The German Failure in Belgium, August 1914

How Faulty Reconnaissance Exposed the Weakness of the Schlieffen Plan

Dennis Showalter, Joseph P. Robinson, Janet A. Robinson (Autoren)

Buch | Softcover

225 Seiten

2019
McFarland & Co Inc (Verlag)
978-1-4766-7462-9 (ISBN)

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Examines the structural failures that frustrated the Germans in the war’s crucial initial campaign, the invasion of Belgium. Too much routine in planning, command and execution led to groupthink, inflexibility and to an overconfident belief that nothing could go too terribly wrong.

If wars were wagered on like pro sports or horse races, the Germany military in August 1914 would have been a clear front-runner, with a century-long record of impressive victories and a general staff the envy of its rivals. Germany's overall failure in the first year of World War I was surprising and remains a frequent subject of analysis, mostly focused on deficiencies in strategy and policy.

But there were institutional weaknesses as well. This book examines the structural failures that frustrated the Germans in the war's crucial initial campaign, the invasion of Belgium. Too much routine in planning, command and execution led to groupthink, inflexibility and to an overconfident belief that nothing could go too terribly wrong. As a result, decisive operation became dicey, with consequences that Germany's military could not overcome in four long years.

The late Dennis Showalter was professor emeritus of history at Colorado College. He was past president of the Society for Military History and founding joint editor of War in History. He was awarded the Pritzker Literature Award for Lifetime Achievement in Military Writing in 2018. He lived in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Colonel (Ret.) Joseph P. Robinson was a Division G3 (operations and plans) in a combat zone, has written several thousand operational orders, and taught at the U.S. Army War College. He lives in San Marcos, Texas. Colonel (Ret.) Janet A. Robinson has co-authored and edited several books about Imperial Germany and World War I. She lives in San Marcos, Texas.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments

Preface

Introduction

1. Concept

2. Structural Issues

Cavalry Heritage

Jaeger

Reconnaissance

Heereskavallerie vs. Divisionskavallerie

Integration of Aviation

Communications Failures

3. Operational Issues

Enemy Situation

Ultimate German Objective

Single Point of Failure: Staff Plans

“Technical Problems”

Number of Cavalry Divisions

4. Preparation for War

July 29

July 30

July 31

August 1

August 2

August 3

5. Handstreich

August 4

August 5

August 6

August 7

6. Reducing Liège

August 8

August 9

August 10

August 11

7. Prior to the Final Advance

August 12

August 13

August 14

August 15

8. Advance

August 16

August 17

August 18

August 19

9. Bad Deployment Strikes Back

August 20

August 21

August 22

August 23

Conclusion

Appendix: Peacetime Organization of the GGS as of May 1, 1914

Glossary of Terms and Abbreviations

Chapter Notes

Bibliography

Index

Erscheinungsdatum	18.09.2019
Zusatzinfo	23 photos, 12 maps, appendix, glossary, notes, bibliography, index
Verlagsort	Jefferson, NC
Sprache	englisch
Maße	152 x 229 mm
Gewicht	308 g
Themenwelt	Sachbuch/Ratgeber ► Geschichte / Politik ► Allgemeines / Lexika
	Geisteswissenschaften ► Geschichte ► Allgemeines / Lexika
	Geschichte ► Allgemeine Geschichte ► Neuzeit (bis 1918)
	Geisteswissenschaften ► Geschichte ► Regional- / Ländergeschichte
	Geschichte ► Teilgebiete der Geschichte ► Militärgeschichte
	Sozialwissenschaften ► Politik / Verwaltung
ISBN-10	1-4766-7462-0 / 1476674620
ISBN-13	978-1-4766-7462-9 / 9781476674629
Zustand	Neuware