by G. J. Meyer
In one of his middle-of-the-night: this exchange is in ibid., 263.
“Think of the responsibility”: Fay, 2: 265.
Russia’s general mobilization: Nomikos and North, 6.
“Let Papa…not plan war”: Taylor, Dynasties, 243.
“unless Austria is willing”: Geiss, 286.
“serious error”: Jannen, 223.
“We are of course, ready”: Geiss, 293.
“how difficult it would be”: Ibid., 317.
“What a joke!”: Fromkin, 229.
“Fear is a bad counselor”: The words of Ambassador Nikolaus von Temerin Szécsen are in Jannen, 186.
“You must inform German Chancellor”: Grey’s message to Ambassador Sir Edward Goschen is in Geiss, 315.
“must follow in case Russia”: The double ultimatum is dealt with in Jannen, 256.
“If France had actually”: Renouvin, 224.
“the peace of Europe”: Geiss, 324.
“technically impossible”: Ibid., 323.
“the same guarantee from you”: Ibid., 344.
“Wherever the Sultan went”: Barber, 85.
“France will have to regard”: Mayeur and Reberieux, 350.
An hour later the French government: Joffre’s warning is in Fay, 531.
Their conversation turned into: An exceptionally thorough and lucid account of the dispute between Germany’s military and diplomatic leaders over whether and how to mobilize and declare war is in Ritter, 2: 267.
“if I thought I could assure”: Geiss, 343.
“We shall simply march”: Jannen, 298.
“I assured His Majesty”: Strachan, First World War, 90.
“This pained me a good deal”: Renouvin, 251.
“it is understandable that each increase”: Röhl, 43.
“would make it difficult”: Geiss, 346.
“My impression”: Ibid., 347.
“I have no other reply”: Samsonov and Pourtalès each left an account of their last meeting. Not surprisingly, these accounts are not identical in their details, but they do not conflict substantially. Elements of their accounts have been taken from Gilbert, First World War, 30, and Jannen, 311.
PART TWO
August-December 1914: Racing to Deadlock
Entering upon August 1914 and the opening of hostilities, the student of the Great War encounters problems having to do with the number of casualties suffered by the various belligerent nations in specific battles and in specific time periods shorter than the war as a whole. Years of research that included visits to the Imperial War Museum in London, the Library of Congress, and a variety of archives in and near Paris brought the author to the conclusion that there is no single, simple, or absolutely authoritative solution to such problems. Many of such numbers must be taken as approximations, especially in the case of countries whose record-keeping was never meticulous or whose records have been lost since the war. The best approximations are at a minimum useful as measures of the scale of the fighting and of the comparative effectiveness of the various armies, and they are used for this purpose in the present work. The number of published sources on the Battles of the Marne, Tannenberg, and First Ypres is of course immense. Different authors shed light on these subjects from different angles, and many of the resulting works are valuable. The author found the following works to be notably helpful as guides to these contests: Robert Asprey’s The First Battle of the Marne and The German High Command at War, Georges Blond’s The Marne, Holger H. Herwig’s The First World War: Germany and Austria, Henri Isselin’s The Battle of the Marne, and the first volume of Hew Strachan’s epic work-in-progress, The First World War.
“If the iron dice roll: ” Tuchman, Guns of August, 74.
“a long weary struggle”: Barnett, 40.
“too reflective, too scrupulous”: Ibid., 23.
“Art is the only thing”: Blond, 30.
The so-called Grand Program: Strachan, First World War, 62.
By 1914, 1.4 million Russian troops: Rutherford, 20.
“We should exploit in the West”: L.C.F.Turner, “The Significance of the Schlieffen Plan,” in Kennedy, 200.
His commentaries, which he continued to produce: The weaknesses of the Schlieffen Plan, and Schlieffen’s recognition of those weaknesses, are described briefly in Stevenson, Cataclysm, 38, and in vastly greater detail in Ritter, 2193-216.
Bismarck had joked: Bismarck, 134: The kaiser said that this quip was Bismarck’s “pet motto.”
As late as 1913: France’s alertness to British sensitivities on the subject of Belgium, and Britain’s role in discouraging France from planning to violate Belgian neutrality, is described in Asprey, Marne, 24.
“for the civilian side to have”: Ritter, 2206.
“If we were to”: Ibid, 2195.
The infantry would have to do this: Herwig, 60.
Schlieffen calculated: Schlieffen’s estimates of the number of divisions required for executing his plan are in Farrar-Hockley, 6.
“Before the Germans reach the Somme”: Turner, “Schlieffen Plan,” in Kennedy, 202.
“It must come to a fight”: Asprey, Marne, 11.
The most challenging aspect: Herwig, 60.
“will hardly be possible”: Turner, “Schlieffen Plan,” in Kennedy, 212.
As the years passed: Moltke’s changes in the proportions of troops assigned to the German right and left wings are in Stevenson, Cataclysm, 39.
In its 1914 iteration: Turner, “Schlieffen Plan,” in Kennedy, 212.
In the thirty days following: The troop and division numbers given here and in the next paragraph are in Ferguson, 92.
This measure was a requirement: French and German conscription percentages are in Stevenson, Cataclysm, 161.
“the most hated man in France”: Berenson, 71.
Though his enemies accused him: Caillaux’s handling of the Morocco crisis is detailed in ibid, 76.
“bring Jaurès’s pacifist dream”: Ibid, 71.
“comic interlude”: Ibid, 22.
“Do not touch me”: Ibid, 2.
Joffre was demanding: Joffre’s demands, and Poincaré’s restraining influence, are in Herwig, 58.
“The danger is great”: Jackson, Jean Jaurès, 181.
“We have no wish to incite” and “if on the eve of war”: Ibid, 176.
“everything is finished”: Goldberg, 471.
His little army: The size of King Albert’s force is in Ferguson, 92.
Each of these forts contained: Information about the defensive forces at Liège is in Mosier, 58.
The Germans, as part: The Liège assault force is described in Herwig, 96.
His First Army: The size of Kluck’s army is in Stevenson, Cataclysm, 43.
The first three of these armies: Ibid.
This was war on a truly new scale: The size of Wellington’s Waterloo force is in Herwig, 48.
An advancing army’s worst: Strachan, 237.
“In such a case”: The Joffre-Lanrezac exchange is in Blond, 57.
The day after that: Herwig, 88.
On August 13, after taking: Belgian casualties at Fort Chaudfontaine are in Mosier, 60.
“I ask you to bear witness”: Keegan, Illustrated History, 78.
More than five hundred trains: rail transport data are in Asprey, German High Command, 52.
Kluck’s First Army alone: The German First Army’s requirements are in Herwig, 100.
August 17: A collision: Russian prisoner totals are in Gilbert, First World War, 28.
“We cannot ask our Bavarian”: Isselin, 33.
On this same day: Austrian casualties are in Gilbert, First World War, 50.
“Our advance in Belgium”: Moltke’s words are in Keegan, Illustrated History, 71.
“Do you already hold me”: Ritter, 314.
His intelligence bureau: French estimates of German strength are in Blond, 22.
The fourteen French divisions: Numbers of divisions are in Bruce I. Gudmundsen, “unexp
ected Encounter at Bertrix,” in Cowley, 25.
The fight at the town of Rossignol: Casualty totals are in Mosier, 71.
French casualties for the war’s first month: The numbers are in Stevenson, Cataclysm, 45.
Among the dead: The ten percent figure is in Asprey, Marne, 59.
“In a moment it is clear”: in Lacouture, 30.
The Germans, except on their right: Germany’s combat death figure is in Mosier, 72.
“Squiff” and “filthy cabinet”: Jannen, 325.
Grey told his fellow ministers: In later years, criticized for not acting more forcefully during the July crisis, Grey would state that “the idea that one individual sitting in a room in the Foreign Office could pledge a great democracy definitely by his word, in advance, either to take part in a great war or to abstain from taking part in it, is absurd.” See Hazelhurst, 51.
“the precipitate and peremptory”: Ibid, 67.
“My own opinion …is that L.G.’s m ind”: Ibid, 68.
“I suppose… that a good three-fourths”: Ibid, 32.
“The Liberals, very few of them”: Ibid, 44.
“This is not my crowd”: Ibid, 117.
“It is curious…ho w”: Jenkins, 328.
“It will be obvious that the greatest care”: Terraine, Western Front, 38.
“Bülow was a solid professional”: Bülow’s background is Mombauer, 68.
Every private in the BEF: The capabilities of British riflemen are in Pound, 46.
When the day ended: Mons casualties are in Keegan, Illustrated History, 86.
It was all nonsense: The origins of the Mons legends are in Hayward, 46.
Le Cateau turned into a bigger: Casualty figures are in Stevenson, Cataclysm, 47.
They had taken some eight thousand: Casualty figures are in Keegan, Illustrated History, 90.
A French counterattack that marked: Ibid., 86.
“the most terrible August”: Marshall, 58.
“forced to take defensive action”: Blond, 19.
The BEF marched: Strachan, First World War, 225.
“capable of taking up the offensive”: Isselin, 37.
“complete victories”: Asprey, Marne, 64.
He also decided to send: Marshall, 63.
Combined with Moltke’s earlier adjustments: Details about Moltke’s troop dispositions are in Asprey, German High Command, 100; and Marne, 65, 103; Herwig, 99; and Strachan, First World War, 241.
That commander, the fat and elderly: Prittwitz’s manpower is in Stevenson, Cataclysm, 52.
Moving against this Eighth Army: The Russian manpower advantage is in Strachan, First World War, 316.
“I know of no other man”: Asprey, German High Command, 69.
Nine divisions were formed into an arc: The troop dispositions are in Marshall, 61.
Rennenkampf’s troops had been on the march: Strachan, First World War, 320.
“I will not allow General Samsonov”: Marshall, 61.
He had lost seventeen thousand: Asprey, German High Command, 58.
In the course of the next three days: Prisoner and casualty figures are in ibid., 80.
“the fate of Russia will be decided”: “Moltke and Conrad,” in Kennedy, 224.
On Lanrezac’s left: The hours spent retreating daily are in Strachan, First World War, 259.
“If you refuse”: Blond, 62.
“my confidence in the ability”: The French-Kitchener exchange is in Magnus, 293.
“I think you had better trust me”: Asprey, Marne, 81.
French’s account states: French’s memoir of the conversation is in Magnus, 68.
Joffre by this point: The number of general officers removed by Joffre is in Asprey, German High Command, 103.
The number of divisions facing: The increase in the strength of Joffre’s left is in Strachan, First World War, 243.
The French, in contrast to the Germans, were reaping: Information about Joffre’s rail system is in ibid, 243.
Apparently he was discouraged: the effect of railroad damage on Moltke’s thinking is in Mombauer, 243.
“A natural reluctance to abandon”: Blond, 90.
“We must not deceive ourselves”: Asprey, Marne, 94.
“the will to conquer is the first”: Tuchman, Guns of August, 32.
“for the attack only two”: Ibid, 34.
“Battles are beyond everything”: Ibid, 32.
But his army was in danger: Austin, 2232.
“a comedian” … “no British”: Liddell Hart, Reputations, 85.
“One of our battalions”: Austin, 2272.
In pulling back to the Ourcq: The size of the gap is in Keegan, Illustrated History, 31.
“Attack, whatever happens!”: Tuchman, Guns of August, 435.
“For my part I preserve”: Asprey, Marne, 120.
“What a mess!” Isselin, 156.
“voluntary concentric retreat”: Keegan, Illustrated History, 107.
“the decision will be”: Ibid., 101.
He had sent thirty-one: Numbers of Austrian and Russian divisions are in Stevenson, Cataclysm, 58.
Conrad had lost more: Austrian losses are in ibid, 58.
“shackled to a corpse”: Falls, 54.
“I have one of my sons”: Herwig, 96.
“I cannot fid words”: Blond, 215.
“There was not a moment’s hesitation”: Clark, Donkeys, 21.
Late in the nineteenth century: Robertson’s fist opportunity to become an officer is in Bonham-Carter, 29.
“I have often made up my mind”: Winter, Haig’s Command, 33.
“the role of cavalry on the battlefield”: Clark, Donkeys, 22.
“such a terrible intriguer”: Ibid, 32.
“as much an enemy”: Tuchman, Guns of August, 201.
“He means well and will succeed”: Winter, Haig’s Command, 25.
“After five days and nights”: Isselin, 228.
It is one measure: French munitions production figures are in Marshall, 73.
“Three days ago our division”: Austin, 2: 293.
British and French headquarters: French’s prediction is in ibid.
To strengthen his right: Falkenhayn’s troop movements are in Herwig, 114.
That left Antwerp, which was already: The Antwerp defenses are in Mosier, 116.
Members of the cabinet were said: The varying responses of Kitchener and other cabinet members are in Marshall, 74.
These movements set the stage: the forces engaged in the Battle of Warsaw are in ibid., 80.
“From Czestochowa we advanced”: [Story], 193.
The Ninth Army retreated sixty miles: Ibid., 82.
Overall the campaign had cost: German losses are in Stevenson, Cataclysm, 64.
When Scotland’s Second Highland Light Infantry: The unit’s losses are in Farrar-Hockley, 180.
The enemy turned every house: Schwink, 65.
Lombartzyde was captured: A chronology of the times Lombartzyde changed hands is in Gleichen, 30-38.
“This…is not war!”: Marshall, 77.
By the time the Flanders front: Casualty totals are in Asprey, German High Command, 124.
Burke’s Peerage, the registry: The losses to England’s titled families are in Pound, 77.
They had lost another ninety thousand: The numbers in this paragraph are from Herwig, 109-10.
“Only about half had overcoats”: Austin, 2: 421.
A counterattack organized by Serbian: The Austrian and Serbian troop numbers are in Herwig, 112.
Again their losses were outlandish: Casualty totals are in Stevenson, Cataclysm, 65.
With almost four years of war remaining: Vienna’s losses are in Herwig, 120.
By March it would add another hundred thousand: This number is in Stevenson, Cataclysm, 75.
PART THREE
1915: A Zero-Sum Game
The first full calendar year of the Great War was dominated by two epic struggles: the fight for mastery on the Eastern Fr
ont, and the Dardanelles-Gallipoli campaign. In connection with the former, particularly helpful works include The Eastern Front, 1914-1917 by Norman Stone and (a little-known gem that proved to be indispensable) The Russian Army in World War I by Ward Rutherford. Trumbell Higgins’s Winston Churchill and the Dardanelles, Robert Rhodes James’s Gallipoli of 1965, and Alan Moorehead’s more recent Gallipoli all provide useful guidance to their subject.
On New Year’s Day: Gilbert, First World War, 124.
In the last five months of 1914: The casualty figures in this paragraph are from Stevenson, Cataclysm, 75.
In Paris the dominating fact: Data on French resources lost to Germany are from Ferguson, 250, and Marshall, 73.
“great incalculable”: Stone, 122.
“a broken instrument”: Asprey, German High Command, 152.
“If we succeed in bringing Russia to terms”: Zeman, 83.
“a few months hence” and “keep hammering away”: Ferguson, 292.
“The German armies in France”: Magnus, 311.
“by extended operations”: James, 28.
The Champagne operation alone: Keegan, Illustrated History, 159.
“I have grown into close union”: Churchill, The Unknown War, 279.
“a dubious character”: Asprey, German High Command, 153.
“theater of decision”: Churchill, Unknown War, 280.
“I can only love and hate” and “the fatherland’s evil angel”: Herwig, 132.
Conrad’s offensive began: Stone, 113.
While one Austrian army captured: Herwig, 137.
The Germans began their assault: Asprey, German High Command, 162.
Counterattacks by eleven Russian divisions: Stone, 112.
Russia, at this time, had approximately: The numbers of Russian and Central Powers divisions are in Stone, 112.
Ludendorff claimed that a hundred thousand soldiers: Ibid., 118.
“we failed strategically”: Churchill, Unknown War, 299.
The winter campaign, by the time it ended: Stone, 122.
It was invented in 1884: Ellis, 36.
Rudimentary methods of underground tunneling: This matter is the sole subject of Barrie, War Underground.
A war that introduced so many: Buehr, 5.
The Germans calculated: Marshall, 85.
“I intensely disliked the thought”: Rutherford, 115.
“in no circumstances can we”: Ibid., 116.
