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The first English-language translation of Der Weltkrieg, the German official history of the First World War.

Originally produced between 1925 and 1944 using classified archival records that were destroyed in the aftermath of the Second World War, Der Weltkrieg is the inside story of Germany’s experience on the Western front. Recorded in the words of its official historians, this account is vital to the study of the war and official memory in Weimar and Nazi Germany. Although exciting new sources have been uncovered in former Soviet archives, this work remains the basis of future scholarship. It is essential reading for any scholar, graduate student, or enthusiast of the Great War.

This volume covers the outbreak of war in July–August 1914, the German invasion of Belgium, the Battles of the Frontiers, and the pursuit to the Marne in early September 1914. The first month of war was a critical period for the German army and, as the official history makes clear, the German war plan was a gamble that seemed to present the only solution to the riddle of the two-front war. But as the Moltke-Schlieffen Plan was gradually jettisoned through a combination of intentional command decisions and confused communications, Germany’s hopes for a quick and victorious campaign evaporated.

I. Introduction

1. The Two-Front War and Comparison of Strengths

2. The Outbreak of War

3. The War’s Duration and Economic Management

II. The Campaign Plan for the Western Front

1. The Historical Development of the Operative Idea

2. The Campaign Plan in 1914

III. The Deployment

1. The Mobilization and Deployment of the Enemy

2. The German Deployment in the West

Initial Frontier and Railroad Protection Activities in the West and the Occupation of Luxembourg

2.1 The Capture of Fortress Liège

2.2 The Strategic Reconnaissance

2.3 The Execution of the German Deployment in the West

2.4 The German Railways in the Period of Mobilization and Deployment

IV. The Beginning of Major Operations

1. The German OHL until the Start of the Advance

2. The Events in the German Imperial Provinces to 19 August

3. The Advance of the German Wheeling Wing from August 18 to 20, 1914

3.1 The Right Wing (First, Second, and Third Armies)

3.2 The Middle (Fourth and Fifth Armies)

4. The Enemy’s Operations from the Beginning of the Battles of the Frontiers

V. The Battle of the Frontiers

1. The OHL before the Start of the Frontier Battles

2. The Battle in Lorraine

3. The Battle at Neufchâteau and Longwy

4. The Battles of Mons and Namur

4.1 The Operations of First, Second, and Third Armies on 21 August

4.2 The Operations of First, Second, and Third Armies on 22 August

4.3 Second and Third Armies on 23 August

5. The German OHL during the Frontier Battles

6. The Enemy in the Battle of the Frontiers

VI. The Pursuit

1. Operations on the German Right Wing to 27 August

2. Operations in the German Centre to 25 August

3. Operations on the German Left Wing to 27 August

4. The OHL during the Pursuit-Operations to 27 August

5. Review of the Enemy’s Operations

IV. Part 1 Review

Part II: From the Sambre to the Marne

I. The OHL at the Beginning of the New Phase of Operations

II. Operations on the Meuse and Aisne

1. The Operations of Fourth and Fifth Armies, 26–28 August

2. Third Army’s Battle North of the Aisne, 28–30 August

3. The Operations of Fourth and Fifth Armies, 29 August–1 September

4. The Operations of Third and Fourth Armies on the Aisne, 31 August and 1 September

III. The Operations of First and Second Armies to the Oise

1. The Operations of First Army on the Somme and Avre, 28–30 August

2. The Battle at St. Quentin

2.1 The Battle on the Right German Flank on 29 August

2.2 The Battle on the left German Flank on 29 August

IV. The OHL, 29–30 August

V. The Pursuit by the German Right Wing to the Marne, 31 August–2 September

VI. The OHL, 31 August–2 September

VII. The Pursuit of the German Right Wing over the Marne on 3–4 September

VIII. The Operations of Fourth and Fifth Armies, 2–4 September

IX. The Offensive on the German Left Wing (Sixth and Seventh Armies) at Nancy–Epinal, to 4 September

X. The OHL, 3–4 September

XI. The Capture of Maubeuge

XII. Operations in Belgium to 7 September

XIII. The Railway Situation in Belgium and Northern France to the Beginning of September

XIV. The Operations of the Enemy to the Beginning of the Battle of the Marne

Table of Contents

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  1. Cover
  2. p. C
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  1. Title Page, Copyright
  2. pp. i-iv
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  1. Contents
  2. pp. v-viii
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  1. List of Maps, Sketches, and Figures
  2. pp. ix-x
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  1. Maps
  2. pp. xi-xiv
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  1. Foreword
  2. pp. xv-xxiv
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  1. Acknowledgements
  2. pp. xxv-xxviii
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  1. Introduction
  2. pp. 1-14
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  1. A Note on the Translation and Sources
  2. pp. 15-18
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  1. PART I The Battle of the Frontiers in the West
  1. I Introduction
  2. pp. 21-60
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  1. II The Campaign Plan for the Western Front
  2. pp. 61-88
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  1. III The Deployment
  2. pp. 89-122
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  1. IV The Beginning of Major Operations
  2. pp. 123-146
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  1. V The Battle of the Frontiers
  2. pp. 147-242
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  1. VI The Pursuit
  2. pp. 243-282
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  1. VII Review
  2. pp. 283-298
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  1. PART II From the Sambre to the Marne
  1. VIII The OHL at the Beginning of the New Phase of Operations
  2. pp. 301-312
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  1. IX Operations on the Meuse and Aisne
  2. pp. 313-340
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  1. X The Operations of First and Second Armies to the Oise
  2. pp. 341-392
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  1. XI The OHL, 29–30 August
  2. pp. 393-406
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  1. XII The Pursuit by the German Right Wing to the Marne, 31 August–2 September
  2. pp. 407-430
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  1. XIIIPpThe OHL,31 August–2 September
  2. pp. 431-448
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  1. XIV The Pursuit of the German Right Wing across the Marne on 3–4 September
  2. pp. 449-466
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  1. XV The OHL, 3–4 September
  2. pp. 467-486
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  1. Appendices
  2. pp. 487-490
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  1. Bibliography
  2. pp. 491-502
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  1. Index
  2. pp. 503-541
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