1914_0906_02s: The Juggernaut Exposed - FWWC 01 France '14

Along the Ourcq and Grand Morin Rivers, France, 6th September 1914: As the German armies swept across France in an unrelenting advance, von Kluck made several mistakes that unknowingly placed his 1.Armee in a vulnerable situation. He firmly believed that the French Ve Armée was holding the flank and that the BEF was defeated at Le Cateau and Mons to a point where they were no longer a threat. The final mistake came when von Kluck changed his direction of advance from Paris to the southeast in order to flank the Allied Army and finally crush the troublesome Ve Armée who the Germans believed was on the verge of total collapse. By giving up Paris, the Germans had, in an instant, disregarded the primary objective of the Schlieffen Plan. OHL believed that a Cannae type situation was developing where the French Army could be surrounded and defeated. Despite this optimistic situation, von Moltke was concerned about reports of activing in the vicinity of Paris and ordered von Kluck to fall in behind von Bülow and protect the flank of the German Army. Von Kluck was outraged and instead chose to disobey and vigorously push to the southeast ahead of von Bülow in order to flank and destroy the Ve Armée. The invincible juggernaut had finally exposed its flank and the time for the allied retreat was at an end. [Size: large] *See the notes document for information on scenario design decisions and historical notes.