The Guns of August

by Barbara W. Tuchman

  Field Regulations of 1913: Drafted by a committee of which General Pau was chairman and which included Hely d’Oissel, later Chief of Staff of the Fifth Army, and Berthelot, later deputy chief of staff under Joffre at GQG. Published as a decree signed by Poincaré on October 28, 1913. Text in Engerand, 445–7.

  Wilhelm I to Eugénie: Engerand, 592.

  General Michel’s Plan of 1911: AF, I, I, 13–14; text of his report is in Annexes to this volume, No. 3, 7–11. Discussion of use of reserves in the front line from Proceedings of the Supreme War Council, July 19, 1911, is Annexe No. 4, 12–17.

  “Les réserves, c’est zéro!”: Spears, 218.

  “No fathers at the front,” attributed to Kaiser: Joffre, 61.

  “Comme une insanité”: Percin, 206.

  Michel’s proposal and reaction of Supreme War Council: Briey, May 13, 23, and 30, evidence of Michel, Percin, and Messimy; Messimy, Souvenirs, 76–8; AF, 1, 1, 13–14.

  “Reconciling the Army”: Messimy, 15. “Incapable of leading their troops”: ibid., 93. “Hesitant, indecisive”: ibid., 75.

  “Chic exquis”: In 1870 the Turco regiments under the command of General Charles Bourbaki inspired a marching song with these words: qtd. De Gaulle, 162.

  Le chic exquis

  Dont les cœurs sont conquis

  Ils le doivent a qui?

  A Charles Bourbaki.

  “General Michel is off his head”: Briey, May 13, evidence of General Michel.

  Statements on pantalon rouge by Echo de Paris and Etienne: qtd. Messimy, 118–20.

  “Question de bouton”: Percin, 208.

  “Cool and methodical worker”: Messimy, 77.

  “Take it, cher ami”: Briey, May 23, evidence of Percin.

  Joffre would have preferred Foch: Joffre, 12.

  “You will rouse a storm” and President and Premier “made a face”: Messimy, 78.

  “Get rid of me!”: Briey, May 23, evidence of Percin.

  Joffre’s conversation with Alexandre: Demazes, 65.

  “Cuts like a scar”: Foch, Memoirs, lxii.

  “Get to Berlin through Mainz”: qtd. Grouard, 5, n. 2.

  “A posteriori and opportunist”: Joffre, 69.

  “Foolishness”: Joffre, 17.

  German officer betrays Schliffen plan in 1904: Paléologue, Un Prélude, 486–88.

  General Pendezac: ibid., 514.

  “altogether likely”: Joffre, 63.

  Castelnau and Joffre on most likely path of German offensive: Giraud, 25–29.

  Castelnau, “impossible,” and Joffre, “same opinion”: Joffre, 64.

  Deuxième Bureau knew of German use of reserves: “It was known that the German plan of mobilization predicated that ‘troops of the reserve will be used as active troops,’” AF, I, I, 39. The critique by Moltke is from Isaac, Reserves, 335, who also states that a French analysis made in May, 1914, of the German mobilization plan for that year showed the role of reserves as identical with that of the active units. This is confirmed by Joffre in his discussion of the problem, 145–7. Major Melotte’s report is from Galet, 22. Joffre (61) is the authority for the belief that the Germans would use reserves only as second-line troops.

  “I have two stars”: Briey, May 23, evidence of Vendame.

  4. “A Single British Soldier …”

  Péguy, “Like everyone else”: from his Cahiers de la quinzaine, October 22, 1905, reprinted in his Notre Patrie, Paris, 1915, 117–18.

  General Staff war game of 19o5: Robertson, Private to Field Marshal, 140; Soldiers and Statesmen, I, 24.

  Huguet-Repington Memorandum: Repington, 6–10.

  “A Hegelian army”: Haldane, 198.

  Grey and Haldane in crisis of 1906: Grey, I, 72–88; Haldane, 203–04; Before the War, 186; BD, III, 212.

  Campbell-Bannerman, lunch at Calais: Maurois, 129.

  Campbell-Bannerman on “honorable understanding”: Grey, I, 85.

  Haldane authorizes talks: Grey, I, 76.

  “Departmental affair”: Campbell-Bannerman’s phrase, qtd. Repington, 10.

  Plans of Grierson and Robertson: Tyler, John E., The British Army and the Continent, 1904–14, London, 1938, 46.

  Esher favors action in Belgium: Esher, Journals, I, 375–6.

  Fisher, landing on Prussian coast: Letters, III, 47; opinions of army strategy: Bacon, II, 182–3.

  Wilson, in Hyde Park: Wilson, 51; spoke French: ibid., 2.

  Wilson’s comment, “Very interesting” : qtd. AQ, July, 1929, 287.

  Wilson’s visit to Foch: Wilson, 78.

  “I’ve got a French general”: ibid., 79–80

  “Tremendous gossips”: Aston, Foch, 129.

  Wilson’s “allez operations”: Wilson, 79.

  “A single British soldier”: ibid., 78.

  “Important question!”: Huguet, 21.

  Foch’s views “same as mine”: Liddell Hart, Foch, 51: in a letter to the British military attaché, Colonel Fairholme, Foch stated his belief that the principal front would be Epinal to Namur, BD, VI, No. 460.

  Wilson’s diary comments: Wilson, 97–8.

  Wilson-Dubail agreement: AF, I, I, 17–18; BD, VII, No. 640.

  “Secondary theatre … main theatre”: Huguet, 8.

  Wilson’s talk with Grey and Haldane: Wilson, 99.

  Secret meeting of C.I.D., August, 1911: Wilson, 99–102; Churchill, 55–9; Haldane, 226.

  Fisher, “Overwhelming supremacy”: letter of April 28, 1912, Letters, II, 456.

  “Calling for my head”: Wilson, 106.

  “Natural and informal outcome”: Haldane, Before the War, 183.

  “Certainly committed us”: Esher, Journals, III, 61.

  Haldane’s mission to Berlin: 254–262, 292; Before the War, 72–86.

  Naval agreement with France: Churchill, 115–16.

  Grey’s letter to Cambon: Grey, I, 97–8.

  “Break up the Cabinet”: Wilson, 113.

  Wilson on Joffre and Castelnau: ibid., 105; Wilson laid a piece of map: ibid.

  Joffre counted on six British divisions: Joffre, 50. Haldane put the total number at 160,000: Before the War, 189.

  British military talks with Belgians: BD, III, No. 217 ff.; Bridges (then military attaché in Brussels), 62–63.

  Esher’s warning to Huguet: Huguet, 18; Joffre, 54. Cambon’s condition: Dupont, 25.

  Plan W worked in secret: Wilson, 149.

  5. The Russian Steam Roller

  German dread of the Slav: When a German regiment in 1914 learned it was going to the western not the eastern front, there was “general rejoicing. For some indefinable reason the very thought of Russia gave one a shudder.” Bloem, 20. The same thought moved a German army doctor to complain to the Duchess of Sutherland (49) how wicked it was of England to join the alliance against Germany “and leave us to those devilish Russians.”

  Numbers in the Russian Army: these and other figures about men and matériel in this chapter are from Golovin’s Army unless otherwise noted.

  Grey on Russian power: Grey to Sir F. Bertie, May 1, 1914, BD, X, Part 2, No. 541.

  Franco-Russian staff talks and facts of Russian mobilization: Messimy, 179–81; Kokovtsov, 370–72; Joffre, 55–60; Golovin, Campaign, Chapter III, 45–73.

  Czar, “At the heart of Germany”: Joffre, 23.

  Grandmaison popular in Russia: Golovin, Campaign, 61.

  Jilinksky’s promises in 1912–13: Agourtine, 25.

  Ian Hamilton’s reports: Hamilton, General Sir Ian, A Staff Officer’s Scrap Book, London, 1907, II, 381.

  “Not a single tennis court”: Knox, xxvii.

  “This insane regime … this tangle of cowardice”: Witte, 270, 247.

  Nicholas II uneducated: A few days before his 22nd birthday, on April 28, 1890, Nicholas wrote in his diary, “Today I finished definitely and forever my education.” qtd. Radziwill, Nicholas II, 210.

  Kokovtsov’s interview with Czar: Kokovtsov, 456.

  Stolypin assassinated by police agen
ts: Wrangel, 208.

  “Everyone in poor health”: Witte, 319.

  “England’s death rattle”: Paléologue, Intimate Journal of the Dreyfus Case, New York, 1957, 180.

  “How I detest that word”: Witte, 190.

  British diplomat: Sir Arthur Nicolson, British ambassador to Russia, 1906–10. Nicolson, Diplomatist, 180.

  “Difficult to make him work”: Sazonov, 286.

  Sukhomlinov on “vicious innovations”: Golovin, Campaign, 31, 34

  “Distrust at first sight”: Paléologue, 83; Poincaré (III, 163) had the same reaction.

  Sukhomlinov’s wife, expenses, associations: Agourtine, 18–22; Vladimir Gurko, 552–3; Knox, 222; Sir Bernard Pares, A History of Russia, New York, 1953, 472–77.

  Sukhomlinov’s trial: Agourtine, 56–9.

  “Terrible consequences”: qtd. Agourtine, 59.

  Kaiser’s dedication to Sukhomlinov: a facsimile in the autograph of the Kaiser is reproduced in Ludwig, 508.

  Sukhomlinov’s responsibility for the shell shortage: Knox, obituary of Sukhomlinov in Slavonic Review, 1926, Vol. 5, 148; also Golovin, Army, 12, 32, 43.

  Sukhomlinov hated Grand Duke; Danilov, 150; Golovin, Campaign, 35.

  Grand Duke only “man” in royal family: Introduction to Letters of Tsaritsa, xxi.

  “I have no faith in N.” Letters to Tsar, June 16, 1915, 97.

  Foch’s influence on Grand Duke: Esher, Tragedy, 19.

  Prince Kotzbue’s remarks: Danilov, 43.

  “Montenegrin nightingales”: Paléologue, 22–23.

  Russia’s alternate war plans: Ironside, 31–6.

  March on Berlin: according to Danilov, Deputy Chief of Staff (130), this was the fundamental idea and goal of the Russian High Command throughout the “first period” of the war.

  Junkers shot foxes: Ellen M. Pain. My Impressions of East Prussia, London, 1915.

  Russian moose shot by the Kaiser: Topham, 254. Her Chapter XIII, “Rominten,” is brilliant reporting of the Imperial habits.

  Germany hoped to keep Japan neutral: Hoffmann, War of Lost Opportunities, 5.

  Hoffmann’s habits: K. F. Nowak, Introduction to Hoffmann’s War Diaries, I, 10, 18.

  “You are a yellow-skin,” recorded by the American correspondent Frederick Palmer, qtd. De Weerd, 71.

  Russian colonel sold war plans: Hoffmann, War of Lost Opportunities, 4.

  “With all available strength”: qtd. Hoffmann, Diaries, II, 241.

  Outbreak

  “Some damned foolish thing”: recalled by Albert Ballin, who quoted it to Churchill (207) in July 1914 when Ballin was sent to London by the Kaiser to persuade the British to stay neutral.

  Kaiser’s “shining armor” speech: in the Vienna Town Hall, September 21, 1910, qtd. Stanley Shaw, William of Germany, New York, Macmillan, 1913, 329.

  German’s “faithful support”: Bethmann-Hollweg to von Tschirschky (German ambassador in Vienna), Kautsky, No. 15; Kaiser to Emperor Franz Joseph, Kautsky, No. 26.

  “Dissipates every reason for war”: Kaiser’s marginal note on copy of Austria’s ultimatum to Serbia, Kautsky, No. 271.

  “Make us a distinct declaration”: Bethmann-Hollweg to Pourtales, Kautsky, No. 490.

  6. August 1: Berlin

  The central episode in this chapter, General Moltke’s traumatic experience with the Kaiser on the night of August 1, is based on Moltke’s memoirs, 19–23. All quotations from the Kaiser and Moltke himself during the course of this incident are from this source. An English version was published by Living Age, January 20, 1923, 131–34.

  Ambassador instructed to declare war on Russia: Kautsky, No. 542.

  At 5:30 Bethmann and Jagow: The American correspondent, Frederic William Wile, on his way to the Foreign Office, saw the two ministers as they came out: Assault, 82.

  “I hate the Slavs”: Sturgkh, 232.

  Pourtales’s and Eggeling’s reports: Kautsky, Nos. 474 and 521. Eggeling’s insistence up to the last moment that Russia could not fight because of artillery and transport deficiencies is reported by Kuhl, 31.

  “Sick Tom-cat”: Kautsky, No. 474.

  A journalist in the crowd: Wile, Assault, 81–2; the Belgian ambassador also describes the scene: Beyens, II, 266.

  “If the iron dice roll”: Kautsky, No. 553.

  Officers waving handkerchiefs: Wolff, 504.

  Suspected Russian spies trampled: Hanssen, 22–23.

  Railway transport required for one Army corps: Reichsarchiv, Das Deutsche Feldeisenbahnwesen, Band I, Die Eisenbahnen zu Kriegsbeginn, qtd. AQ, April, 1928, 96–101.

  Elder Moltke on a sofa: Fisher, Memories, 230

  Kaiser’s marginalia: Kautsky, Nos. 368 and 596.

  “Dead Edward”: Written on margin of Pourtales’s dispatch, received July 30 at 7:00 A.M. reporting that Russian mobilization could not be canceled, Kautsky, No. 401, English version, Ludwig, 448.

  Autonomy for Alsace: The alleged proposal by an anonymous “close associate” of Bethmann’s is reported by Radziwill, Sovereigns, 70, a not too reliable source.

  German ultimatum to France: Schoen, 192, 197; Messimy, 149.

  French decoded it: Poincaré, III, 251.

  “Moltke wants to know”: Wolff, 504.

  Lichnowsky’s telegram: Kautsky, No. 562.

  Dinner in Berlin, 1911: Given by Sir E. Goschen, the British ambassador, in honor of Major-General Wilson, Wilson, 94

  Grey’s proposal to Lichnowsky: Lichnowsky, 73–74; Grey to Goschen, British Blue Book, No. 123; Grey, II, Appendix F, “The Suggestions of August 1, 1914.”

  “Traurige Julius”: Sturgkh, 24.

  Moltke’s character and habits: Freytag-Loringhoven, 135–7; Bauer, 33; Goerlitz, 143; General Sir Edmund Ironside, “Two Chiefs of General Staff,”

  Nineteenth Century and After, February 1926; Wile, NYT, October 6, 1914, 2:6.

  “Very critical of myself”: Erinnerungen, 307; “Place ourselves under Japan”: qtd. Ironside, op. cit., 229; “Quite brutally” about Peking: Eninnerungen, 308; “Win the big prize twice”: ibid.

  “Build railways”: Neame, 2. Elder Moltke’s use of railroads, Rosinski, 129.

  Best brains ended in lunatic asylums: AQ, April, 1928, 96.

  General von Staab: His book, Aufmarsch nach zwei Fronten, is analyzed by Commandant Koeltz, “La Concentration allemande et l’incident du premier Aôut, 1914,” Revue d’Histoire de la Guerre, 1926, 117–130.

  Erzberger’s testimony: Erzberger’s Ertebnisse, qtd. AQ, April, 1922, 80.

  Telegrams to England: Kautsky, Nos. 578 and 579; to Paris: No. 587; to King George: No. 575.

  Lichnowsky’s second telegram: Kautsky, No. 603. King George’s reply to the Kaiser saying “There must be some mistake,” No. 612.

  Invasion of Trois Vierges: Luxembourg Minister of State Eyschen to Jagow, Kautsky, No. 602; Buch, German minister to Luxembourg, to Foreign Office, No. 619; Bethmann-Hollweg to Government of Luxembourg, No. 640.

  Pourtales’s interview with Sazonov: Sazonov, 213; Paléologue, 48; Pourtales’s report, Kautsky, No. 588.

  Tirpitz on declaration of war: Tirpitz, I, 363–5. The scene is also described by Bülow (III, 187) as told him by Albert Ballin, who was present. Bethmann was pacing up and down while Geheimrat Kriege, a conscientious jurist of the Foreign Office, was searching through all the lawbooks for a model. “From time to time the agitated Bethmann would ask him, ‘Is that declaration of war on Russia ready yet? I must have my declaration at once!’ Ballin asked, ‘Why such haste to declare war on Russia, Your Excellency?’ and Bethmann answered, ‘If I don’t, we shan’t get the Socialists to fight.’”

  “Place guilt on Russia”: Bethmann to Tschirschky, marked “Urgent,” Kautsky, No. 441.

  7. August 1: Paris and London

  To leave onus of aggression on Germany: Joffre, 133.

  10-km. withdrawal: Orders of the War Ministry for the withdrawal are Nos. 22, 25, 26, and 27 in Annexes to AF, I, I.

  Viviani, “ha
unted by fear”: Viviani, 194–5.

  “To assure collaboration”: Annexe No. 25.

  Joffre hounding the Government: Joffre, 123–5; Messimy, 139–50.

  “Frightful nervous tension”: Viviani, 195.

  “Permanent condition”: Messimy, 183. The premier’s nerves were also remarked on by Bertie, 5.

  Dr. Gauthier “forgot”: Messimy, 156.

  Poincaré could remember as a boy: Poincaré, III, 1.

  Prolonged cry, “Vive la France!”: Messimy, 138.

  “Without firing a shot”: ibid., 140.

  “Une forme hypocrite”: Messimy, 144.

  Cambon, England “tepid”: Poincaré, II, 242. “No interest to Great Britain”: ibid., 264.

  Carnet B: Messimy, 147–8; de Gaulle, 237; Renouvin, 13, 27–8.

  Isvolsky “very distressed”: Poincaré, II, 272.

  Terms of Franco-Prussian Alliance: text in Livre Jaune, l’Alliance Franco-Russe, Ministère des Affaires Estrangères, Paris, 1918, 92; also in Joffre, 102. Over the years from 1892 to 1914 the Alliance was the subject of continuing discussion between the contracting parties, especially as to the exact interpretation of its casus foederis, and it became gradually encrusted with layers of aides-mémoires. According to various English translations, France was obligated to “attack,” to “oppose,” or to “fight” Germany. In the French text the word is “attaquer.” For Poincaré’s interpretation, see II, 289.

  “Du calme, du calme”: Messimy, 183–4.

  Joffre in “pathetic tone”: ibid., 149.

  Schoen-Viviani talk: Poincaré, II, 265; Schoen’s report of Viviani’s reply, Kautsky, No. 571.

  10-km. order reaffirmed, text: AF, Annexe No. 26.

  Foch’s corps “nose to nose”: Joffre, 129, n. 3.

  General Ebener comes for mobilization order: Joffre, 128; Messimy, 150.

  Scenes in Paris after mobilization: Adam, 20; Gibbons, 73; Guard, Wharton, 14.

  “Played by Hungarians”: Wharton, 10.

  “Sick at heart”: Bertie, I, 6–7.

  Cambon-Grey interview: Poincaré, II, 264.

  Grey prepared to resign: “Throughout the whole of this week I had in view the probable contingency that we should not decide at the critical moment to support France. In that event I should have to resign.” Grey, II, 312.

  Grey “icy”: Lichnowsky to Jagow, April 13, 1913, qtd. Halévy, 627.