KAreil's AARs

[KAreil]

Along the Gette River, Belgium, 18th August 1914:

Following the fall of Liège, the Belgian Armée de Campagne began solidifying a line of defense along the Gette River.

On 17 August, von Moltke issued instructions to von Kluck to shoulder the Belgian Army away from Antwerp. However, to complicate things, von Kluck was also told that his 1.Armee would be under the orders of 2.Armee's commander von Bülow. The cavalry, under H.K.K.2, would also be reassigned to the 2.Armee to provide security between the two advancing armies. Von Moltke's justification for this was that the 1.Armee and 2.Armee must remain in close proximity during their advance on the north side of the Meuse, so that a gap between them would not form.

Von Kluck was furious and argued that it was his 1.Armee, which was on the flank, that had the strategic challenges necessitating independent action, and as such, required the full use of the H.K.K.2 on the northern flank. But this was to be ignored and von Kluck was forced to drive a wedge between the Belgians and Antwerp with his hands tied.

Historically, the Belgians withdrew to the River Dyle in the afternoon and early evening of the 18th, shortly after Haelen and Diest was taken by storm and their flank was exposed, with the 1er Division d’Armée being the primary force engaged. HRH Leopold II recognized that the Germans were trying to drive a wedge between his army and Antwerp and, shortly after the line along the Dyle was established, ordered a withdrawal. On the 19th of August his army conducted a skillful withdrawal to Antwerp, arriving there by the 20th and thus avoiding the trap.

This scenario ends at the point where the Belgians began falling back to Antwerp.

The main objective for the Belgians is to keep as many German units from exiting the map to the west, and, where possible, hold the objectives to prevent a total rout of the Belgian Army.
The Germans can choose to drive off the Belgian's left flank around Haelen by taking the objectives concentrated in that area; it is assumed that a successful wedge is driven between the Belgians and Antwerp if the Germans can take all of those objectives. The Germans can also choose to bypass the Belgian line and gain points by exiting units on the western map which is the route to Bruxelles. By doing this it should balance out any failure on the Germans to drive the Belgians away from Antwerp, but it will probably not gain them a major victory.
 

T00 of 13 - 0800 am 18.08.1914 - Sicht 5 km:  

(CONTRARY TO STANDARDS: Own/Germany=red | Enemy/Entente=blue | VP=gelb -  VALID FOR ALL PICTURES)





Germany:

# Own forces:
+ 1.Armee (nur Teile) - Generaloberst Alexander von Kluck
++ II.ArmeeKorps - General der Infanterie Alexander von Linsingen
+++ 3.Infanterie Division (ca. 14300 Mann, Truppenqualität B)
+++ 4.Infanterie Division (ca. 14600 Mann, Truppenqualität B)
++ III.ArmeeKorps - General der Infanterie Ewald von Lochow
+++ 5.Infanterie Division (ca. 14200 Mann, Truppenqualität C bis B)
+++ 6.Infanterie Division (ca. 14500 Mann, Truppenqualität C)
++ IV.ArmeeKorps - General der Infanterie Friedrich Sixt von Armin
+++ 7.Infanterie Division (ca. 14200 Mann, Truppenqualität C)
+++ 8.Infanterie Division (ca. 14500 Mann, Truppenqualität C)
++ IX.ArmeeKorps - Generalleutnant Ferdinand von Quast
+++ 17.Infanterie Division (ca. 14200 Mann, Truppenqualität C)
+++ 18.Infanterie Division (ca. 14500 Mann, Truppenqualität C)
+ 2.Armee (nur Teile) - Generaloberst Karl von Bülow
++ Höheres Kavallerie Kommando 2 - General der Kavallerie Georg von der Marwitz
+++ 2.Kavallerie Division (ca. 6400 Mann, Truppenqualität C bis A)
+++ 4.Kavallerie Division (ca. 3800 Mann, Truppenqualität C)
+++ 9.Kavallerie Division (ca. 4100 Mann, Truppenqualität C)
+++ Jägertruppe (ca. 6000 Mann, Truppenqualität B)






# Intention:
Fast breakthrough through the Belgian lines and on to Lovain, prevent organized retreat of enemy forces




# Plan:
From North to South:
+ 2.KD advances west and then south into the area of Aarschot and so gets behind the enemies main line of defence
+ 4.ID attack Diest from the north and then continues to Lovain
+ 3.ID attacks Diest frontally from the east and then continues to Lovain
+ 7.ID advances south of Diest to Lovain
+ 8.ID follows and supports 7.ID
+ 5.ID attacks through the area Geetbets towards Lovain
+ 6.ID attacks south of Geetbets towards Lovain
+ 17.ID attacks through the area Bunsbeek towards Lovain
+ 18.ID follows and supports 7.ID






+ 4.KD advances on Tirlemont and will encircle it
+ Jägertruppe assaults Tirlemont
+ 9.KD probes west but is chiefly flank guard of the army






--

Entente:

# Enemy forces:
At least several division size units of the Champagne-Armee

# Estimated intention:
Delaying actions towards Lovain and holding the town at all costs.





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While my German infantry attacked the Belgian troops along the whole front the 2.KD was dashing towards Aarschot and could snatch it at 1200 right before the Belgian defenders could reach it.
Diest and Haelen were standing strong against German assaults and further south the terrain cost much time when advancing even before attacks could be made.
Tirlemont was found heavily defended and the Jägertruppe was redirected further north. 9.KD probed west and encountered strong Belgian and French forces.












By nightfall of 18.08.1914 both Diest and Haelen were taken by German infantry and cavalry with some Jäger had set up a defensive perimeter at Aarschot. 4.ID was rushed in night marches towards the west while cavalry and 3.ID were screening against the Belgians in the South. The rest of the German infantry could push back the Belgian defending troops but progress was slow and costly. 9.KD in the very south got under attack from strong Belgian forces and had to give way while staying the flank guard of the army. French cavalry was attempting to outflank them via the South.









The next day brought further slow and costly advances of German infantry along the whole line with several Belgian bataillons getting encircled and wiped out. 4.ID reached Aarschot shortly before strong Belgian forces could start their attack and managed to disrupt most of them. In the South the 9.KD performed an organized retreat to protect the flank of the army.









With the start of turn 12 of 13 my opponent offered his sword as he didn't see a chance to achieve even a Draw anymore. With hindsight I would say that retreating the Belgian forces now arrayed against Aarschot off the map would have been the better option.