1914_0913_01s: Everything at Stake! - FWWC 01 France '14

Aisne River, France, 13th September 1914: During the Battle of the Marne, a serious gap had developed between von Kluck's 1.Armee and von Bülow's 2.Armee. Following that battle, this gap continued to grow as the Germans retreated north, due to the close pursuit and pressure exerted by the Allies. On September 12th a decision was made: the Germans would stand and fight on the northern bank of the Aisne River in order to hold long enough so that the 7.Armee, fresh from Alsace, could reinforce the line and close the gap. A high stakes battle was at hand. If the Allies could continue to wedge von Kluck and von Bülow in opposite directions and expand the gap, von Kluck's entire 1.Armee could be broken off from the main German line and destroyed. With the flank thus opened, the remainder of the German armies would have no choice but to abandon the invasion and fall back to the frontier in total defeat. Combined with the recent Austro-Hungarian defeat at Lemberg, the complete collapse of the Central Powers was at stake! [Size: medium] *See the notes document for information on scenario design decisions and historical notes.