# 45

 

JOFFRE DISCUSSES THE FRENCH PLAN TO DEFEAT THE GERMAN ARMY

 

        Reading between the Lines from Donald Britton Conrad's book: 

Kaiser Wilhelm: In the Service of  God and Evil.

Part IV

 

 

Back in the Red Lion meeting room, Secretary Grey tapped his water glass to gain the group’s attention. “I trust that you have had an enjoyable lunch. Now, it is time to go back to work.”

“In view of the possibility of a European conflagration, the policy of Great Britain is to maintain a balance between the Powers, but under no circumstances will she allow France to be crushed.”

“Speaking for myself, we English cannot and will not find ourselves facing a unitary continental group under the leadership of a single power such as Germany.”

“As English and German merchants compete in every corner of the world, my view is that England’s prosperity could only be saved if Germany’s growing power is placed under severe limitations!”

There was an exchange of glances among his audience.

“Believe me colleagues when I say that countries will fight for millions of pounds sterling from commerce!”

“Thus, the economic conflict between England and Germany suggests that England is the only great power that could make war on Germany without running an enormous risk and have a better than even chance of success. A naval blockade could bring Germany to the brink of starvation.”

“I say,” interjected Joffre, “that other countries possess an army, but in Germany the army possesses the country!”

“Here! Here!” agreed the group.

“As Mirabeau once said,” continued the French general, “ ‘War is a national industry of Prussia.’ Also, if memory serves me right, Napoleon Bonaparte declared that ‘Prussia was hatched from a cannon ball!’ ”

Everyone again laughed. “Here! Here!”

Edward tapped his glass. “Let us begin our discussion with General Joffre.”

“The floor is yours, Joseph.”

“Merci, Edward, mon ami!

“Mon President has ordered that stockpiles of food and arms be immediately located in major cities. Paris has already done so. We do not want to be caught with our pants down as in 1870, when food was scarce and our people reached the level of starvation. Gentlemen, I mean to deliver the battle in the most favorable conditions, at my own time, and on the ground, I have chosen.”

“According to our Plan Seventeen, in the advent of war, French armies will strike Germany on her western border and take the Rhine River valley. Then, we will move north and capture the coal and iron fields and the manufacturers of armaments.”

 

“Our military situation is much improved since 1871. Then we had about thirteen thousand miles of railroads. Today, we have double that. We have increased our national roads from fifty thousand miles to more than hundred thousand miles.”

 

Joffre walked over to a wall on which hung a large map of Belgium, France and the western part of Germany. “First, allow me to explain France’s updated Plan Seventeen. We will concentrate four armies between Mulhouse in the south and Metz in the north with a fifth army in reserve. The entire fortified line makes any attack by the Germans is a death trap for them. Plan Seventeen calls for French arms to attack, attack, and attack!”

 

“The key is to send overwhelming forces to Alsace-Lorraine. The Germans would have to meet force with force. We will overwhelm them and chase the German invaders back to Berlin. Ergo, we avoid a Belgium Campaign.”

 

“Just one moment, my friend,” interrupted Kitchner, “ you say that Plan Seventeen concentrates its strategy in Alsace-Lorraine. Yet, we all know that the Germans will probably rely on their von Schliessen plan! If you follow your strategy, the German armies could very well overwhelm you!”

 

Joffre folded his arms in the manner of a winning gladiator. “Thank you, General for reminding me of this possible flaw in French military thinking. However, permit me to introduce to you, for the first time, to France’s alternate plan. As you can well imagine, the plan is top secret and must not reach the ears of Kaiser Wilhelm!”

 

With typical French dramatic flair, Joffre ripped his map from its position on the wall.

 

Behind it was a duplicate map except that it contained six arching red arrows extending from the German-Belgian border south and east deep into French territory the right end encircling Paris. Regardez Plan Eighteen!”

 

“The von Schliessen plan will be upset in three ways. First, we will place strong resistance on the enemy’s right wing. Second, we believe that the Germans, immediately after its invasion, will need to send one or more corps to eastern Prussia to meet the overwhelming Russian threat from there. This will mean a definite weakening of their Western Front armies. Third, if the von Schliessen plan goes into effect, their right wing armies will be delayed by the presence of the Belgian army, the French Fifth Army, the British Expeditionary Force, plus six of our Reserve divisions. We are aware that Liege would be the first target for the German First and Second armies. Fortunately, that city is surrounded by a dozen, nearly impenetrable forts.”

 

“Here! Here!” exclaimed several members.

 

“Because of the suitability of our fine railway system and national roads, French armies will be able to quickly reform to meet any alternate Germany strategy.”

 

“Our Allied armies will be able to retard the movement especially that of the German First and Second armies. If it is to meet its strategic timetable, the First army, for example, must travel nearly two hundred and fifty miles without rest in order to reach Paris. This would require marches of twenty to twenty five miles a day plus intermittent battles along the way. By the time, they reach the vicinity of Paris, the German First and Second armies will have reached the point of exhaustion!”

 

“What about the German left wing? Is it going to be playing Skat whilst you are occupied around Paris?” inquired Kitchener.

 

“Oh, how insightful you are!” said Joffre brusquely. “We believe that our forces are strong enough to withstand enemy attacks in that sector. We calculate that, as the German right wing approaches Paris, its commanding General will believe that it would be foolish to waste his army going there. The Germans are fully aware that Paris has a ring of forty forts that will resist a siege for months. Instead, the commander of the German First Army will see the logic, which we will conveniently provide for him, that his right wing should turn southeast to allegedly attack the weak French left wing.”

 

“Oh ho!” exclaimed his audience.

 

Field Marshal John French quipped, “It seems that all roads lead away from Paris, n’est-ce pas?"

“Permettez moi d’expliquer,” said Joffre ignoring the interruption.

 

 

“All armies are limited in their movements by terrain. Mountains, rivers, wet and dry land, all lend themselves to impeding movement. Weather can aid or deter the best of tactics. Napoleon was defeated by the Russian winter. Caesar used intemperate weather to overwhelm his Gallic foes attacking as he did in the midst of a snowstorm.”

 

“The German military theorists, we know, maintain that with their organization and particular type of discipline, attacks must be delivered in much closer formation than either the French or English believe possible.”

 

“Taking a page from history, the German General Staff settled upon the concept of the ancient Greek hoplite phalanx. The generals have concluded that German armies need to overcome with the greatest rapidity enemy forces, because delay will soon wear out the fighting effectiveness of their own troops.”

 

“You see, mes amis, if the German armies are to defeat the combined French and English armies, the capture of Paris within thirty or so days is no longer a fundamental necessity.”

“Now, you ask, what place does the hoplite phalanx play in German strategy? The Greek Phalanx consisted of a column of heavy infantry carrying long spears as well as swords. The fearsome spears were about twelve feet long! Men in the phalanx carried a round shield called a hoplon, from which the infantry took their name, hoplites.”

 

“A typical phalanx was ten men across the front rank and ten men deep, but many such units were combined into one larger unit.”

 

“The phalanx was an infantry formation designed for hand-to-hand combat. The heavily armed infantry on each side in battle would close with each other at a deliberate pace, maintaining a strict formation. As front line troops fell, their rear members replace them. Thus, the formidable line shocked its enemy, who preferred to retreat rather than stand and face slaughter. Yes, the phalanxes are shock troops, or as the Germans call them Stosstruppen. The Germans believe that a solid, continuous line of screeching attackers will frighten the wits out of the defenders.”

General French stood up, stamped his foot, and shouted, “Bang! Bang! Bang! Any Germans that survive our fierce rifle and cannon fire will be needed to bury their dead!”

 

Joffre, rather startled by the General’s outburst, threw up his hand for silence. “It is in today’s circumstances that terrain determines the German strategy. The geography of Belgium and France from Brussels to Paris is flat or possesses some rolling hills. There the phalanx attack is well suited for the German army because its commanders easily see their attack forces in motion.”

 

“The German theory maintains that with the organization and strong discipline of its armies, attacks can be delivered in much closer formation than either the French or English believe possible.”

 

“Now don’t get upset! The German tactics, though advantageous to them in the initial stage of invasion, will collapse from the loss of troops in close formation. A massed group is a better target for French guns than a number of dispersed, scattered troops.”

 

“The Germans also maintain that the great rapidity of their attacks would make the total wastage less than one would expect. However, heavy wastage to the German command is worthwhile if it will lead to a speedy decision of the war. Actually, the Germans believe that a rapid victory will save lives.”

 

“Thus, the Germans assume that an invasion of northern France in order to reach Paris and to encircle retreating French armies would take about a fortnight!”

 

 “But, General, how will the Allies stop such an onslaught?” asked Russian General Rennenkampf.

 

“That is an excellent question, Pavel,” replied Joffre, rubbing his hands. “We, French, teach our officers that, all things being equal, numbers are the decisive factor in war. That does, not mean, however, that absolute superiority in numbers decides a campaign necessarily in favor of the superior power.”

 

“Let me provide you with a simple example. More detailed information will probably put my Russian friend to sleep!”

 

Pavel responded by laughing lustily.

 

Joffre smiled and continued his explanation. “Suppose five men, Group A, attack three men, Group B. If the forces bear upon each equally, the five will defeat the three, N’est-ce pas? But, if the five men in Group A are arranged in groups of two, two and one, and if the three men in Group B strike the first isolated two and defeat them, thus bringing up the next isolated two, who are in their turn defeated, the three will have only to deal with one. Ergo, if the army with inferior numbers attempts to compel his larger opponent to fight in separated portions, the inferior can then defeat the superior in detail!”

 

Joffre waited for everyone to light their cigars and pour more coffee.

 

“Without going into specifics, let me say that if the Germans attack through Belgium, they will probably experience great success for a couple of weeks. Daily, their lines of supply will lengthen making it more difficult to reach the mobile front lines. After a few weeks, we expect the German initiative will slowly run out of steam and face the reality of facing the possibility of retreat.”

 

“If the Germans decide to follow the von Schlieffen plan, or a modification of it, we are prepared to suck them into our little trap. As they approach, what they believe is a defenseless Paris; they will decide to avoid besieging it. Instead, they will turn east to attack the left flank of the retreating French Fifth Army.”

 

“However, we have an ace-in-the hole. Our plan calls for the creation of a French 6th Army with 16,000 effectives, which will storm out of Paris and strike the right wing of the German army! Once we threaten the German right wing with our newly formed army, we force the invaders to turn to its right flank to confront the unexpected French attack. The adjoining German Second Army cannot change its direction so that a gap will form, wide enough to admit the British Expeditionary Forces. I can hear the Kaiser now: ‘Dummkopf! There is no BEF. It is kaput!’ Do not forget that First Army is mainly interested in destroying the French left wing, held by the French 5th army. Supported by the BEF, it will strike through the gap between the German First and Second armies. If I have counted correctly, three French and English armies will surround the German First Army on the right flank.”

 

“But, you understand, gentlemen, this is not enough. By this time, we French will have moved troops to the center of the battle line in order to attack the German armies at that point. The result will be that the German armies, whose supply line is long and the French supply line short, will be required to retreat posthaste!”

 

Joffre did a little jig showing his enthusiasm for his cunning plan.

 

“Come on now, old man,” pressed Kitchener. “How the hell will you be certain that the German right wing will turn east as you expect?”

 

“Oh, man of little faith,” replied Joffre. “We have our trusted people in high places that cleverly influence the Kaiser and his German generals. For another thing, the German high command, from habit, will remain far away from the battlefield. You see the Kaiser will certainly demand to be in the midst of the incoming and outgoing news. The German General Staff cannot afford to have Wilhelm killed. Surely, they remember how France’s foolish Emperor Napoleon III went to command his troops in 1871 and the Prussians captured him. The German field commanders have almost full control of their movements. Our spies will influence the German right flank to face the attack of our Sixth army. As I predict, a gap will open between the two adjacent German armies!”

 

“Then, as I have suggested, we will do three things simultaneously. First, we will send another newly formed army, the Ninth, staffed from part of our troops in the eastern sector and place it at the center of the German front line. Second, the English, though exhausted from a planned retreat from Belgium, will slip in between the German gap. That gap, gentlemen, is the clue to the Allied success! Third, the French 6th Army will slip alongside the German First Army’s flank. Then, I will call for the attack! The invaders will feel the wrath of the Allied armies. With luck, we should send them running back to Germany and their foolish Kaiser!”

 

The members stood up and shouted “Tres bien! Here! Here! Dah!” They crowded around the beaming Frenchman and each shook his hand and patted him on his back.