. Ludendorff once again shined. He served as the Chief of Staff of the Eighth Army in the Battle of Tannenberg.
Unlike the enterprising German commanders, the commanders of the Russian First and Second Group Armies are old. The commander-in-chief of the front army Zhilinsky can neither inspire people's confidence nor rarely appear on the front line. The two group army commanders
There are also conflicts between them. They were both commanders in the Russo-Japanese War. They had conflicts during the Russo-Japanese War, and they were unwilling to cooperate with each other in the Battle of Tannenberg.
In any case, the pressure is now back on the British and French coalition forces. The Allies once had high hopes for Russia, but now all extravagant hopes have disappeared, and the British and French coalition forces have to fight alone.
In September, the situation continued to deteriorate. The French army failed to organize an effective counterattack and continued to retreat following the footsteps of the British Expeditionary Force.
The German army pursued them one after another. The soldiers carried 30 kilograms of equipment and supplies and marched 40 kilometers every day. Starting from September 1st, they marched continuously for four days.
Everyone was exhausted. The French sun was blazing in September and the weather was unbearably hot. The soldiers could only rest for four hours a day. Most of the remaining twenty hours were spent marching, often while walking.
They were all sleeping. If a French army launched a counterattack at this time, the German army would be completely defeated.
Jiafei did not organize an effective counterattack. The French army was actually only ten kilometers away from the German troops. Both sides were exhausted. On the verge of collapse, Jiafei needed a new force to stop the German army from advancing and buy more time to adjust the defense line.
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The person who discovered the opportunity was General Gallieni, the commander of the Sixth Army. The Sixth Army was responsible for the defense of Paris and could not attack. Gallieni hoped that Joffre could organize a counterattack.
Joffre disagreed with Gallieni's counterattack plan and believed that counterattack at this time was too risky. The French army should retreat in an organized manner, wait for more reinforcements, stabilize the front, and then organize a counterattack against the German army.
Gallieni believed that the opportunity was at hand. In order to pursue the French Fifth Army commanded by Lanczac, the First Army on the far right of the German army was getting farther and farther away from the Second Army, and its formation had been stretched to 80 kilometers.
If a force is inserted between the German First Army and the Second Army, it can completely cut off the connection between the First Army and the German right wing. If the First Army can be surrounded, then the French army will win the biggest victory since the war began.
victory.
Xiafei remained unmoved and continued to implement his so-called "retreat plan." By September 5th, the First Army was only fifteen kilometers away from Paris, the Eiffel Tower was in sight, and the distance between the First Army and the Second Army was
Already more than 30 kilometers away, the Sixth Army under Gallieni's command and the German frontline troops had begun to exchange fire. Joffre finally agreed to Gallieni's counterattack plan.
That's not right either. He only agreed to the counterattack, but not to Gallieni's plan.
Joffre ordered the Sixth Army to launch a counterattack against the Germans from the south of the Marne River, while Gallieni hoped to start the counterattack from the north of the Marne River. Counterattacking from the south would weaken the force of the counterattack.
Joffre did not agree with Gallieni's plan, and later found out that Gallieni was the one who fought for it, so Joffre dismissed Gallieni from his post.
No matter how much the French mythologized Joffre, Joffre's stubbornness had a great impact on the French troops.
Joffre had a habit. No matter how tense the situation was, Joffre would rest at nine o'clock every night and get up at five o'clock in the morning. During Joffre's rest period, even if Paris fell, Joffre's adjutant could not wake him up.
Interpreted with a kind attitude, the strict work and rest time shows that Joffre is a person with strong self-control. On the other hand, it also proves that Joffre is extremely stubborn. Galieri, who was just dismissed by Joffre, is three years older than Joffre, in 1896
In 2001, Gallieni served as the French Commander-in-Chief in Madagascar, and Joffre was Gallieni's subordinate.
Under Galieni, Joffre came to prominence. In 1911, French Minister of War Messimi wanted Galieni to serve as commander-in-chief of the French army. However, Galieni believed that he was too old and recommended Joffre to Messimi.
fly.
After the outbreak of the World War, the French troops were victorious on the front line, and Joffre was widely questioned. People began to discuss contacting Joffre for the position of commander-in-chief. At this time, Gallieni stood up and called for Joffre to be given enough time.
Hope people stay patient.
It seems that Gallieni was a favor to Joffre. Even if Gallieni disagreed with Joffre's battle plan, Joffre should not have dismissed Gallieni, not to mention Gallieni's
Opinions are correct.
It is a pity that just when Gallieni found the opportunity and prepared to attack, Joffre dismissed Gallieni. This is really incomprehensible why Joffre did this.
"Our slow general is finally ready to counterattack. Poor General Galieni suffered an infuriating betrayal. The French Army Command wants us to take the initiative and cut off the connection between the First Army and the Second Army. What should we do?
What should we do?" From the way Franzi addressed Joffre, it is not difficult to see that Franzi was dissatisfied with Joffre.
"My supplementary troops have not arrived yet, and it is impossible to launch an attack on the superior German army now." Smith Dorling, commander of the First Army, was indifferent. The commander of the French Fifth Army was Langle who abandoned the British Expeditionary Force in Mons and took the initiative to retreat.
Zack.
Although Joffre insisted that the French troops retreated in a planned and rhythmic manner, in fact Lanrezac's troops were in collapse. At this time, the British Expeditionary Force took the initiative to save the Fifth Army.
Before setting off, Ferenzi was ordered to conserve his strength, so Ferenzi carefully protected his "poor little army" and it was impossible to take the initiative to attack.
"The Second Army can be dispatched -" Haig took the initiative to request a battle. Dolin's First Army suffered heavy losses, and the Second Army has not yet participated in the battle.
"Are you willing to let your soldiers pay for the stupid French?" French firmly disagreed.
"We still have one unit -" Haig finally remembered the 105th Division, which also suffered heavy losses.
"With only 10,000 men left in the 105th Division, it is impossible to complete the mission." Ferenzi also disagreed. The colonial servants were also British troops and the property of the British government.
Haig stopped talking, and Ferenczi, who became stubborn, was also unable to communicate.
"Sir, your Excellency the Minister has already boarded the train and will arrive in Dreux later." Frenzi's adjutant came in a hurry to report.
"He is the one who preserves our strength, and he is the one who takes the initiative. How far should we go to satisfy the Ministry of War? Why don't we let the Minister serve as the commander-in-chief of the expeditionary force." Ferenczi was furious. Yesterday, Ji
Chinner sent a telegram to Ferenczi, asking him to obey Joffre's orders.
This is the moment. Although Kitchener told French to preserve his strength before French set out, Kitchener did not expect that Germany's attack would be so fierce and France would fight so badly. Now the East
The Russian Second Army in the Prussian direction has been completely wiped out, and the First Army is in danger. If the French side is defeated again, then only Britain will have nothing to do and simply surrender.
"Sir, the French government has announced that it will go to Bordeaux -" a staff officer hurriedly reported, and this time the expressions of French and Dorlinghaig became serious.
During the Franco-Prussian War, the German army also surrounded Paris, but did not invade Paris. Now that the French government has moved its capital, it means that the French government is ready to lose Paris.
"It seems that we must return to the battlefield. The British Empire cannot bear the price of France's defeat." Smith Dolin was the first to react.
"The troops are waiting for your orders, Mr. Commander." Haig called for battle again.
French didn't say anything, and sat on his chair in silence for a long time.
Before dark, Kitchener arrived at Dreux, wearing his marshal's uniform.
Frenchy looked ugly. He believed that he, the commander-in-chief of the expeditionary force, was the representative of the British government and the British King. Kitchina wearing a marshal's uniform to come to Frenchy was tantamount to an insult to Frenchy. Frenchy believed that Kitching
Na should come in casual clothes.
God can prove that Kitchener really did not mean this. He had just been summoned by the king before he came, and then boarded the ship and arrived in France without even having time to go home and change clothes.
Arriving at the headquarters, Kitchener kicked everyone out except Ferenczi, and communicated with Ferenczi alone.
"John, you have to give up your prejudice against the French generals. Now is the most critical moment. The Russian army was defeated in East Prussia. The Austro-Hungarian Empire is fighting with Russia and Serbia. Cooperate with the French army to withstand the German attack. We cannot lose France.
support." Kitchener also did not expect that in just one month, Kitchener would be forced to break his promise.
"I don't have more troops, and I can't complete the task of dividing the First Army and the Second Army now." Ferenzi's face was gloomy. The British Expeditionary Force has only participated in a few battles. Now with the 105th Division, there are no more troops that can fight.
Less than 100,000 people.
"General Martin from southern Africa has led two divisions to Marseille. They can arrive in Paris tomorrow." This is good news, but it is not enough.
"The two divisions in southern Africa only have 30,000 men. How can they withstand the attack of 400,000 German troops?" French was extremely disappointed. The 400,000 men were only the First and Second Army. From Paris to Versailles, the total strength of the German army was
That's 900,000 people.
The gap between the German First Army and the Second Army was like a huge bottomless pit. Even if the British Expeditionary Force were to fill it, French felt that it would not be enough for the German army to fill the gap.