Battle of the Frontiers Joseph Joffre

at outbreak of war, french plan clashed german schlieffen plan, detriment of french. on 15 august, after german cavalry had been spotted @ dinant on meuse, , after repeated warnings charles lanrezac of fifth army, joffre issued instruction particuliere no 10, stating main german effort come through belgium.

although joffre aware (8am on 18 august) many fifteen german corps moving through belgium (in fact sixteen, , twenty-eight if german fourth , fifth armies included), believed few of these come west of meuse, believed held british , belgians. french third , fourth armies preparing attack ardennes, , wanted lanrezac s fifth army attack bulk of german right wing on west flank – assumed – attacked left flank of french fourth army.

the french first , second armies attacked alsace-lorraine on 19 , 20 august , beaten severe loss german forces, preparing counteroffensive. joffre believed (20 august) liège still holding out (in fact last of liège forts had fallen on 16 august), , hoped lanrezac able reach namur, expected hold out longer. germans entered brussels day, joffre convinced, after defeat in alsace-lorraine , air , cavalry reports of strong german forces in belgium, german centre in ardennes must weak. on 21 august french second army pressed german counterattack. Édouard de castelnau asked permission abandon nancy , fortified heights, joffre forbade him so.

with french third , fourth armies attacking ardennes, , infantry outpacing horsedrawn artillery, bulow s german second army attacked lanrezac , forced bridgeheads across meuse. fifth army attacked on right max von hausen s german third army; although these attacks held, lanrezac asked joffre permission retreat. on 23 august fifth army attacked again.

on 23 august joffre reported adolphe messimy, french war minister, fourth army pressing ardennes (he believed, wrongly) local numerical superiority, despite fact had received reports of french defeats in sector on previous days. german fourth , fifth armies in fact advancing against french forces in front of them rather moving westwards joffre believed. in memoirs joffre later admitted had been mistaken (he unaware of fall of namur , of extent of fighting @ mons , charleroi on left), @ time demanded french fourth army resume offensive , provide lists of unsatisfactory officers dismissal. messimy supported joffre in purge of unsuccessful generals, suggesting that, in 1793, of them ought executed.