Canada
By September 4, approximately 32,000 men have assembled at Valcartier Camp; in fact, recruiting had been stopped by the end of August, as 45,000 volunteers had joined up in the first three weeks.
France
September 5 - Allied surveillance airmen observed the advance of German units well across the Marne River, barely twenty miles from Paris.
__________
September 6 - 10 First Battle of the Marne.
__________
A point of interest – With the sound of guns audible from the Eiffel Tower, French leaders rushed assembled reserves forward in taxis towards the front line at the Marne River, the famous ‘taxis of the Marne’
__________
The German High Command, under General von Moltke, changed the direction of the Schlieffen Plan and pursued the retreating French to the east of Paris rather than sweeping west to encircle the French capital. The Schlieffen Plan intent of the continued westward pressure had been to strengthen the flank of the advancing German army in order to prevent the Allies counter attack from outflanking the Germans. Not continuing with this strategy proved to be a major blunder. From this point onwards, with France still an formidable enemy with strong Allied support, a two-front war for Germany was a reality, and with the Allies and Germans fighting to outflank one another, ‘the race to the sea’ commenced. (Note to reader - under 'race to the sea' link - 'Trench warfare' hyperlink is especially well done.)
__________
Add a comment