German Strategy and the Path to Verdun: Erich Von Falkenhayn and the Development of Attrition, 1870-1916 Robert T

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Cambridge University Press 0521841933 - German Strategy and the Path to Verdun: Erich von Falkenhayn and the Development of Attrition, 1870-1916 Robert T. Foley Index More information

Index

Afflerbach, Holger, 206 Bismarck, Otto Fürst von, 20, 59 Albrecht, Duke of Württemberg, 85 alliance system of, 23, 59 Alexeyev, Michail, 138, 148, 149 conflict with Moltke, 20 Alsace, 16, 205 Bloch, Ivan, 50 Anglo-Boer War, 2, 48, 51, 54 Boguslawski, Alfred von, 40 Anglo-German antagonism, 47–48 Bosnian Annexation Crisis (1908), 47 Antwerp, battle of (1914), 216 Boxer Rebellion (1900–01), 88 Arras, breakthrough plans near, 157, Briand, Aristide, 220 239–240, 241 British Expeditionary Force, 83, 84 Artois, Entente offensives in, 164–165, 174 German assessment of, 183–184, Augusta Victoria, German Empress, 122, 185–186 123 Brusilov Offensive (1916), 243–246, 251 Austro-Hungarian army successes of, 244 losses in, 127–128 Buller, Sir Redvers, 49 performance of, 127–129 Bülow, Karl von, 101, 119 Austro-Hungary as a German ally, 60, 119 Cabinet war, 15, 18, 28 weakness of, 163, 251, 252, 257, 265 Caemmerer, Rudolph von, 40 Austro-Prussian War (1866), 15, 18, 41, critique of Delbrück, 50, 52 46 periodization of military history, 50, 52 Cardinal von Widdern, Georg, 30, 33, 34, battle of annihilation, concept of, 3, 15, 36 16, 23, 41, 60, 62, 66, 124 on people’s war, 32–33 Bauer, Max, 97, 194 Castelnau, Noëlde, 169 opinion of Falkenhayn, 87 Champagne, as an area for German attack, Belfort, 205 200–203 Belgium Chantilly Conference, 242 violation of neutrality, 67, 69, 71, 72, Christmas Memorandum, 205–206 77, 83 Claer, Eberhard von, 165 Below, Fritz von, 247, 248, 249 reforms German defensive doctrine, 166 Berchtold, Leopold von, 128 Clausewitz, Carl von, 2, 14, 40, 41, 52, 54, Bernhardi, Friedrich von, 40, 45 107 critique of Delbrück, 50, 51 influence of, 21, 45–46 Bernhardi, Theodor von, 40 Colenso, battle of (1899), 49 Bethmann Hollweg, Theobald von, 7, 74, Conrad von Hötzendorf, Franz Freiherr, 85, 86, 88, 106, 107, 109, 110, 119, 119, 128, 129, 134, 135, 136, 140, 121, 125, 146, 147, 154, 162, 167, 141, 142, 146, 147, 148, 150, 181, 181, 182, 184, 204, 265, 266, 267 182, 197, 245, 247 intrigues against Falkenhayn, 114–117 calls for German assistance, 129, 243 separate peace with Russia, 147, 156 decorated, 140 Bewegungskrieg (see war of movement), 81, hatred of Italy, 141 83 conscription, 14

295

© Cambridge University Press www.cambridge.org Cambridge University Press 0521841933 - German Strategy and the Path to Verdun: Erich von Falkenhayn and the Development of Attrition, 1870-1916 Robert T. Foley Index More information

296 Index

Cramon, August von (German liaison differences of opinion with 6th Army, officer), 129, 131, 134, 244 200 assessment of Austrian weaknesses, dismissal of, 257–258 129–131, 244 exhaustion of, 257 expects French counteroffensive, Deimling, Berthold von, 210, 229 196–197 Delbrück,Hans, 4, 5, 40, 41, 42, 46, 47, failure to develop school, 10 53, 54, 55, 59, 107, 206, 264 failure of strategy, 255–256, 257 acceptance of his historical ideas, 53, 54 first strategic decisions of, 99–102 career of, 38–39 impact of service in China, 90–91 critique of strategy of annihilation, 39, inability to communicate, 97–98, 114, 44–46 205, 265 develops strategy of attrition, 42–44, 264 initial commitment to strategy of on Anglo-German rivalry, 47–48 annihilation, 101 on European alliance system, 47–48, 54 interpretations of, 8–11, 87–91, on Future war, 48, 50, 54 151–152, 261–263 as military commentator, 46, 48–51 operational ideas of, 90, 133–136, 148, Douaumont, Fort, 219 191–193, 203, 207–208, 211, 212, Dual Alliance, 47, 59, 60 267 orders slowdown in Verdun offensive, Einem, Karl von, 85, 113, 171, 173, 176, 247, 254 196, 202, 203 plans counteroffensive, 238–241, prepares for Herbstschlacht, 168–169 249–250 struggles to cope with Herbstschlacht, plans for eastern offensive, 131–132, 174, 175–176 140–143, 145–146 Evert, General, 251 position within army, 92, 123, 125–126 psychological profile of, 262, 264 Fabeck, Max von, 157 pushes for war, 82, 91 Falkenhayn, Erich von, 5, 7, 9, 10, 12, 13, reacts to battle of the Somme, 254 55, 84, 100, 109, 156 replaces staff of 3rd Army, 175–176 adherence to strategy of attrition, 109, secrecy of, 204–206, 250 112, 119, 124–125, 132, 146, tactical ideas of, 232–234 181–183, 206, 252 Ferdinand, Duke of Brunswick, 1 assessment of allies, 119, 129 Fleck, Friedrich, 162–171, 174, 175, 176 assessment of enemies, 100, 107, Förster, Stig 109–110, 145–146, 150, 179, 187, interpretation of Moltke the Elder, 24 235–236, 243 Frahnert, Ernst, 133 assessment of strategic situation, Franc-tireurs, 17 106–107, 131, 162, 167–168, 237, France 247, 252–254 fortifications of, 61–62, 66, 70, 77 background and career of, 87–92 war plans of, 59 choice of subordinates, 92–93, 97 will to continue war, 255 chooses site for 1916 offensive, 188–190 Franco-German War (1870–71), 1, 4, 15, collapse of first offensive, 103–104 16, 20, 21, 28, 29, 30, 34, 35, 36, 37, command style of, 97–98 41, 46, 59, 61, 65, 115, 230, 232, considers calling off Verdun offensive, 261, 262, 263, 264 223, 227–228 Franco-Russian Military Convention, 59, criticism of Moltke the Younger, 84, 86, 61 91–92 Franz Ferdinand, Austrian Archduke, decorated, 140 79–80, 81 desire for separate peace, 145–147, 188, Frederick the Great, King of Prussia, 1, 206, 265 39, 40, 42, 45, 50, 52, 53, 54 develops strategy of attrition, 105, 264 Military Testament of, 39 differences of opinion with 5th Army, French army 194, 227 artillery of, 209

Index 297

German assessment of, 20, 21, 22, 100, Gossler, Heinrich von, 224, 225, 183, 185 226 knowledge of German war plans, 73, Groener, Wilhelm, 97, 99, 140, 216 209–210 on strategy of annihilation, 41, 42 losses in, 156–157, 178, 179, 219, 220, opinion of Falkenhayn, 87, 257, 242, 255, 256 262–266 of the Franco-German War, 16–17 Grünau, Werner Freiherr von, 243 plans for Herbstschlacht, 169–171 possible reactions to Schlieffen Plan, 73 Haeften, Hans von, 9, 121, 154 French Revolution, 14, 28 bias of, 9 Freytag-Loringhoven, Hugo von, 70, 96, intrigues against Falkenhayn, 117–118 178 opinion of Falkenhayn, 88–90, 151 role in OHL, 96–97 punishment of, 123 Friedrich, Austrian Archduke, 140 Haig, Douglas, 242 Friedrich III, German Emperor, 19 Harbou, Christian, 97 Heeringen, Josias von, 85, 91 Galliéni,Joseph, 222 Heinrich, Prince of Prussia, 91 Gallipoli, 167 Herbstschlacht (1915), 171–178, 185, 192, Gallwitz, Max von, 148, 149, 226 203, 248 Gambetta, Leon, 17, 18, 19, 25, 26, 35, 37 effect on Falkenhayn, 178–179, General Staff system, 98 195 German army Herr, Georges, 210, 220 adherence to strategy of annihilation, Heye, Wilhelm 41–42, 59, 109, 118, 124, 125 opinion of Falkenhayn, 90 airpower in, 162 Hindenburg, Paul von, 105, 110, 114, artillery in, 133, 149, 153, 161, 163, 120, 122, 123, 124, 135, 154, 257, 166–167, 179, 193, 207 259, 261 defensive doctrine of, 160, 163–166, 167 adherence to strategy of annihilation, inferiority of, 60–61 110, 258, 261 losses of, 103, 104, 112, 178, 209, 223, intrigues against Falkenhayn, 120–121 226, 227, 251, 256 reputation of, 111 military history in, 45 support for, 121 mobilization of, 82–83 Hoenig, Fritz, 30, 33, 34, 36, 40 new units, 113, 132–133, 157 on people’s war, 30–32 reform of, 25–26 Höhn, Ritter von, 173, 176 reinforces Austrian army, 129 structure of, 5–7, 63–64, 84–87, 115, Italy 125–126 as a German ally, 60 tactics of, 144–145, 149, 160 as a German enemy, 131, 141 Germany Ivanov, N.Y. (commander of the Russian strategic situation of, 23, 59–60, 74, Southwest Front), 128, 129, 139, 181–182, 183–187 148 Giesler Heights, 203 Gneisenau, August Neidhart Graf von, 93 Jähns, Max, 52 Goltz, Colmar Freiherr von der, 4, 25, 26, agreement with Delbrück, 52 30, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 40, 50, 51, Jena, battle of (1806), 26 55 Joachim, Prince of Prussia, 122 career of, 29–30 Joffre, Joseph, 171, 220, 236, 242, 243 interpretation of Gambetta, 25 July Crisis (1914), 86, 88, 91 on fighting a people’s war, 28–29 Jungdeutschland-Gesetz, 30 on Frederick the Great, 42 Jungdeutschlandbund, 30 on reform of German army, 25–28 Jünger, Ernst, 260 Gorlice, battle of (1915), 131, 135, 138, 144, 149, 152, 163, 171, 203, 204, Kabinettskrieg (see cabinet war) 211, 213, 215, 250 Kaiser battles (1918), 261

298 Index

Keim, August, 13 Mackensen, August von, 133, 134, 135, view of German army, 1 142, 143, 148, 152, 207 Kitchen, Martin decorated, 140 interpretation of Schlieffen, 79 reputation of, 140 view of the German army, 1–2 tactical ideas of, 139, 140 Königgrätz,battle of, 18, 22, 28, 62, 112, Marne, battle of (1914), 7, 83, 92, 93, 98, 125, 258 100, 257 Köpke, Martin, 69 Marschall, Ulrich Freiherr von, 88, 257 on future war, 61–62 Masurian Lakes, battle of (1915), 111 Koser, Reinhold, 52 Maubeuge, battle of (1914), 210 agreement with Delbrück, 53 Mecklenburg-Schwerin, Grand Duke, 32 Krafft von Dellmensingen, Konrad Mertens, General von, 165 breakthrough plans of, 157, 160, 161, Mertz von Quirnheim, Hermann Ritter 162 Metz, battle of (1870), 16, 17, 19 Kriegsgeschichtliches Forschungsanstalt Mewes, Friedrich, 165 des Heeres (Army Research Institute Moltke, Helmuth von (the Younger), 5, 6, for Military History), 11, 206 7, 9, 10, 54, 59, 69, 72, 73, 77, 79, writing methods of, 11–12 80, 84, 85, 87, 88, 91, 93, 98, 111, Kruger, President of Transvaal Republic, 113, 117, 120, 123, 178 47 assessment of French army Kuhl, Hermann von, 70, 162, 196, 240, assessment of Russian army, 74–77 248 fall of, 86 breakthrough plans of, 158, 161, interpretations of, 79–80, 261, 263 198–200, 238, 239 intrigues against Falkenhayn, 118–119 differences with Falkenhayn, 200 pessimism of, 72–73, 79 Kuropatkin, Alexi, 49 pushes for war, 79, 81, 82 Kusmanek von Burgneustädten,Hermann, support for Hindenburg, 121 128 vision of future war, 59 war plans of, 77–78, 82, 83, 84 Langle de Cary, Fernande de, 169 Moltke, Helmuth Graf von (the Elder), 4, Lauter, Ludwig, 165, 169 17, 18, 20, 29, 30, 34, 35, 36, 38, 45, reforms German artillery, 166–167 49, 52, 53, 54, 55, 59, 61, 62, 63, Liddell Hart, Basil H., 151, 154 104, 106, 107, 109, 113, 125, 146, Liège 206 coup de main, 78, 83, 216 conflict with Bismarck, 20 Linsingen, Alexander von, 120 on Clausewitz, 45–46 Lochow, General von, 210 on French fortifications, 61 Loire, campaign in (1871), 22 on military history, 45 Loos, breakthrough plans near, 241 pessimism of, 23, 62 Lorraine, 16 reaction of rise of people’s war, 18–19, Loßberg, Fritz von, 97, 173, 176, 59, 262, 264 202 view of French, 19, 20, 21, 22 reorganizes 3rd Army defensive war plans, 22–24, 106 positions, 165 way of war, 21–23 Ludendorff, Erich, 9, 105, 110, 117, 119, Mombauer, Annika, 8 120, 122, 123, 154, 257, 261 Mudra, Bruno von, 229, 230, 234 adherence to strategy of annihilation, Mukden, battle of (1905), 51, 52, 67 110, 258, 261 Müller, Georg von, 204 intrigues against Falkenhayn, 120 reputation of, 111 Namur, battle of (1914), 216 Luxemburg Napoleon I, Emperor of the French, 14, violation of neutrality of, 67, 83 41, 45, 46, 52, 53, 105 Lyncker, Moriz von, 86, 88, 115, 120 Napoleon III, Emperor of the French, 16 support for Falkenhayn, 122 nation in arms, 15, 21, 34, 35, 261, 262, Lys Canal, 203 263, 264

Index 299

Netherlands, 72 successes of, 128–129 violation of neutrality of, 69, 77 weakness of, 138–139, 149, 150 Nicholas, Russian Tsar, 143 Russo-Japanese War (1904/05), 2, 49, 51, 52, 54, 62, 67, 74, 75, 76 Oldenburg-Januschau, Elard von, 122 St. Privat, battle of (1870), 232 Paris, 20 Saldern, Friedrich von, 1 Siege of (1870/71), 17 Sarrail, Maurice, 209 People’s war (Volkskrieg), 4, 5, 13, 15, 18, Scharnhorst, Gerhard von, 14 19, 21, 25, 26, 28, 30, 33, 34, 35, 36, Schenck, General, 210 37, 38, 59, 62, 104, 109, 261, 262, Scherff, Wilhelm, 40 263, 264 Schlichting, Sigismund von, 51, 52 Pétain, Philippe, 169, 255, 259 Schlieffen, Alfred Graf von, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, organizes defense of Verdun, 221–222 10, 15, 37, 57, 59, 60, 62, 63, 64, 73, organizes rotation of French units, 77, 79, 80, 84, 111, 113, 140, 261 236 assessment of allies, 60 Plessen, Hans von, 12, 115, 117, 122, 123, assessment of Russian army, 67–68, 69, 189, 216 80 Poincaré,Raymond, 222 belief of flank attacks, 67 Port Arthur, battle of (1904/05), 67 desire for decisive battle, 60, 62, 66, 70, position warfare (Stellungskrieg), 84, 97, 72 105, 111, 156, 186 concept of battle, 66 Przemysl, 128, 141, 142 fear of long war, 62 influence of, 9–10, 56, 65–66, 74, 261, race for the flanks (1914), 101–102 263 Radko-Dmitriev, General, 138, 139 interpretations of, 56–57, 79–80 Reichsarchiv, 9, 11, 88, 105, 154, 165, on strategy of attrition, 62, 66 178, 205, 232, 261, 262, 264 position with army, 62–63, 64 bias of writers, 8 pushes for army increases, 64–65 interpretation of Falkenhayn, 151, 249, pushes for more heavy artillery, 65 261, 263 violation of Belgian neutrality, 67, 69 Reinsurance Treaty, 59 vision of future war, 59, 60–61 Ritter, Gerhard, 4, 69, 72, 78, 124 Schlieffen Plan, 2, 3, 57, 66, 69, 71, 73, interpretation of Falkenhayn, 90 74, 77, 82, 83, 84, 261 interpretation of Moltke the Elder, formation of, 66–72 23–24 Schlieffen School, 9–10, 57, 88, 261 interpretation of Schlieffen, 3, 57 Schlieffen Society, 56 Roon, Albrecht von, 20, 91 Schmidt von Knobelsdorf, Constantin, on problems finding manpower, 20 176, 189, 190, 197, 204, 210, 228, Rumania, 131 229 Rupprecht, Bavarian Crown Prince, 85, differences with Falkenhayn, 194, 230 101, 102, 118, 168, 172, 173, 238, fears French artillery at Verdun, 194 249 initial plans for Verdun offensive, differences of opinion with Falkenhayn, 190–191 200 tactical ideas of, 230, 231, 232, 234 intrigues against Falkenhayn, 113 Sedan, battle of (1870), 16, 17, 18, 19, 22, Russia 28, 62, 83, 110, 112, 258 fortresses of, 147 Seeckt, Hans von, 90, 133, 134, 136, 140, railroad expansion in, 76, 79 157, 161 war plans of, 59 breakthrough plans of, 158–160, weakness of, 187 162 Russian army Seven Years War (1756–63), 48, 50, 52, losses in, 139, 144, 150, 153 54 mobilization of, 75–76 short-war illusion, 3, 15, 55, 57, 59 reform of, 74–77, 79, 80 Showalter, Dennis, 34

300 Index

Soissons, battle of (1914), 160, 161, 210, impact on Entente plans, 242–243 211 importance of artillery in battle, 191, Solger, Wilhelm, 178 192, 193, 196, 207, 211, 212, Somme, battle of (1916), 236, 250–251 215–220, 221, 223, 224, 225, 227, Entente plans for, 242–243 231, 232, 234, 255 German knowledge of Entente plans, increasing significance of battle, 230, 246 256 German preparations for, 247–249 initial plans for offensive, 190–191 Stadelmann, Rudolph, 20, 21 interpretations of, 259–260 Stein, Hermann von, 93 offensive on west bank, 224–226 Stellungskrieg (see position warfare) plans for 5th Army’s offensive, 193–197 Steuben, Cuno von, 70 results of first phase offensive, 219, 220 Stone, Norman, 154 widening of German offensive, 223–224 Stormtroop tactics, 232 Vienna, Congress of, 14 Strategiestreit, 39–40, 44, 54 Voigts-Rhetz, Werner Eugen von, 94 strategy of annihilation Volkskrieg (see people’s war) (Vernichtungsstrategie), 5, 9, 10, 13, 16, 38, 40, 41, 54, 56, 59, 80, 255, 258, Waldersee, Alfred Graf von, 63 264 Wallach, Jehuda, 4 German army’s adherence to, 41–42, 59, interpretation of Schlieffen, 3, 57 261, 262, 263 Wallenstein, Albrecht Graf von, 121 strategy of attrition (Ermattungsstrategie), 4, war of extermination, 19, 20 5, 8, 13, 24, 40, 49, 50, 54, 55, 84, war of movement (Bewegungskrieg), 22, 107, 109, 256, 257, 258, 261, 262, 111, 188, 198, 255 264, 266, 267 Wars of (German) Unification (1864–1871), 15, 21, 23, 36, 41, 46, Tannenberg, battle of (1914), 111, 133 51, 52, 72, 84, 264–266 Tappen, Gerhard, 93, 132, 140, 169, 177, Wendt, Hermann, 195, 256 185, 190, 192, 195, 223, 246, 247, Wild von Hohenborn, Aldoph, 94, 117, 249, 250 122, 123, 132, 158, 185, 190, 215, assessment of situation in 1914, 100 227, 245, 246, 249, 252, 257 opinion of Falkenhayn, 94, 178 opinion of Falkenhayn, 105 role in OHL, 94 role with the OHL, 94–95 Taysen, Adalbert von, 39 Wilhelm, German Crown Prince, 85, 118, interpretation of Frederick the Great, 39 168, 173 Treutler, Karl Georg von, 235, 243 differences with Falkenhayn, 197 Triple Alliance, 47, 60 intrigues against Falkenhayn, 114, 117, Tsushima, battle of (1905), 67 121–122 Wilhelm I, German Kaiser, 20, 25, 26, 36 Vailly, battle of (1915), 157, 160, 161, Wilhelm II, German Kaiser, 73, 82–83, 210, 211 85, 88, 91, 103, 104, 114, 117, 119, planned breakthrough at, 158 120, 121, 123, 124, 132, 133, 139, Vaux, Fort, 242 167, 172, 173, 176, 182, 184, 189, Verdun, battle of (1916), 8 205, 230, 252, 253, 257 5th Army’s artillery deployment, 215 Kruger Telegram, 47 5th Army attack orders, 210–215 on battle of Verdun, 192 5th Army’s initial goals, 212 opinion of Hindenburg, 121, 123, 154 artillery stripped from, 209, 210 opinion of Ludendorff, 117, 123, 154 casualties in, 259 resolves leadership crisis, 122–123 chosen for 1916 offensive, 188–190 trust in Falkenhayn, 86, 88, 92, 117, delay in offensive, 216–217 154, 257 first phase of offensive, 217 Wimpffen, Emmanuel Felix de, 16 French reinforcements arrive, 221 Winter Battle in Champagne (1915), 156, French response to German offensive, 163 220–221 Winter Battle in Masuria (1915), 124

Index 301

Wrisberg, Ernst von, 132, 157, 162 Ziethen, Alfred, 137 Zimmermann, Arthur, 106, Yorck Graf von Wartenburg, Maximilian, 114 45 Zuber, Terence, 72 Ypres, battle of (1914), 102–104, 105, Zuev, General, 153 109, 112, 113, 157, 227, 257 Zwehl, Hans von, 92, 210