In Seoul, Moltke's change of the distribution of troops on the Western Front is tantamount to directly undermining Schlieffen's plan. Moltke's distribution of troops on the Western Front was roughly: 300,000 left wing, 400,000 central wing, and 700,000 right wing (a total of HC 0,000). The original plan left and right.
The ratio was 1:7 and now it is about 1:3. Strictly speaking, the biggest mistake of Little Maoqi may not be
It is to weaken the right wing but to strengthen the left wing. Schlieffen's plan is to attack the right and defend the left, and try to lure the French army to go deeper to the left, which can indirectly help the success of the right wing. Moltke not only strengthened the left wing but also allowed the left wing to launch an offensive. As a result, the French army was
The French army moved from left to right, which actually enhanced their ability to fight against the German right wing.
In 1910, Moltke abandoned the concept of devoting two corps from the left wing to reinforce the right wing, and concentrated these six supplementary divisions near Metz. Finally, when nine new divisions were organized, he moved one of them
In addition, one division withdrawn from the Eastern Front was added to the right wing, and the remaining eight divisions were added to the left wing.
On July 21, 1911, the day before Germany declared war on France, according to the revised Schlieffen-Moltke Plan, the seven German legions deployed on the Western Front had already arrived at the predetermined area and completed battle preparations!
The 1st Army Corps, commanded by General Crook, has its headquarters at Griffonboche. It consists of seven corps, three cavalry divisions, and three national militia brigades. It should enter Aix-la-Capet
and then to Brussels. Total people.
The 2nd Army, commanded by General Bulow, with its headquarters at Montjoy, consists of six corps, two cavalry divisions, and two national militia brigades. It should capture Liège, and then its right wing should advance to Veville, with its
The left wing entered La Mour. Total men.
The 3rd Army, commanded by General Hausen, has its headquarters in Pleum. It consists of four corps and a national militia brigade. It should advance westward with its right wing reaching Lamour and its left wing reaching Giffet. A total of 1
people.
The 4th Army, commanded by the Duke of Württemberg, has its headquarters at Tiriphes. There are five corps in total, and a national militia brigade. It should advance westward so that its right wing reaches Flamel and its left wing reaches Elren.
Etilt in the north. Total 1 person.
The 5th Army, commanded by Crown Prince Wilhelm, has its headquarters at Saarbrücken. It consists of five corps, one division, two cavalry divisions and five national militia brigades. Its left wing remains at Thionville, while its right wing
Enter Frenville.
Total people.
The 6th Army, commanded by Prince Rupricht of Bavaria and headquartered in St. Iveld; consists of five corps in total, three cavalry divisions and four supplementary divisions. It should enter Mosli
on the river, and attacked the French army and pinned them. A total of 0 people.
The 7th Army, the commander is General Schilingen, and the headquarters is located in Stasburg. There are three corps, one division, two supplementary divisions and four national militia brigades. It should enter the Moselle River
, or launch a counterattack towards Lorraine. Total: 125CCC people.
On July 22, the day when Germany officially declared war on France, the German army launched an offensive across the board! The first to be attacked by the German army was the small country of Luxembourg. Facing the German attack, Luxembourg simply could not resist. Grand Duke William IV of Luxembourg ordered Luxembourg
The army stopped resisting and surrendered to the German army. In just one day, the German army occupied Luxembourg and controlled Luxembourg's complete railway network!
At the same time, the German Minister in Brussels, Herr von Bello Zaleske, issued an ultimatum to Belgium on behalf of the German government, requiring Belgium to open its borders to Germany and stipulating that Belgium must respond within 24 hours.
Belgium is a neutral country. As early as the Treaty of London signed in 1839, Europe had already recognized Belgium's independence and neutrality. However, now the German army no longer cares about Belgium's neutrality in order to defeat France!
Faced with Germany's unreasonable demands, King Albert of Belgium presided over a state meeting at the palace at 9 a.m. He said in his opening speech: "No matter what the consequences, our answer must be
'No. Our responsibility is to defend our territorial integrity. To this end, we must be firm." However, he also insisted that every participant should not have any illusions: the consequences will be serious and terrible.
The enemy will be cruel and merciless. Prime Minister Deborah Keville also warned some wavering people not to believe in Germany's promise to restore Belgium's integrity after the war. "Once Germany is defeated," he said, "Belgium will be defeated no matter how long it lasts."
No matter what attitude you take, you will be incorporated into the German Empire."
Belgium rejected Germany's request. The German army invaded Belgium on July 23, 1911 and launched an attack on this small country. Belgium also carried out a nationwide mobilization. Before the war began, this effect only had tens of thousands of troops, but after
In just three days, the Belgian army
The number of troops expanded to 125,000. At that time, the total population of Belgium was only 7.4 million. Even though Belgium launched a heroic counterattack, the Belgian army was still unable to resist the German attack! Only
Rely on the fortresses of Liege and Namur to resist the German attack!
After France declared war on Germany, Joseph, Vice Chairman of the Supreme Military Council and Chief of the General Staff of France, became the Commander-in-Chief of the French Army. The Commander-in-Chief of the French Army, General Joffre, who was nearly 60 years old, was tall, paunchy, and had a plump face dotted with thick
With a beard and two thick eyebrows, his complexion is white and tender, his eyes are blue and peaceful,
His eyes were sincere and tranquil, and he looked like Santa Claus, so he was called "Papa Joffre". The strategy he formulated for the French army was to abandon the defense of the right wing and concentrate its forces on the German center and left wing. He and all the French
They all hoped to regain the provinces of Alsace and Lorraine, which they had lost in 1870.
On July 23, in Paris, the French army went to war. French soldiers wearing red trousers and dark blue jackets with wide hems walked through the streets in neat steps and sang loudly. Soldiers of the cavalry regiment wore dazzling breastplates and helmets.
A long black ponytail hanging from her head,
Marching with great dignity. Behind them were large wooden crates containing aircraft and flatbed trailers. On the vehicles were placed slender 75mm field guns. This kind of cannon is the pride of France. The flow of people, horses and baggage continued all day long.
, go through the arched gates of North Station and East Station.
The strength of the five French armies is similar to the 70 German divisions deployed on the Western Front. The French 1st Army is on the right, followed by the 2345th Army on the left, and they are assembled from Verdun to the Toul Defense Line.
Two armies, numerically equal to the German army from Metz to Thion
The numbers of the two armies with the Wehr line as the dividing line are similar. In Asalos and Lorraine, the French 1st and 2nd armies faced the German 7th and 6th armies, forming the right wing of the French army. Their mission was to launch a powerful offensive.
, driving the confronting German troops back to the Rhine River line.
However, General Joffre did not judge that the German army's main attack direction was the right wing. The left wing and center were just to defend against the French attack. After waiting for the right wing to break through Belgium, he directly invaded France from the north and attacked the French troops deployed in the northeast.
The French army carried out encirclement and annihilation and eliminated the main force of the French army!
The German army occupied Luxembourg and began to invade Belgium, which made the United Kingdom very nervous. The United Kingdom and Belgium are only separated by a strait. In order to ensure the security of the United Kingdom, as early as 1839, the United Kingdom required the entire Europe to
They all recognize Belgium's independence and neutrality. But now, the German army has invaded Belgium, posing a great threat to Britain!
"Prime Minister Asquith, the Germans have taken Luxembourg. King Albert of Belgium has rejected Germany's request to open the border. The German army has crossed the border and entered Belgium this morning. King Albert has ordered a general mobilization.
But it’s already too late to start mobilizing now. Belgium may lose the war in a few days!” British Minister of War Paul Stafford Methuen said anxiously!
"How is it possible? The Liege Fortress built by the Belgians is an extremely strong fortress in the whole of Europe. I'm afraid it won't be that easy for the Germans to break through the Liege Fortress, right?" Prime Minister Asquith said in surprise.
"Your Excellency Prime Minister, judging from the current deployment of the German army, Belgium is their main direction of attack. The 1st and 23rd Army Corps, the strongest of the German army, have crossed the border and are detouring from Luxembourg and Belgium to northern France. Belgium is where the German army is advancing.
If there are any obstacles, they will definitely launch a fierce attack on Belgium. With the strength of Belgium, it is simply unable to resist the attack of the German troops!" War Secretary Methuen reminded.
"North? But the French have deployed their main forces in the northeast?" Prime Minister Asquith sensed the crisis.
"That's right! The northern part of the French is almost undefended. As long as the Germans break through Belgium, they can drive straight in and penetrate the French army's rear. By then, the French army is likely to be shaken across the board, and they will pay a heavy price for this.
The price!" lamented Secretary of War Methuen.
"Why is this question not raised with the French?" Prime Minister Asquith asked.
"We have already proposed it to the French, but General Joffre insists that the German army's main attack direction is northeastern France. He believes that the German army's attack in Belgium is just a feint attack to divert the main force of the French army from the northeast.
Leave!" Methuen said.
"Damn it, that old fool Joffre, he will destroy France!" Prime Minister Asquith cursed.
"Your Excellency Prime Minister, we must form an expeditionary force as soon as possible. Once the French army is defeated, we must help them stabilize the war situation!" Methuen suggested.
"Go ahead and get ready!" Prime Minister Asquith said helplessly.
In response to Germany's invasion of Belgium, the United Kingdom issued an ultimatum to Germany, requiring the German troops to withdraw from Belgium within 12 hours. However, the German army completely ignored it. On the morning of July 24, Britain declared war on Germany, and in the afternoon, Russia and the United States also declared war on Germany.
.At the same time, Germany also declared war on Britain, the United States and Russia. Germany's ally, Austria-Hungary, also declared war on the Entente. Only Italy remained neutral!