The First World War

Abstract

The most persistent assumption underlying the decisions taken by the great powers in July and August 1914 was the illusion that the ensuing war would be short. The thinking behind this was relatively simple: modern methods of transportation and communications created unprecedented opportunities for speed and mobility in attack. In fact, all the war plans of the great powers before 1914 hinged on railway timetables and the rapid deployment of men in the field. Indeed Kaiser Wilhelm II assured his troops they would be ‘home before the leaves fall’ and certainly troops of all nations believed ‘it will all be over by Christmas’. Young men went off adventurously, glad to change their lives, to travel. They were answering the call of duty and were sure they would soon be back home crowned with victory; in London, Berlin and Paris they left singing and exuberant. But, the dream became a nightmare. The belief in speed was crucial. The most famous stratagem, the German Schlieffen Plan called for a lightning attack on France — but this was not exceptional. France had Plan 17 which proposed a quick strike through Alsace; Russia’s Plan B called for Russia to seize the offensive and attack through Poland and Britain’s planning for the British Expeditionary Force (BEF) assumed it must land in France within days of war being declared for it to be effective.

Gas! Gas! Quick, boys! — An ecstasy of fumbling,

Fitting the clumsy helmets just in time;

But someone still was yelling out and stumbling.

And flound’ring like a man in fire or lime …

Dim, through the misty panes and thick green light.

As under a green sea, I saw him drowning.

In all my dreams, before my helpless sight,

He plunges at me, guttering, choking, drowning.

— Wilfred Owen, Dulce et Decorum Est¹