The Moltke Plan

[06 Maestro]

The East Front Situation map shows the location of friendly units and armies-and some Russian units.
Points of interest are; the success of the German 1st Army turning south, the arrival of the A/H Army in the far south which is just in time to head off Russian forces moving into A/H territory, success of the A/H 4th Army, and of course the German 3rd Army cracking open the Russian front at Warsaw.

[06 Maestro]

Another success for the A/H 4th Army at Chelm.

[06 Maestro]

The German 2nd Army has not captured any prominent locations or cities, but it has done an excellent job in driving the Russian 2nd Army away from German territory and maintaining contact with the 1st and 3rd Armies

[06 Maestro]

The easy capture of Warsaw raised some eyebrows. Russian moral is known to be low, but where are their forces-that is the question. The 3rd Army did not even have siege artillery, but only heavy arty. It was enough to do the trick in this case. According to staff studies, it should have been a much more bloody affair.

[06 Maestro]

The German 8th Army has had further success in its advance on Riga. In the process it has surrounded some elements of the Russian 1st Army in the battle of Rossieny.

[06 Maestro]

The German 1st Army had a clear advance into Grodno, but had to conduct siege operations upon reaching the fortified city. As you can see, the 1st has a substantial amount of artillery at its disposal. All the siege guns and the heavy artillery were enough to force a quick surrender of Grodno-this was another unexpected success.

[06 Maestro]

The 2nd Army has been engage in a siege since early August. The units involved have no heavy artillery, so it is a matter of waiting them out. Direct attacks are too expensive to engage in, and there is little chance of a successful assault anyway. The siege of Pultusk will just have to drag on for a while longer.

[06 Maestro]

In this map of the Polish operations area you can see the planed movements of the CP forces. It appears that the Russians are in dire straights at this time. German and A/H forces will soon link up in central Poland. This could result in large numbers of Russian troops being cut off-and starved. The fortress cities will be able to provide supply for some units, but they should not hold out for long.

It is anticipated that the German 3rd Army and the A/H 4th Army will link up during this month. This is at least 1 month sooner than what was planned for.

[06 Maestro]

The diplomatic assignments of Germany's assets are being concentrated on getting Bulgaria into the war and keeping Italy neutral. Italy's standing is a solid nutral at this time, but we must watch them more carefully than the British were.

[06 Maestro]

September 1914

Here we have the operational map for the Riga front at the start of October '14.

Due to an Intelligence event, the CP can see Russian forces (not including the Armenian front)in all their detail.
With this new information it has been determined that the various armies can be split into smaller detachments for a month or so. It has also been determined that the offensive will continue into November.

The 8th Army will continue its advance towards Riga while sending 1 division to the east. Detachments (2 divisions) will finish off an out of supply Russian cavalry division jut north of the Neiman River.

The 1st Army will continue on its drive for Brest-Litovsk. It cannot possibly reach that city in October, but will certainly capture Bielostok

The newly arrive 10th Army will be sent to Kovno. The 10th will take over the task of maintaining contact with the 1st Army and perhaps conduct a drive on Wilna in November.

The noted cavalry corp could have moved into Dvina. However, it would be exposed to possible attack, it likely would have been beyond full supply, would be beyond reserves assistance from the 1st Army HQ and last but not least; the primary objective of the general offense is Brest-Litovsk-not Riga. Riga is a very important city. It is tempting to put it on a higher priority-it was considered, The original plan will be followed.

[06 Maestro]

September 1914

The operational map of Poland clearly shows the desperate situation that the Russians find themselves in. There are about 10 Russian divisions that are now trapped no matter what they attempt to do.

It looks very Likely the 3rd Army will be able to make contact with the A/H 4th Army. If there were more cavalry divisions available, there would be no doubt at all.

The A/H 1st Army will strike out of Kielce to the west. It had taken more than a month to recover its losses from the important victory in Kielce. The attack will help speed the total collapse of Russian forces in its western territories.

The German 2nd Army has been redirected to attack the main body of the Russian 2nd Army. This should eliminate the ability of any Russian force to strike at small detachments of the German 2nd Army. Also, the 2nd Army will then be in a position to support the 3rd Army in its drive east. The Russian fortresses are still a significant obstacle to the 2nd Army.

The 10th Army has just finished its mobilization. The need for more units in the west had almost resulted in the 10th being entrained for the western front. It could not reach that area before November, so it will be left in the east. It will entrain to Kovno, or as close as it can get. It will be in position for action (a possible thrust towards Wilna) by November.

[06 Maestro]

September 1914

Here we have the operational map of the A/H and Russian front. The Russians are also at a significant disadvantage here too, but not as drastic as in the north.

The newly arrive 2nd Army will deploy so as to cover the large southern flank. No attacks are foreseen by the 2nd unless Russian forces enter an A/H city.

The 3rd Army has had a detachment besieging Dubno since August. Those forces do not have any artillery and are not making any progress. The Russian forces in Dubno are slowly increasing so the main body of the 3rd Army will move into Dubno to bring this battle to an end. At that point the 3rd Army will have achieved its mission for the 1914 campaign. It will then be tasked to establish a continuous linking up with the 2nd Army in the south and the 4th Army to the north.

The A?H 4th Army will advance north to cut the rail line west of Brest Litovsk. It will also attempt to link with the German 3rd Army. The 4th Army will have to create a continuous front facing east while assisting in the reduction (or at least blocking) Russian forces remaining to the west of the new front.

The 1st Army will actively engage and eliminate any Russian forces left south of Warsaw. This operation should be complete by the end of November. There may be a fortress or two that will be holding out after that time-this is expected. During the reorganization this winter it is expected that the A/H siege artillery which had been loand to the German Army will be returned-intact.

[06 Maestro]

Bulgaria has so far refused to join the CP's. They are close, and just to be sure, the highest powered German diplomat will be sent on a mission. Bulgarian help is essential to a cheap victory over the Serbs.

[06 Maestro]

September 1914

Italy is still solidly neutral at this time. T.E. diplomats have been observed there, so diplomatic maneuvers will be ongoing with them. Italian intervention on behalf of the CP will be welcomed, but not right now. Neutrality is just fine.

[06 Maestro]

The Government of France had taken some significant hits with the unsuccessful attacks into Alsace and Lorraine. They have formed a new government-as far as the CP is concerned, this matters little in the long term, but it might cause more forceful attacks in the near term.

[06 Maestro]

The French command did make a major effort to break out of Luxembourg into Trier-they failed-and badly so.

[06 Maestro]

The Russian 2nd Army just won't quit. There was yet another battle at Colno. This time they were severly beaten by the German 2nd Army. What the Russians have accomplished is to continuously delay the 2nd Army's advance to the east of Warsaw. Regardless how hard they try, Poland is lost to them now.

[06 Maestro]

The battle at Ostrog was a mixed affair. The A/h 3rd Army won a major victory, but it was prevented from performing its assigned mission. It was ordered to move into Dubno to assist its detachments there in bringing an end to a long siege. The detachments in Dubno succeeded in capturing the city without the help of the Army's artillery. There was also a battle against Russian units which tried to relive the city. The odd end result of all this is that the A/H 3rd Army is now so depleted and exposed that it may have to give up its hard won victories even after such successful battles.

[06 Maestro]

November 1914

As was the fear of the KuK, the Russians released even more reserves into Dubno. the results of three months of hard fought victories have been lost. All that's left for the 3rd Army is to make its way back into A/H-and try to rebuild before the Russians close in.

[06 Maestro]

November/December 1914

The French Army launched mutiple small attacks such as this minor attack at Colmar. These were all easily repulsed. The German line in Alsace, Loraine, and Luxembourg are secure. Trenches are still at a minimum level, but hat is expected to change in the near future.