Westfront 1914

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Source of the journals: https://gallica.bnf.fr/accueil/fr/html/accueil-fr

4 September 1914

Fort de Troyon is the second fort of the Meuse to fall to the Bavarians. The rest of the frontline is moving slowly on the Meuse and much faster towards the Oise river.

St. Quentin area:


Little actual combat but a lot of maneuvering, the BEF setting up on the Oise river to support the retreat of 5. Armée, those divisions choke the road between Avesnes and Hirson.

Oise-Meuse line:


A German division tries to storm the citadel of Charlemont but the heroic defenders still stand by days end. They are cited at the Citation à l'ordre de l'armée of the day for their bravery.

The retreat of 5. Armée continues towards the Oise river, the fort d'Hirson and the small citadel of Rocroi. This effectively concludes the Bataille de la Sambre-Meuse that lasted from 16. August to 4. September; the second most deadly battle of this War so far after the battle of the Woëvre.



The German attacks around Montherme and Tannay make 3. and 4. Armée more and more nervous. Especially the push from Montherme threatens to enter the Sermonne valley and to cut off Charleville-Mezières. 14. Division d'infanterie having just disembarked from trains yesterday is thrown into the line to try to hold but it looks like a retreat behind the Sermonne is inevitable.

St. Mihiel area:


Again it is 1. Bavarian Reserve Division that leads the charge and captures Fort de Troyon. This advance on the other hand means the Bavarian right flank is now under fire fro mthe mobile artillery reserve of Verdun that assembled at Ancemont to support 7. and 40. Division d'infanterie holding the Meuse from Fort des Paroches to Ancemont.

Two Hessian and four Bavarian Landwehr regiments try to cross the Meuse north of Comercy but are repulsed bloodily by 1. Brigade marocaine and 113. Brigade d'infanterie de réserve (113. BIR). General Pétain, newly named commander of XX. Corps d'armée visists the 113. BIR praising the reservists' grit.

The threat of a Meuse bridgehead nonetheless has Pétain order the fall back of the infantry covering Fort de Gironville, expecting it to fall in the coming days and wanting to have his infantry in good shape to defend Comercy and the Fort Raoult.

One more brigade arrive here from Lorraine as well as the chasseurs alpins of Grenoble and Draguignan to bolster the Meuse defenses. The remainder of two North-African brigades that fought for over a week around Liouville are sent the other way to a quiet part of the Vosges front. De Castelnau would prefer at least one new division as reserve but Joffre is reluctant to give up the last three divisions he has in general reserve.

In other news:
- Etienne de Villaret is now commander of the 9. Armée overseeing the Leie and Schelde frontline.
- Brice Bizot is replaced by Louis de Grandmaison at the helm of 65. Division de réserve.

Conclusion:

The battle of the Sambre-Meuse is over, now the battle of the Oise is beginning. However the Oise position can only be held if the Charleville-Mezières front doesn't collapse.

Dev comment:

I also redid the entire French reserve and territoriale unit headquarter assignments because it just costs too much political points if attached to Joffre (which is intended), this is why I'm doing so few general replacements. In the scenario file I introduced the Armée des alpes, Armée d'Afrique and the Minisètre de la guerre as rear guard HQs so most of the reinforcements being unlocked in August/September don't cost prohibitive PPs to switch over to active frontline HQs.

I definitely need to rework the British artillery. I made the brigades attached to divisions individual units making them on purpose weaker gameplay wise. This made them way too weak and hard to keep moral high on all of them. I'm not sure if it's a bug or something I can't find a reason for but they just started to capitulate en masse in the last round an artillery attack I was trying to do. First time that happened so not sure sure why that is. I'll most likely redo them in a divisional artillery grouping similar to the Germans, this should give them more punch and staying power.

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Source of the journals: https://gallica.bnf.fr/accueil/fr/html/accueil-fr

5 September 1914

Maubeuge is now cut-off from the French line while the Meuse line is crumbling as several forts fall and Mezières is conquered by the Germans.

Oise front:


The retreat of 5. Armée continues while the Boches are putting a lot of pressure on the BEF to stop any line of forming on the Oise. Joffre and GQG are now planning to fall back on the Aisne especially since 4. Armée is now also falling back. Manoury and his sixteen divisions are waiting in the west covering Arras, Albert and Amiens hoping to be able to attack into the German flank at some point.

At Maubeuge German X. Corps continues it's pressure on fort de Leveau and launches it's first attack with one brigade that is stopped easily.

The citadel of Charlemont finally falls to German VIII. Corps ending the battle of Givet that lasted for fifteen days and caused 21000 French casualties for 9000 German ones.

Charleville-Mezières:


33. and 34. Divisions d'infanterie break after several weeks of combat and several thousands Frenchmen are taken prisoners by the advancing Germans. At the same time German XVIII. Reserve Corps supported by heavy artillery manages to enter Mezières. This dual threat forces 4. Armée to call for a full on retreat towards the Sermonne and potentially all the way to the Aisne. Foch meanwhile is shifting troops from his right to his left flank trying to support 4. Armée.

St. Mihiel:


Forts du camps des romains and de Gironville fall to the Bavarians assaults today. This only leaves fort Raoult on the right bank but its proximity to Toul makes it unlikely the Bavarians will try to take it. The next step is most likely an attempt to cross the Meuse around Comercy and/or Chauvoncourt and de Castelnau is moving his freshest regiments around to hold the river line.

In other news:
25. and 32. Division d'infanterie are moved to Amiens to protect the Paris-Arras railroad.

Conclusion:

The retreat will not stop on the Oise, will it stop on the Aisne? Can 6. Armée actually defeat the advancing Germans once it launches its counter attack?

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Source of the journals: https://gallica.bnf.fr/accueil/fr/html/accueil-fr

6 September 1914

The allied retreat continues towards the Aisne after the Meuse line broke. Chauvoncourt falls to the Bavarians confirming the threat of a German push between Toul and Verdun.

News from Antwerpen:
Belgian pilots flying Farman HF-20 notice a concentration of German units east of Antwerpen, the Boches might be trying to threaten the city from both sides.

St. Quentin area:


The BEF falls back under heavy pressure. Maubeuge under siege resists and General Fournier commanding the defenses sends two regiments of territorials to defend fort de Leveau that looks like the main target of the German assault.

Central front:


5. and 4. Armée pull back using some railroad transports to reorganize their line. This leaves fort d'Hirson isolated and soon to be facing the Boches alone to slow them down like Charlemont before it.

St. Mihiel area:


1. Bavarian Division crosses the Meuse thanks to heavy artillery support and takes Chauvoncourt. Several French regiments are very weak after weeks of fighting and de Castelnau is worried that one or two battles going poorly could cause a break in his line.

In other news:
- César Besset is relieved of his command of 58. Division de réserve and replaced by Ernest Blondelat.
- Louis penaud is sent to Limoges and 89. Division territoriale is taken over by Paul Grosetti, who is visited by the Généralissime Joffre the same day.

Conclusion:

The Antwerpen frontline might heat up again soon, meanwhile in a rapid retreat sees the BEF and the French trying to avoid casualties until 6. Armée attacks the overextended Germans.

Dev comment:

I definitely feel like the French won't have the power to launch a full counter attack in this build, I plan to realease the heavy artillery of the fortified cities before the original date to see how it goes but I think the new build where I reworked some stats, OOBs and added A LOT of artillery for the French should give them more options to create a local artillery superiority to smash into weak German units. We'll see how the AAR continues to unfold and if 6. Armée will be able to do something.

[Metatron]

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Source of the journals: https://gallica.bnf.fr/accueil/fr/html/accueil-fr

7 September 1914

The retreat continues while GQG plans for two counter attacks. The ministry of war finally agrees to unlock some heavy artillery from Langres, Belfort and Epinal for use in the field armies, equipping 2. and 6. Armée in the coming days.

News from Maubeuge:

Fort de Leveau survives another day but the super heavy artillery has reduced the forts defenses to a minimum and the fort is expected to fall soon.

Aisne area:


French and British troops fall back behind the Serre river towards the Aisne. II. British Corps is transferred by rail to La Fère to occupy some of the old deactivated forts of the area. Sir John French expect his 6. Division to arrive tomorrow to reinforce the BEF.

Fort d'Hirson resists a first assault but probably won't survive another.

St. Mihiel area:


The Bavarians push across the Meuse and cut the Bar-le-duc/Toul and Bar-le-duc/Verdun railway lines. De Castelnau thus pulls back his weakened troops to avoid bleeding out for little gain. At the same time he plans a new counter attack from Verdun into the rear of the Bavarians, where only weak Ersatz and Landwehr units guard the front.

Heavy artillery from Verdun and Belfort will support VI. Corps d'armée reinforced by 42. Division d'infanterie and assisted by 56. Division de réserve on the northern flank in this effort. The attack should start in a day or two to get readiness back up to 100 after the railroad transfers.

In other news:
François Caneval is replaced by Paul Maistre as commander of 62. Division de réserve.

Conclusion:

The fate of the French army will most likely decided by the the ability of 2. and 6. Armée to counter attack in the coming weeks.

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Source of the journals: https://gallica.bnf.fr/accueil/fr/html/accueil-fr

8 September 1914

Renewed fighting around Antwerpen punctuates a rather bloodless day for once. Both sides moving into position to attack or counter attack.

Antwerpen:


Three German divisions (the Guard Ersatz, a new Marine division and one division from Lorraine) move up and start bombarding fort de Lier and fort de Kessel with the support of eight 30.5cm mortars. At the same time a German division is putting pressure on fort de Liezele. The Belgians have little reserves left and keep asking for more British and French troops. It is doubtful that any more will come. Joffre seems happy to just keep the line open to Gent to evacuate the Belgians west if need be.

Maubeuge


The first fort, fort de Leveau, falls today the last 250 men of the garrison surrendering after their last gun, a canon de 12 Mle 1884 defending the inner moat, is taken out of action. Most of the Maubeuge garrisons infantry is concentrated in the citadel of the city itself now and fort des Sartes is looking to be the next victim of German X. Corps besieging the city.

Aisne area:


The retreat continues. The BEF arrives in force around La Fère and forms up behind the Somme and Serre rivers with French support arriving from 5. Armée thanks to the shortening frontline between La Fère and Rethel.

British reinforcements also arrive with two territorial units arriving for rear guard duties as well and the headquarters of 2. Cavalry Division commanded by Hubert Gough that is being given command of 3. and 5. Cavalry Brigades. But the main news is the arrival of John Keir's 6. Division.

St. Mihiel area:


The Bavarians seem to be pushing west towards Bar-le-Duc now and de Castelnau is pulling back to goad them into crossing the Meuse fully. His plan is to attack into the rear towards Harville and Thiaucourt and cut off the Bavarian supplies. The mobile artillery of Verdun and Toul is putting pressure on the German flanks while the two pronged assault is being set up.

Near Toul it is Wirbel's 10. Division d'infanterie and Chatelain's73. Division de réserve (mainly composed of depleted cavalry regiments) that will try to push or at least pin the Bavarians with the support of artillery from Toul, two chasseurs à pied battalions from the Vosges and two newly arrived mixed colonial regiments and their tirailleurs sénégalais. At the very least Joffre expects this move to stall any Bavarian advance and force some reinforcements to come from elsewhere to stop the French attack.

In other news:
A new Corps d'armée (CA) headquarter is formed, XXXI. CA, and assigned to 6. Armée. The Groupes de divisions de réserves and the Groupe d'Amade are renamed in parallel from XXX. CA to XXXVIII. CA.

Conclusion:

Mobile warfare ongoing not unlike what the generals imagined before the war. Nothing could possibly change about this kind of war?

[Metatron]

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Source of the journals: https://gallica.bnf.fr/accueil/fr/html/accueil-fr

9 September 1914

The siege of the allied forts continue from Verdun to Antwerpen while the field armies continue de maneuver.

News from Antwerpen and Maubeuge:

German artillery continues it's work against the Belgian and French forts but Fort des Sartes holds against an assault.

Aisne area:


The retreat continues with the BEF taking position between Compiègne and Laon, transferring I. Corps from their right to their left flank. Manoury and his 6. Armée is forming up readying for his counter attack between St. Quentin and Cambrai.

St. Mihiel area:


Fort des Paroches south of Verdun falls to the 1. Bavarian Reserve Division (once again). De Castelnau continues to lure the Bavarians west while gathering his forces on the flanks. There is still some hesitation on when precisely to unleash the counter attack, before or after 6. Armée in the West ?

In other news:
- Henride Ferrron is replaced by Jean Marie Varin at the helm of 84. Division territoriale
- Charles Leblond is replaced by Gaston d'Arnan de Pouydraguin as commander of 23. Division d'infanterie

Conclusion:

The western front is on a holding pattern waiting for the bloodbath to resume with the planned French counter offensives. On the eastern front Russian newspapers report the war is going great against the Austrians in Galicia.

Dev comment:

I'm simplifying/consolidating the BEF infantry brigades for the Beta build, having them be weaker because of the battalion structure is fun but maybe it's too big a nerf and a bit too annoying to manage gameplay wise.

Beta version release:
I'm probably going to do a last small scale test of the new artillery balance tomorrow and then release a first beta version of the mod for people to try out/play.

[Metatron]

I uploaded the mod for download, you can find it here https://forums.matrixgames.com/viewtopic.php?t=418571

I'll continue this AAR for fun for some more turns, seeing how the French counter attacks will go.

[Metatron]

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Source of the journals: https://gallica.bnf.fr/accueil/fr/html/accueil-fr

10 September 1914

The preparation for the big French counterattack are ongoing and Généralissime Joffre announced to his army commanders that tomorrow September 11 will be the day of days.

News from Antwerpen and Maubeuge:

Fort des Sartes falls today as the siege continues and the outer fort line of Antwerpen resists against moderate German artillery fire.

Aisne area:


The retreat continues.

St. Mihiel area:


The Bavarians continue their push west and intelligence reports indicate that another German division just arrived and crossed the Meuse into the salient by rail. Hopefully this will make the counter attack easier and ideally the entire Bavarian army would be stuck and encircled on the left bank on the Meuse (it probably won't, de Castelnau is rather dubitative about the prospects for success given how limited the reserve were he was given for the task ).

Counter attack plans:

Joffre has officially informed the army commanders that tomorrow simultaneous attacks shall stop the German advance. GQG's intend is to drive into the back of the German right flank and retake Cambrai and St. Quentin, thus disrupting the German supply line and then push all the way to the Oise river. To stop any shift in German reinforcements 2. Armée will launch it's operation against the Bavarians at the same time and 9. Armée in coordination with the Belgians will put pressure if possible on the German lines north of Lille. If all goes well than 5. Armée and the BEF then can turn around and push back the Germans to the Aisne or Oise rivers.



The main thrust will be performed by 6. Armée led by general Manoury. He has six army corps at his disposal, sixteen divisions in total: 8. 23 and 44. Divisions d'infanterie; 25. and 32. Divisions d'infanterie which had been reformed out of territorial regiments; 54. 58. 61. 62. 66. 67. and 72. Divisions de réserve; 83. 84. 85. and 86. Divisions territoriale. To support the attack eleven medium and heavy artillery groups have been attached the the various corps.

This force will be facing as far as areal reconnaissance has provided details, two active and two reserve divisions as well as large parts of the German cavalry around Cambrai and a undetermined number of independent Landwehr and Jäger battalions/regiments.



In other news:
Antoine de Mitry is named commander of newly formed XXXI. Corps d'Armée and will be leading the right flank of 6. Armée in the coming decisive battle.

Conclusion:

The fate of Europe shall be decided on the fields of the Vermandois.

Dev comment:

Given the losses so far, especially in 75mm guns (the French army in this play-though being down to 1436 canons de 75 from a start of 3876 guns) I don't think the allied side can stop the Germans here but it is going to be interesting. The new balance should make it more of a fair fight with larger quantities of artillery coming in in September (medium and heavy guns as well as large numbers of 90 and 95mm guns to replace 75mm losses), a buff to the 75mm gun and a better organized BEF.

Reminder that you can play the newest version of the mod here: https://forums.matrixgames.com/viewtopic.php?t=418571

If someone wants to play against me, I'd be interested in doing a game to see how it feels against another player and continue to feel out the balance of the mod. You can PM me for that.

[Metatron]

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Source of the journals: https://gallica.bnf.fr/accueil/fr/html/accueil-fr

11 September 1914

The French counterattack begins !

News from Maubeuge:

The sige continues, now fort de Hautmont is taking most of the German artillery fire.

Antwerpen and Leie Area:


9. Armée organizes a concentration of a few divisions around Kortijk to support the push of 6. Armée.

The siege of Antwerpen continues with a German assault against fort de Liezele while fort de Lier and de Kessel trade artillery fire with the Germans.

Vermandois counter attack:


General Manoury orders the advance of the entire 6. Armée. First contact with the German line is made around Bapaume with French artillery opening fire on the German IX. Reserve Corps.

Aisne line:


The retreat continues towards the Aisne trying to goad the Germans to push further and ignore the counterattacks.

St. Mihiel counter attack:


The Bavarians continue their push on Bar-le-Duc while de Castelnau starts his counter attack.

His left flank is the strongest and is well supplied with artillery and will be hitting the Bavarian Landwehr Division tomorrow with full force. To support that push 44. and 48. Régiments territoriaux reoccupy fort de Troyon that the Germans had left in the no man's land supported by mobile artillery from Verdun to put pressure on the river crossing at St. Mihiel.

2. Armée's right is weaker but advances against the weak link between II. Bavarian Corps and I. Bavarian Reserve Corps.

In other news:

The first French legionnaires of the French Foreign Legion dies today south of Verdun to artillery fire.

Conclusion:

How will the Germans react to the French counterattacks ? Tomorrow the first clashes of infantry should happen and it will become clear if there is any chance for the French army to break through.

Reminder that you can play the newest version of the mod here: https://forums.matrixgames.com/viewtopic.php?t=418571

If someone wants to play against me, I'd be interested in doing a game to see how it feels against another player and continue to feel out the balance of the mod. You can PM me for that.

[Metatron]

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Source of the journals: https://gallica.bnf.fr/accueil/fr/html/accueil-fr

12 September 1914

The blue and red wave crashes into the Feldgrau line today. Artillery exacts it's bloody toil and infantry charges lead to heavy casualties on both sides.

News from Antwerpen and Maubeuge:

Maubeuge still holds under heavy German fire. Up north Fort Liezele is the first fort of Antwerpen to fall following several days of attacks by 17. German Division. There is still plenty of defenses in the way to stop any German push to the inner forts and the Belgian pilots note some smaller German formations leaving the frontline, most likely in consequence of the French counter attacks.

Leie counter attack:


XXX. Corps d'armée (XXX.CA) launches it's support offensive against German 10. Ersatz Division. Despite some casualties the French advance several kilometers and two cavalry divisions from I. Corps de cavalerie cross the Leie after repairing a bridge to support the counter attack tomorrow. The aim is to reach the Escaut river and ideally retake Tournai to threaten the German position around Lille.

Vermandois counter attack:


6. Armée attacks on its left and center.

XXXVI. CA attacks Douai but is stopped by German cavalry and Jägers but this pins the Germans down while VIII. CA smashes into the German Guard Cavalry Division inflicting heavy casualties and crossing the Agache river.

Around Bapaume the German artillery inflicts horrific casualties on the attackers and the German Reservists hold the city but on its flanks the French advance supported by their own artillery, inflicting heavy casualties on the German 31.Landwehr Brigade and 33. Reserve Brigade and begin to encircle the Germans in Bapaume.

Reconnaissance indicates a German Reserve Corps is arriving by rail to reinforce the German frontline.

Aisne line:


The retreat slows down but continues towards Soissons, Reims and St. Menehould.

St. Mihiel counter attack:


The Bavarians seem to be reluctant to stop their advance and manage to capture Bar-le-Duc. Some movements behind the front is noted by pilots, mainly artillery moving back to protect the Bavarian flanks. As well as some arriving reinforcements from elsewhere.

The right flank of the counter attack does poorly so far, 10. Division d'infanterie and 73. Division de réserve are stopped cold in the woods but are fixing II. Bavarian Corps and 33. Bavarian Reserve Division in place.

The left flank of the counter attack does much better and the weaker Bavarian Landwehr Division is savaged by the French artillery concentration. VI. and XXXIX. Corps d'armée overwhelm the thin German line and advance ten to twenty kilometers during the day. 40. Division d'infanterie attacks against the German XVI. Corps that is trying to reform around Harville and one regiment of 68. Infantry Brigade is encircled and about a thousand Germans surrender to the 80. Brigade d'infanterie, that is cited in the Citation à l'ordre de l'armée of the day.

The first major French tactical victory is achieved here, admittedly against a weak portion of the German/Bavarian line. But this will force the Boches to react. One Reserve Corps seems to be arriving by train but de Castelnau thinks that as long as he can keep his artillery concentrated he might be able to advance before these reinforcements manage to set up a new line. This would force even more German reinforcements to the area or the Bavarian spearhead near Bar-le-Duc to fall back.

In other news:
- 66. Division de réserve: François Woirhaye is replaced by Marie Désiré Bataille
- 85. Division territoriale: Aristide Chapel is replaced by Jean-Marie Brulard
- 86. Division territoriale: Raymond Mayniel is replaced by Frédéric-Georges Herr

Conclusion:

The counter attacks have begun and it looks like there will be some success. The next few days will be critical: will the furor francese carry the momentum forward or will German artillery drown the counter attacks in blood?

Reminder that you can play the newest version of the mod here: https://forums.matrixgames.com/viewtopic.php?t=418571

If someone wants to play against me, I'd be interested in doing a game to see how it feels against another player and continue to feel out the balance of the mod. You can PM me for that.

[Metatron]

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Source of the journals: https://gallica.bnf.fr/accueil/fr/html/accueil-fr

13 September 1914

The French counter attacks continue and score some victories.

Schelde front:


The siege of the forts continue with little progress for the Germans, the heaviest artillery still being employed at Maubeuge that is still resisting.

To support the general offensive and put pressure on German 7. Army besieging Antwerpen general de Villaret orders V. Corps d'armée to attack the German bridgehead at Dendermonde that seems weaker after the Germans redeployed some units elsewhere. General Jacquot will also have the support of 8. and 10. Division de cavalerie in the attack tomorrow.

Leie counter attack:


The Germans fall back towards the Escaut under pressure and XXX. Corps d'armée is in pursuit. 9. Division de cavalerie (9. DC) launches a full on charge in the fields east of Tourcoing against a German Landwehr Brigade and makes good gains supported by 5. Division de cavalerie along the Kortijk-Tournai railroad line. 9. DC is mentioned in the Citation à l'ordre de l'armée of the day for this.

Vermandois counter attack:


XXXVI. Corps d'armée renews its attack and manages to enter Douai despite some loses putting pressure on the German cavalry on the Scarpe river.

The Saxon XII. Reserve Corps is arriving in the center but is surprised by the attack of 67. Division de réserve (67. DR) that smashes two Jäger battalions and two reserve cavalry regiments. The leading brigade even reaches 23. Reserve division's headquarters and destroys or captures nine 15cm sFH02. The 67. DR is mentioned in the Citation à l'ordre de l'armée of the day for this.

Meanwhile XXXIV. and XXXV. Corps d'armée continue to attack on the flanks of Bapaume and make some headway but are stopped from encircling the Germans in the city by heavy artillery. We will see tomorrow if the Boches will try to hang on or evacuate the city.

Arial reconnaissance reports a German division arriving by rail towards Cambrai suspected to come from Antwerpen.

Aisne line:


The retreat on the Aisne continues but slows down on the flanks. The BEF puts up a fight south west of Noyon and the two British cavalry divisions move up to potentially launch a counterattack tomorrow against some weaker reserves brigades west of Noyon.

St. Mihiel counter attack:


On the right flank of the counter attack general Pétain realizes he is not going to be able to take Thiaucourt with most of II. Bavarian Army Corps regrouping around the town. Instead of a futile frontal assault he orders to refocus his attack towards Comercy to keep II. Bavarian Corps pinned in place and unable to help against the main French attack coming from Verdun. Supported by some Chasseurs alpins from the Division marocaine, 10. Division d'infanterie reoccupies fort de Gironville and Comercy, threatening the railroad connection to Bar-le-Duc.

On the left flank German XVI. Corps and VI. Reserve Corps launches some counter attacks of their own to stop the momentum of VI. Corps d'armée. One regiment from 84. Brigade d'infanterie is caught off guard and destroyed as 40. Division d'infanterie is stuck in front of Harville and hammering the town with artillery. 12. Division d'infanterie meanwhile strikes the weakest point of the German line and destroys the Ersatzabteilung of the 2. Guard Uhlan Regiment and inflicts heavy casualties on 14. Landwehr Brigade. Olivier Mazel pushes his infantry forwards and his leading elements, 83. Brigade d'infanterie, reach the Yron river by sundown. The brigade is mentioned in the Citation à l'ordre de l'armée of the day for this.

There is now a hole between German XVI. Corps and VI. Reserve Corps but Harville stand strong and II. Bavarian Corps is well entrenched around Thiaucourt.

In other news:
3. Division d'infanterie: Charles Regnault is replaced by Emilien Cordonnier.

Conclusion:

The French offensives are making some ground and are forcing some reactions by the Boches but it is still unclear if it can cause a stop of the German advance on the Aisne front and ultimately towards Paris.

Reminder that you can play the newest version of the mod here: https://forums.matrixgames.com/viewtopic.php?t=418571

If someone wants to play against me, I'd be interested in doing a game to see how it feels against another player and continue to feel out the balance of the mod. You can PM me for that.

[Metatron]

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Source of the journals: https://gallica.bnf.fr/accueil/fr/html/accueil-fr

14 September 1914

On most of the front combat is erupting today, leaving thousands dead and wounded on both sides. The French counter attacks continue and achieve tangible goals while on the Aisne river the German advance is slowed by read guard actions and the river itself.

Schelde front:


The German position around Antwerpen is now much weaker with troops having left to other fronts after the different counter attacks but the French cavalry is hammered by artillery and prevented to launch a full on attack. V. Corps d'armée's infantry advancing hopes to do better.

Siege of Maubeuge:


The garrison of fort de Hautmont fights to the last man and falls to the German attacks after several days of continuous combat. On the other side of the Maubeuge fortified region fort de Boussois surrenders after super heavy artillery bombardment. This now leaves only the citadel of Maubeuge and the two forts on the right bank of the Sambre (forts de Cerfontaine and du Bourdiau). Most of the mobile infantry reserves are gathered in the citadel with the two southern forts mostly irrelevant now besides some harassing fire across the Sambre.

Leie counter attack:


The French troops reach the Escaut river and trade artillery fire with the Boches trying to reform behind the river. At the same time 5. and 9. Divisions de cavalerie continue their heroic cavalcade and crash into 80. and 110. Landwehr Regiments. These are part of the German Marine Division that just transferred from Antwerpen and are trying to stop the French cavalry from isolating the Tourcoing-Lille metropolitan region.

Vermandois counter attack:


XXXVI. Corps d'armée continues its offensive and crosses the Scarpe river putting heavy pressure on German 3. Cavalry division.

Near Cambrai the advance of VIII. Corps d'armée stalls in the face of a new German division taking position on the frontline but the heavy artillery is brought up to hopefully regain momentum tomorrow.

The Germans evacuated Bapaume and retreat east where heavy artillery fire causes heavy casualties in the fields of Picardie. XVI. and XXXV. Corps d'armée advance 10km on a 20km wide front smashing into 30. 31. Landwehr and 33. Reserve Brigade.

84. Division territoriale and some independent territorial regiments are rerouted to Péronne to continue putting pressure on the entire line and create weak spots for the French spearheads to smash into. Right now the German line looks much stronger than two days ago and the next few days of fighting will depend on the performance of both sides artillery.

Aisne front:


While the center of the line sets up behind the Aisne river the flanks are embroiled in heavy fighting.

On the right the Germans manage to breach the Suipp river line although 3. Division d'infanterie under the new leadership of general Cordonnier inflicts heavy casualties. Despite this solid performance the general situation there forces 4. Armée to order to fall back towards Reims using the old decommissioned forts to gather it's strength.

On the left flank the BEF clashes with German 1. Army in the forests west of Noyon. It's a mixed bag for I. Corps with both it's divisions suffering heavily but inflicting some casualties on a German reserve division. 3rd Infantry Brigade is mostly destroyed in the fighting and Sir Douglas Haig orders a withdrawal towards Compiège.

To support the retreat both 1st and 2nd Cavalry Division launch massive cavalry charges against III. and XV. Reserve Corps. Both divisions rout some German regiments but 1st Cavalry Brigade takes massive losses when confronted by 28. Reserve Division's artillery. Following the successful charges both cavalry division then fall back behind the Rivière des 3 Dons.

St. Mihiel counter attack:


The French Foreign Legion's two régiment de marche defending Chaumont are defeated by the Bavarian advance south-west of Verdun. This and the general weakness of XIII. Corps d'armée (XIII. CA) leaves the Aire river valley wide open.

To avoid Verdun being cut off from the rest of the frontline Joffre reassigns several regiments and artillery from XVII. Corps d'armée defending Varennes, just to the north, to XIII. CA. Additionally 37. Division d'infanterie is detached from I. Corps d'armée (I. CA) and arrives by rail to strengthen XIII. CA. The two other divisions of I. CA, 2. and 38. Divisions d'infanterie, are transported all the way to Ancemont to cross the Meuse and support the counter offensive of de Castelnau's 2. Armée.

On the right flank of this counter offensive general Pétain is organizing his artillery against the Bavarian II. Corps and forcing elements from III. Bavarian Corps to regroup to protect Comercy and the Meuse railroad bridge near Liouville and it's fort.

On the left flank of the offensive VI. Corps d'armée unleashes the largest artillery barrage the French have organized this entire war against Harville and German 33. Division (thirty seven 75mm canons, fourteen 120mm canons, eighty 155mm canons and howitzers, twelve 220 mortars and six 270mm mortars). Supported by the artillery 40. Division d'infanterie (40. DI) storms and takes the town and destroys three of the defending regiments. 40. DI is mentioned in the Citation à l'ordre de l'armée of the day for this brave assault.

German XVI. Army Corps is severally weakened now and lost it's anchor point of Harville and de Castelnau plans to continue his attacks towards St. Mihiel and Comercy from the north, especially with I. CA arriving in the next few days. The Bavarians are playing with fire.


In other news:
- German papers report that Erich von Falkenhayn has taken over as chief of the Großes Hauptquartier, maybe because of the situation around Verdun or the slowing down of the advance towards Paris, still 250km away from the closest German Division.

Conclusion:

The largest French artillery barrage of the war, the largest German single day casualties of the war, the largest British cavalry charge since Napoleonic times; the carnage continues.

Reminder that you can play the newest version of the mod here: https://forums.matrixgames.com/viewtopic.php?t=418571

If someone wants to play against me, I'd be interested in doing a game to see how it feels against another player and continue to feel out the balance of the mod. You can PM me for that.

[Metatron]

15septjourn.png (1.45 MiB) Viewed 395 times

Source of the journals: https://gallica.bnf.fr/accueil/fr/html/accueil-fr

15 September 1914

Offensives and counter-offensives continue unabated, even the Belgians getting in on the action today and winning a battle.

News from Maubeuge:

The heavy and super heavy German artillery is now shooting at the city's citadel and general Fournier estimates that he can maybe hold on for three or four more days before surrender might be inevitable.

Antwerpen front:


The counter attack by V. Corps d'armée (V. CA) is a total failure as German artillery is well entrenched around Dendermonde and Joffre calls off the attacks to transfer V. CA elsewhere. The Belgians will have to take over the Schelde front on their own with only the II. Corps de cavalerie in reserve.

The siege of the Antwerpen forts continue with little progress but with the absence of the German Marine Division the King orders a local counter attack near Lier using fort de Kessel as a starting off point. 1. Division and the Division de cavalerie supported by one of the two armored trains that reached the frontline today attacks the German Guard Ersatz Brigade and inflicts heavy casualties.

Leie counter attack:


The German Marine Division supported by several Landwehr Brigade launches a counter attack against 9. Division de cavalerie that has to fall back but the offensive by XXX. Corps d'armée to support I. Corps de cavalerie manages to enter the suburbs of Tourcoing allowing a counter charge by 5. and 9. Divisions de cavalerie that takes the Boches by surprise and inflicts heavy casualties. This time it is 5. Division de cavalerie that is mentioned in the Citation à l'ordre de l'armée of the day for its continuous offensive spirit.

Vermandois counter attack:


XXXVI. Corps d'armée continues its successful offensive and destroys most of 3. German Cavalry Division as more of its infantry crosses the Scarpe but the Bavarian 4. Cavalry Brigade manages to hold its ground.

The rest of the Vermandois counter offensive is mostly a stalemate and a duel of artillery is erupting along the front, where the Boches might be able to gain the upper hand over time if the line is not quickly broken. Small local counter attacks still occur with 86. Division territorial and the German Guard Cavalry Division taking heavy losses.

Aisne front:


The French center is now anchored on the Aisne river but the German artillery dominance might force another retreat towards the Ourcq and Marine rivers eventually if the counter offensives don't continue to weaken the German center.

The BEF is guarding the French's center left where a small gap is appearing between the BEF and French 6. Armée, but it looks like the German Schwerpunkt is oriented on Soissons and Reims and not Compiègne and Paris.

Vesle front:


The Boches use a heavy artillery barrage to have 40. Division cross the Aisne and threaten the entire French line north of Reims.Having been forced to give up the Aisne line 4. Armée is regrouping around Reims and behind the Vesle river, giving them a good chance to hold for a while.

The big problem is the weakness of 3. Armée that holds the area between Verdun and Reims. V. Corps d'armée from Belgium is arriving by rail to bolster the defenses there but the French commanders had to give up the Suippes-Verdun railroad, leaving only the Revigny-St. Menehould railroad line to supply Verdun efficiently.

St. Mihiel counter attack:


The Bavarian infantry seems spent and exhausted but still makes some small gains south-west of Verdun, mainly thanks to its artillery support. XIII. Corps d'armée newly reinforced answer this attack in the Aire valley with a counter attack led by 9. Division d'infanterie that forces 2. Bavarian Brigade to retreat. It looks unlikely now that the Bavarians will be able to reach Aubreville, it is now up to 3. Armée to the west/north to stop the German 5. Army to make sure Verdun can hold.

XX. Corps d'armée of general Pétain launches it's offensive against the Bavarians near Comercy-Liouville but the forested hills stop any progress and the combat mostly devolves into an artillery duel. Pétain is satisfied though since he has pinned down three German/Bavarian Divisions near Comercy that can't help with the battle near Harville.

German 34. Division launches a small counter attack against 40. Division d'infanterie west of Harville with some success and the German heavy artillery does everything it can to stop the French advance. The French artillery coordinated by general Bolgert of VI. Corps d'armée is regrouping near Harville and supports the attack by 42. Division d'infanterie today that crosses the Yron river and destroys the last infantry regiment of 33. German Division.

Meanwhile I. Corps d'armée that arrived yesterday is forming up on the Creuë river ready to launch an all out attack against German 34. Division tomorrow. St. Mihiel is only twenty kilometers away and de Castelnau is very happy with the advance so far. His intelligence and aero-plane reconnaissance indicates a new German division has arrived by rail today but it seems the German high command is reluctant to call in more reinforcements from its center.

In other news:
The Grand Quartier Général is now located in Epernay.

Conclusion:

The bloodshed is enormous with both sides suffering around one hundred thousand casualties in three days but for the first time the Germans are also suffering and 33. German Division has been virtually annihilated in the fighting, also a first. The question is if the French army can continue to take such losses or if the counter attacks will have to stop soon.

Reminder that you can play the newest version of the mod here: https://forums.matrixgames.com/viewtopic.php?t=418571

If someone wants to play against me, I'd be interested in doing a game to see how it feels against another player and continue to feel out the balance of the mod. You can PM me for that.

[Metatron]

Time for another perspective shift to the German Imperial Headquarters:

The situation



With the Schlieffen-Moltke plan having clearly failed to take Paris or destroy the French armies east of Paris and several French counter attacks occurring in the last few days the distrust against general Moltke and his staff boiled over towards hostility and he was replaced by Erich von Falkenhayn: the war was not going to be over by Christmas and Falkenhayn would have the unenviable task of redefining the objectives for the coming months and before winter. Falkenhayn firstly decided to move the Großes Hauptquartier from Koblenz, closes to the frontline at Charleville-Mezières.

At the same time he asked for each of the field armies and army detachments to hand in a report detailing several important informations in preparation of a Great Council of War at Bitburg on September 16th.

The reports had to include:
- a general overview of the armies situation
- an assessment of it's strength (classifying division into category A: offensive capable, category B: only defensive capable, and category C: spent unit or second line duty)
- a proposal for an offensive action in their sector
- conversely what units they could spare for redeployment without giving ground.

These are the reports presented from south to north, afterwards the discussion and plan propoosals of the Great Council of War at Bitburg will be presented.

Report of the Armeegruppe Gaede:


General:


Situation: The Armeegruppe is holding the frontline from the Col du Donon in northern Vosges mountains all the way to the Swiss border. The area has been very quiet since the August fighting both sides having stripped most of the best units out of the area.

Strength assessment: The Armeegruppe has two division at its disposal as well as 58. Infanterie Brigade, 39. Landwehr Regiment and a few local Landsturm battalions.
- 30. Reserve Division: Category B: has given up one of its brigade but otherwise in good shape.
- 8. Ersatz Division: Category C: has given up one of its brigade but otherwise in good shape.

Offensive proposal: The Armeegruppe is proposing a limited offensive to retake Mülhausen in southern Elsass. Considering the weak French frontline the Armeegruppe estimates a need for one or two army corps including four heavy artillery groups in an operation lasting at worst a week. The new position would require a category B division long term to guard the longer frontline against a potential French reaction.

Units to spare: Only 58. Infanterie Brigade and 39. Landwehr Regiment are left to safely take out of the line, but this would leave the defense of the Neuenburg Rhein bridge in the hand of local Landsturm.

---

Report of the Armeegruppe Strantz:


General:


Situation: The Armeegruppe is holding the frontline from Pont-à-Mousson to the Col du Donon on the Lorraine plateau. The frontline has been quiet since the large battles of the Vezouze and Lorraine in August with the exception of the left flank of the Armeegruppe that is defensively supporting 6. Armee near Thiaucourt.

Strength assessment: The Armeegruppe has the I. bayrisches Reservekorps (I.b.RK) with two divisions and two additional divisions at its disposal:
- 33. bayrische Reserve Division (I.b.RK): Category B: traded a reserve brigade for a Landwehr brigade that is supporting 6. Armee currently.
- bayrische Ersatz Division (I.b.RK): Category C: has given up its cavalry but otherwise in good shape.
- 19. Ersatz Division: Category C: has given up one of its brigade but otherwise in good shape.
- 2. bayrische Infanterie Division: Category A: around 70% strength

Offensive proposal: Considering the powerful fortresses of Toul and Epinal there is no large scale offensive that would net big gains within two months. The only offensive possibility considered by Armeegruppe Strantz is a limited advance to the Meurthe river and taking the city of Nancy. Reaching the Meurthe would probably be doable with two army corps and two to four heavy artillery groups but taking Nancy would most likely require another corps if the French reacted and tried to defend the city, which presumably they would.

Units to spare:
The 2. bayrische Infanterie Division could be taken out of the line for a Category C division.

---

Report of the 6. Armee:


General:


Situation: 6. Armee is currently engaged by the French 2. Army in a fight between Verdun and Toul. The spearhead of the army is most likely not able to finish the encirclement of Verdun on its own and the army is being counter attacked on its flanks. The infantry has suffered massive losses in the battles of the Wöevre and St. Mihiel and one division was mostly destroyed over the last few days by the counter attack.

Strength assessment: The army has fourteen divisions in five army corps formations: I. II. and III. bayrische Armeekorps (I.b.AK etc), XVI. Armeekorps (XVI. AK) and VI. Reservekorps (VI.RK). The army has fourteen heavy artillery groups.
- 1. bayrische Infanterie Division (I.b.AK): Category C: around 30% strength
- 1. bayrische Reserve Division(I.b.AK): Category C: around 40% strength
- 5. bayrische Reserve Division(I.b.AK): Category C: around 40% strength
- 4. bayrische Infanterie Division (II.b.AK): Category C: around 35% strength
- 6. bayrische Infanterie Division(II.b.AK): Category C: around 35% strength
- 31. Infanterie Division(II.b.AK): Category B: around 50% strength
- 3. bayrische Infanterie Division (III.b.AK): Category B: around 55% strength, traded a brigade for two Landwehr brigades
- 5. bayrische Infanterie Division(III.b.AK): Category B: around 50% strength, was reinforced with a Landwehr brigade
- 33. Infanterie Division(XVI.AK): Category C: essentially destroyed but is being given two Landwehr brigades as replacements
- 34. Infanterie Division(XVI.AK): Category C: around 25% strength
- 9. Infanterie Division(XVI.AK): Category A: around 70% strength
- 11. Reserve Division(VI.RK): Category A: around 75% strength
- 12. Reserve Division(VI.RK): Category A: around 95% strength, reinforced with some Landsturm and remnants of two Landwehr regiments.
- Bayrische Landwehr Division(VI.RK): Category B: was mostly destroyed but now reformed from Landwehr and Ersatz units at around 95% strength.

Offensive proposal: Crown Prince Rupprecht wants to finish the job and encircle Verdun. 6. Armee will need another army corps for this task and another army corps to counter attack the French offensive. Encircling Verdun would also mean besieging at least some of the forts to break the defensive perimeter, meaning a lot of heavy and super heavy artillery.

Units to spare: Considering the French counter offensive there is nothing the 6. Armee could give away and most likely the army will need another division just to stabilize the situation near Harville.

---

Report of the 5. Armee:


General:


Situation: 5. Armee is currently attacking towards Ste. Menehould to cut off the last railroad line to Verdun and if possible reach 6. Armee on the Biesme or Aire rivers.

Strength assessment: The army has eight divisions in four army corps formations: V. XIII. XV. Armeekorps (V.AK etc) and V. Reservekorps (V.RK). The army has five heavy artillery groups.
- Landwehr Division 2 (V.AK): Category B: around 85% strength
- 10. Infanterie Division (V.AK): Category A: around 65% strength
- 26. Infanterie Division (XIII.AK): Category A: around 60% strength
- 27. Infanterie Division (XIII.AK): Category B: around 45% strength
- 28. Infanterie Division (XV.AK): Category B: around 50% strength
- 29. Infanterie Division (XV.AK): Category A: around 65% strength
- 9. Reserve Division (V.RK): Category A: around 65% strength
- 10. Reserve Division (V.RK): Category A: around 65% strength

Offensive proposal: The Crown Prince Wilhelm wants to finish the job and encircle Verdun, another army corps and two more heavy artillery groups would be enough if the French don't send more reinforcements. Encircling Verdun would also mean besieging at least some of the forts to break the defensive perimeter, meaning a lot of heavy and super heavy artillery long term.

Units to spare: If the army was to switch over to the defensive it could give up an army corps.

---

Report of the 4. Armee:


General:


Situation: 4. Armee is currently crossing the Suipp river and concentrating in front of Reims.

Strength assessment: The army has eight divisions in four army corps formations: VI. XVIII. Armeekorps (VI.AK etc) and VIII. XVIII. Reservekorps (VIII.RK etc). The army has seven heavy artillery groups.
- 11. Infanterie Division (VI.AK): Category A: around 65% strength
- 12. Infanterie Division (VI.AK): Category A: around 80% strength
- 21. Infanterie Division (XVIII.AK): Category C: around 35% strength
- 25. Infanterie Division (XVIII.AK): Category B: around 45% strength
- 15. Reserve Division (VIII.RK): Category A: around 65% strength
- 16. Reserve Division (VIII.RK): Category A: around 60% strength
- 21. Reserve Division (XVIII.RK): Category A: around 75% strength
- 25. Reserve Division (XVIII.RK): Category A: around 75% strength

Offensive proposal: The Crown Prince Albrecht asks for four more heavy artillery groups to quickly overwhelm the outdated forts of Reims while a reinforcement by two to four army corps would allow a full on flanking attack against the Aisne line to reach the Marne and Ourcq rivers.

Units to spare: If the army was to switch over to the defensive it could give up one or two army corps.

---

Report of the 3. Armee:


General:


Situation: 3. Armee was taken over recently by Karl von Einem and is currently on the river Aisne just forced a bridgehead over the river forcing a French retreat to the Vesle river. The army is in pursuit aiming to take Fisme and to outflank Reims from the west.

Strength assessment: The army has eight divisions in four army corps formations: XXII. XIX. Armeekorps (XII.AK etc) and VII. X. Reservekorps (VII.RK etc). The army has five heavy artillery groups.
- 23. Infanterie Division (XII.AK): Category A: around 75% strength
- 32. Infanterie Division (XII.AK): Category A: around 80% strength
- 24. Infanterie Division (XIX.AK): Category C: around 35% strength
- 40. Infanterie Division (XIX.AK): Category A: around 65% strength
- 13. Reserve Division (VII.RK): Category B: around 50% strength
- 14. Reserve Division (VII.RK): Category A: around 70% strength
- 2. Garde Reserve Division (X.RK): Category A: around 70% strength
- 19. Reserve Division (X.RK): Category A: around 90% strength

Offensive proposal: General von Einem wants to avoid a frontal assault on Reims and wants to take one or two army corps from 4. Armee as well as at least four more heavy artillery groups to break the French west of Reims and encircle the city with a push towards Dormans and Epernay.

Units to spare: If the army was to switch over to the defensive it could give up one or two army corps.

---

Report of the 2. Armee:


General:


Situation: 2. Armee is currently crossing the Ailette river and the Oise-Aisne canal in a general offensive towards Soissons.

Strength assessment: The army has eight divisions in four army corps formations: Garde II. VII. Armeekorps (GK, II.AK etc) and IV. Reservekorps (IV.RK). The army has nine heavy artillery groups.
- 1. Garde Division (GK): Category A: around 65% strength
- 2. Garde Division (GK): Category A: around 85% strength
- 3. Infanterie Division (II.AK): Category A: around 85% strength
- 4. Infanterie Division (II.AK): Category A: around 70% strength
- 13. Infanterie Division (VII.AK): Category A: around 70% strength
- 14. Infanterie Division (VII.AK): Category A: around 75% strength
- 7. Reserve Division (IV.RK): Category A: around 99% strength
- 22. Reserve Division (IV.RK): Category A: around 100% strength

Offensive proposal: 2. Armee wants to continue to attack and destroy French 5. Army once across the Ainse river. The offensive should be able to reach the Marne and Château-Thierry without any reinforcements but might need another army corps for flanking protection.

Units to spare: If the army was to switch over to the defensive it could give up one or two army corps.

---

Report of the 1. Armee:


General:


Situation: 1. Armee is currently stretching in a semi circle from Vic sur Aisne to Bapaume in Picardie. The army's left flank has achieved some success against the BEF but its line is thin and the right flank of the army is helping Armeeabteilung Falkenhausen counter the French counter attack in the Vermandois. The immediate objective being to secure Compiègne at the confluence of the Oise and Aisne rivers as a stepping stone for a Paris offensive but von Kluck can only dedicate three of this corps for this effort.

Strength assessment: The army has thirteen divisions in six army corps formations: III. IV. VIII. Armeekorps (III.AK etc) and III. IX. XIV. Reservekorps (IV.RK etc). The army has eleven heavy artillery groups.
- 5. Infanterie Division (III.AK): Category A: around 85% strength
- 6. Infanterie Division (III.AK): Category A: around 99% strength
- 30. Infanterie Division (III.AK): Category A: around 80% strength
- 7. Infanterie Division (IV.AK): Category A: around 95% strength
- 8. Infanterie Division (IV.AK): Category A: around 90% strength
- 15. Infanterie Division (VIII.AK): Category A: around 80% strength
- 16. Infanterie Division (VIII.AK): Category A: around 80% strength
- 5. Reserve Division (III.RK): Category A: around 80% strength
- 6. Reserve Division (III.RK): Category A: around 100% strength
- 17. Reserve Division (IX.RK): Category B: around 65% strength
- 18. Reserve Division (IX.RK): Category A: around 75% strength
- 26. Reserve Division (XIV.RK): Category A: around 90% strength
- 28. Reserve Division (XIV.RK): Category A: around 75% strength

Offensive proposal: Von Kluck is furious that he is not been given more units to push for Paris and that half his army is in flanking guard duty despite being in great shape. He demands four to six army corps to relieve him of flank duty and for a strong push to Paris before winter.

Units to spare: The army being overstretched as flanking protection for 2. 3. and 4. Armée it cannot on its current position give up any troops.

---

Report of the Armeeabteilung Falkenhausen:


General:


Situation: Armeeabteilung Falkenhausen was just formed to relieve the pressure from 1. and 7. Armee to organize the defense from Noyon all the way to Antwerpen. The Armeeabteilung has been bearing the brunt of the French counter offensives between Peronne and Lille and had to abandon Bapaume and Douai, but it still holds Cambrai. The situation seems stable now except for the French XXXVI. Corps d'armée making progress near Aubigny. Meanwhile X. Armeekorps is still besieging Maubeuge with most of the super heavy artillery.

Strength assessment: The army detachment has eight cavalry divisions and five infantry divisions in five corps command formations: Höheres Kavallerie-Kommando 1, 2, and 4 (HKK1 etc) and XII. Reservekorps (XII.RK). Additionally there a four Jäger battalions and a Landwehr regiment deployed near Cambrai. The army detachment has three heavy artillery groups at the front while three heavy and five super heavy artillery groups besiege Maubeuge under X. Armeekorps.
- Garde Kavallerie Division (HKK1): Category C: around 30% strength
- 5. Kavallerie Division (HKK1): Category A: around 80% strength
- 18. Infanterie Division (HKK1): Category C: around 40% strength
- 2. Kavallerie Division (HKK2): Category A: around 70% strength
- 4. Kavallerie Division (HKK2): Category A: around 75% strength
- 9. Kavallerie Division (HKK2): Category A: around 85% strength lost a brigade but is reinforced by a Landwehr regiment.
- Bayrische Kavallerie Division (HKK4): Category B: around 55% strength
- 3. Kavallerie Division (HKK4): just got essentially annihilated
- 6. Kavallerie Division (HKK4): Category A: around 80% strength
- 23. Reserve Division (XII.RK): Category A: around 85% strength
- 24. Reserve Division (XII.RK): Category A: around 80% strength
- 19. Infanterie Division (X.AK): Category B: around 45% strength
- 20. Infanterie Division (X.AK): Category C: around 35% strength

Offensive proposal: No immediate offensive plans but a four to six army corps offensive supported by eight heavy artillery groups could make a push for Amiens/Arras/Abbeville and cut off northern France from the rest of the frontline (no one would ever consider such a "sickle cut" right?).

Units to spare: Given the current French counter attack the Armeeabteilung has nothing to give away and might need some more reinforcements to reign in XXXVI. Corps d'armée.

---

Report of the 7. Armee:


General:


Situation: 7. Armee is currently defending along the Schelde and Escaut rivers against French and Belgian counter attacks while trying to siege some of the outer forts of Antwerpen. The army is too weak to do both so far and little progress has been made around Antwerpen while the French counter attack near Tourcoing-Roubaix-Lille is proving more dangerous than anticipated.

Strength assessment: The army has one cavalry and seven infantry divisions in three army corps formations: IX. XV. XXI. Armeekorps (IX.AK etc). There are some independant Landwehr units reincoring some defensive areas. The army has seven heavy and four super heavy artillery groups.
- 4. Ersatz Division (IX.AK): Category B: has given up its cavalry and most of its artillery but in good shape otherwise
- 17. Infanterie Division (IX.AK): Category B: around 50% strength
- 39. Infanterie Division (IX.AK): Category C: around 40% strength
- 7. Kavallerie Division (XV.AK): Category B: mostly destroyed but was given three Landwehr regiments and a Landwehr brigade
- Marine Division (XV.AK): Category A: around 80% strength, reinforced by a Landwehr brigade and two landwehr regiments
- 10. Ersatz Division (XV.AK): Category C: hovering around 50% with some almost destroyed units and some intact ones, was reinforced by elements of 4. ED.
- Garde Ersatz Division (XXI.AK): Category B: around 70% strength
- 42. Infanterie Division (XXI.AK): Category B: around 45% strength

Offensive proposal: Given the current weakness of most divisions it would take a full rotation of fresh for spent divisions in and out as well as two additional army corps to launch an offensive towards Gent and Brugge to encircle Antwerpen. In addition all the super heavy artillery from the Siege of Maubeuge is requested for the siege of Antwerpen with at least one or two fresh army corps.

Units to spare: Given the current French counter attack the 7 Armee has nothing to give away and might need some more reinforcements to stop the French near Tourcoing.

The result of the reports indicates the Imperial army has 85 divisions in the field:
- 49 category A divisions.
- 18 category B divisions
- 18 category C divisions.

But the spread among the armies of the category B and C divisions makes it so certain sectors of the front are no longer capable of offensive actions on their own, mainly 6. and 7. Armée and the Armeegruppen/abteilungen. The question for the Great War Council about to begin is thus how to reorganize the available forces into a coherent plan of attack for the next two months of the war and what objectives are still realistic and/or feasible.

Stay tuned for the War Council results...

[ernieschwitz]

Been following along, just for the eyecandy alone. Great stuff! You are making a great AAR, and I can see from the pictures the time you've put in to make the scenario. You have done a more than great job!

[Metatron]

Thank you for the kind words. And now to the Great War Council:

Großer Generalstab : Bitburg, 16. September 1914

After consideration of the reports of the field armies the O Ia department of the Operationsabteilung of the Großer Generalstab under Oberstleutnant Gerhard Tappen proposed the following analysis to Erich von Falkenhayn.

- The generalized attacks on a wide front, from Toul to Antwerpen, having caused the offensive to slow down or stall in crucial points and having created large flanks vulnerable to counter attacks.
- The casualties having disproportionally hit certain divisions and army corps .
- The time frame for further operations before winter being estimated to two months (Sept. 15 - Nov. 15).
- The next reinforcement to the field army being still a month off; the five new army corps (ten reserve divisions) despite being created from war volunteers and the newest conscript cohort being rushed through training still need to be fully formed and equipped.
- The war being estimated to continue into 1915.

Leads the Operationsabteilung to the following conclusions:

- There is a need for a stable line going into winter
- Large bulges in the line should be rectified to minimize the front's length to free up divisions for use in new offensives or for use on the eastern front in 1915.
- There should not be several concurrent offensives with limited strength but either one major or sequential offensives with full force.
- Therefore and considering the current field army's strength and proposals the Operationsabteilung considers either one major two months operation or two one month operation.
- Given the current situation on the front there are the following main operational objectives that are worth pursuing before winter: Paris (a two month operation), the Channel ports (a two month operation), Antwerpen (a one month operation + siege variability), Verdun (a one month operation + siege variability).

On this basis the following war plans have been drawn for the consideration of the Großer Generalstab:

Fall Siegfried

The two month war plan to take Paris and maybe end the war before Christmas is maybe the most ambitious and the most dangerous since a directed attack towards Paris would create a large bulge from Montdidier to Reims. To remedy as much as possible this element a create an acceptable line for the winter if the war was not over by taken Paris the operation would be divided in to phases/operations: Unternehmen Rheingold, the main thrust to Paris, and Unternemhen Marneschutz I, a secondary offensive to consolidate the front line on the Marne river east of Paris.

As a prerequisite for Fall Siegfried all offensive actions on the front would stop immediately and the bulge between Toul and Verdun would be abandoned; 6. Armee would be pulled back to the Meuse, shortening its front. The Bavarian divisions would then relieve 5. Armee between Verdun and Reims and 5. Armee would be redeployed to Noyon. 4. 3. and 2. Armee would all give up one army corps. Individual category B and C division from 1. and 5. Armee would be replaced by category A ones and Unternehmen Rheingold could begin.

Unternehmen Rheingold would then involve twelve army corps supported by twenty heavy artillery groups, 5. Armee advancing on the right bank of the Oise towards Nogeant-sur-Oise/Pontoise/St. Denis while 1. Armee would advance between the Oise and Ourcq river towards Paris.
Unternemhen Marneschutz I would start at the latest when the five new Reservekorps become available and would involve 2. and 3. Armee attacking east of the Ourcq towards the Marne between Dormans and Meaux.

Fall Störtebeker

The two month war plan to take the channel ports. This would please the Navy greatly but also drastically reduce the frontline. It is dangerous if not completed since it would mean a very complicated overstretched frontline most likely and would require the siege of Antwerpen to be postponed to 1915.

Similarly to Fall Siegfried a prerequisite for Fall Störtebeker is to stop all offensive actions on the front immediately and the bulge between Toul and Verdun would be abandoned; 6. Armee would be pulled back to the Meuse, shortening its front freeing divisions for the action. 6. 5. 4. and 2 Armee would all give up one or two army corps. Individual category B and C division from 1. 3. and 7. Armee would be replaced by category A ones. Armeegruppe Falkenhausen would take over the Antwerpen frontline. This would allow 1. 3. and 7. Armee to concentrate on the line from Péronne to Gent.

Fall Störtebeker would then involve twelve army corps supported by twenty heavy artillery groups and be divided into two phases: Unternehmen Bunte Kuh would be the first hammer strike by 1. and 3. Armee towards Abbeville and Boulogne-sur-Mer. In parallel and then supported by the five new Reservekorps become available in October 7. Armee would launch Unternehmen Likedeeler to reach the sea between Calais and Zeebrugge.

Fall Lohengrin

The war plan to take Antwerpen and the region east of Gent. A shorter one month operation that would shorten the front and give the German Empire the vital Belgian port. The big drawback being the necessity to break the outer and inner fort lines.

As a prerequisite for Fall Lohengrin most offensive actions on the front would stop immediately and 1. 2. 4 and 5. Armee would seek to establish a defensible front line from Compiègne to Reims and give up each one army corps. Individual category B and C division from 3. and 7. Armee would be replaced by category A ones. 3. Armee would be redeployed between 7. Armee and Armeegruppe Falkenhausen.

The attack would be separated into two actions: Unternehmen Elsa led by 3. Armee that would cut off Antwerpen on land by striking to the canal van Gent; and Unternehmen Heinrich led by 7. Armee to break the forts and reach the inner city and harbor of Antwerpen.

Fall Lohengrin would involve six army corps and local support units as well as twelve to twenty heavy artillery groups and the entire super heavy artillery supplement. In case of quick success a small follow up operation Unternehmen Elschen is planned to take Gent-Brugge and maybe reach Zeebrugge.

Fall Kronprinzen

The war plan to take Verdun named after the two crown princes, of Prussia and Bavarian in charge of 5. and 6. Armee. A shorter one month operation that would shorten the front and give the German Empire the strategic fortress of Verdun. The big drawback being the necessity to siege the forts to break the fortified region. (dev note: gameplay wise I consider that a cut off Verdun would not just surrender and hold on for several months and the time frame of the scenario being August to November 1914 I gave Verdun and other fortified regions a supply spawn point thus to break Verdun you need to take the city itself, then the outer forts would be out of supply and start to surrender)

As a prerequisite for Fall Kronprinzen most offensive actions on the front would stop immediately and 1. 2. 3 and 4. Armee would seek to establish a defensible front line from Compiègne to Reims and give up each one army corps. Individual category B and C division from 5. and 6. Armee would be replaced by category A ones and both armies reinforced by two army corps and heavy artillery.

The main operation to cut off Verdun would be codenamed Unternehmen Hammerschlag, involve four army corps on top of the divisions already present, and be performed by 5. and 6. Armee. A follow up operation depending on the speed of success would then follow to create a better front line anchored on the Marne river, thus Unternehmen Marneschutz II to secure the line from Virty-le-François to Reims performed by 4. and 6. Armee. The siege of Verdun would then involve a lot of heavy artillery and all the super heavy artillery, codenamed Unternehmen Moselschutz performed by 5. Armee and attacking the weaker south-west side of the fortified region.

Recommendation of Oberstleutnant Gerhard Tappen ; O Ia department of the Operationsabteilung

The Operationsabteilung recommends Fall Kronprinzen in the time period Sept. 15 to Oct. 15 with current forces, followed by Fall Lohengrin from Oct. 15 to Nov. 15 with the help of the five new Reservekorps becoming available in that time period. This would spare Paris but accomplish three big operational and strategical goals: shorten the front line for 1915, capture the port of Antwerpen and break the French moral by taking the "impregnable" fortress of Verdun.

The Operationsabteilung recommends smaller local actions to be allowed only if not distracting from these operations, i.e. reaching the Vesle river or smaller counter attacks to ward off the French offensives between Soissons and Antwerpen.

The Operationsabteilung recommends to finish the siege of Maubeuge as fast as possible to free up the super heavy artillery needed for both Fall Kronprinzen and Fall Lohengrin.

The Operationsabteilung recommends that 7. Armee limits it's operations against Antwerpen to taking and holding fort Liezele (already captured) and fort de Lier until the main operation begins.

So this is my plan for the rest of the AAR, but if there is a big outcry of people reading this wanting at all cost another operation to unfold I'm open to discussion. I'll try to get the AAR at least going into the October fighting but it'll depend on my free time over the next months since this takes quite a lot of work.

Reminder that you can play the newest version of the mod here: https://forums.matrixgames.com/viewtopic.php?t=418571

If someone wants to play against me, I'd be interested in doing a game to see how it feels against another player and continue to feel out the balance of the mod. You can PM me for that.