Author: joerookery

Conclusion- part oneThe finest theories and most minute plans often crumble. Complex systems fall by the wayside. Parade ground formations disappear. Our splendidly trained leaders vanish. The good men which…

August 23, 1914Marwitz could have approached via Tournai–Denain to the English flank. However, a counterorder arrived from Bülow that ordered the cavalry to move in a northwestern direction instead of…

August 22, 1914All four First Army active corps were able to move on two roads each, or with one division on every route of advance. This meant a reducing of…

August 21, 1914Two German Army zeppelins were brought down over the western front: ZVIIand ZVIII. This happened very far away from the right wing. However, it seriously affected the total…

August 20, 1914Not surprisingly, the OHL realized they had insufficient cavalry on the right wing. Whentrying to screen his two armies on the far-right flank, Bülow complained vehemently about his…

August 19, 1914Second Army reached the line between Wavre and Namur. First Army was driving west of Louvain. Both were still a significant distance east of Brussels. There was one…

August 18, 1914 The first day of the German general advance was a failure. Yet, compared to all the work done on the German decisions at the Marne, this has been…

August 17, 1914German reconnaissance determined that Belgian field army were still at the Gette River position. The expansion of Namur’s fortifications with fieldworks and the occupation of the Meuse down…