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... On September 6, 1914, that much needed counter-offensive was launched and the Battles of the Marne began. For four hard fought days and nights the battle raged on until it came to an end with every one of the German armies in full retreat. ... The following paragraphs will outline the events leading to the first Battles of the Marne and how the allies ultimately defeated the German armies and drove them back to the Aisne River.
The collapse of Paris appeared imminent as the bulk of the French and British forces fell back to the Marne River. ... On August 25th, “the Russian left wing advancing westwards through Galicia, met the Austrian 2nd army at Lemberg in the first great battle of the eastern theatre of war. ... Von Moltke’s lack of judgment in this matter can be attributed to the distance he was away from the actual line of battle. ... General Joffre decided on the second option proclaiming, “I mean to deliver the big battle, in the most favourable conditions, at my own time and on the ground I have chosen. ... And, seeing that the British forces and the new French 9th army, operating more to the west, having given way, might have put the left flank in danger, had they accepted battle. ... It was in desperate times on September 6th when General Joffre issued the following famous orders to his troops:
“At the moment when a battle on which the welfare of the country depends is about to begin, I feel it incumbent upon me to remind you all that this is no longer the time to look behind. ... ”
The Allied forces had been given their commands to begin their counter-offensive attack, and so the battle commenced in the basin of the Marne River between Paris and Verdun. ... The German plans to envelop the Allied forces appeared, now by the third day of the battle, to be being used against them, as they were in danger themselves of being enveloped. ... On September 10th, the German armies were in full retreat marking the closing stages of the great battles that took place at the Marne. ... ”
General Joffre was credited for the inspired rebound at the Marne, which some feel is unwarranted. ... After Gallieni’s repeated telephoning, Joffre finally climbed on board, later cooking earlier directives to make it look as if he had long foreseen the Marne. ... ” Oppositely, there are others who hold unshakeable faith in their commander-in-chief for his leadership during the battle. ... Everything which it was humanly possible for a great commander to do in anticipation of a great battle had been done. ... ” But some scholars simply believe that it was the troops themselves that responded nobly when called upon by their commanders, and it is they who deserve the highest praise for the decisive battle at the Marne. ... Either way, the Battles of the Marne had ended and the German offensive had failed, and with it all the Schlieffen Plan’s prospects of final success. ... Many praises are also awarded to the British army for their unflinching character whether it was in battle or from the Flying Corps while they were compiling information. The timely initiation of the counterattacks at the Marne most definitely swung the balance of the war in favour of the Allied forces. It is probably put best that “the Marne was no ordinary battle.
Approximate Word count = 2810
Approximate Pages = 11.2
(250 words per page double spaced)
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