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1908 Western Front Part One - Back and Forth
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1908 Western Front Part One - Back and Forth
January: With reserves of nitrates and ammonia running out, Germany needs to break the western front stalemate quickly. Karl von Bülow, the new Chief of the General Staff (Moltke the Younger having been dismissed for his failure), devised a new ‘war winning’ offensive designed to split the British and French from the Belgians and Dutch. Attacking west, the Germans planned to take Brussels and Antwerp, before moving on to Ghent and Lille and driving to the coast. A follow up offensive would knock the Dutch out of the war once they were cut off from the rest of the Entente armies. Bülow aims to have this achieved by June, with the offensive scheduled for late March.
January: The Entente similarly are devising plans. While the British want to remain on the defensive for the moment in order to build up their army, the Belgians and Dutch are crying for an offensive to liberate their occupied lands, while the French want the fighting to remain on foreign soil. In the end, it is agreed for two offensives to be launched in April, one from Eindhoven in the direction of the River Meuse, and the other from Sedan in the direction of Rochefort.
February: The pre-dreadnought SMS Schleswig-Holstein is sunk in a naval engagement in the southern North Sea. Fearing the loss of more capital ships, the Imperial German Navy dials back patrols in the North Sea.
March: With the seeming weakness of the Central Powers in the Western front, the Entente finally convince Italy to join the war on their side to gain their claims on Austria-Hungary. Italy immediately attempts an offensive in Trentino but fails to advance with heavy losses.
March: Battle of Brussels: The German offensive begins with a day-long barrage of 2000 artillery guns (mostly 15cm sFH 02s) concentrated east of Leuven. With Entente reserves concentrated elsewhere, the Germans are able to break through the Entente lines after five days of heavy fighting. The Entente withdraws towards Brussels.
April: Battle of Brussels: The German offensive stalls in front of Brussels. By this time Entente reserves have stopped the Germans and Bülow is unable to breakthrough once again.
April: Battle of Weert: With German reserves diverted to Brussels, the Dutch begin their offensive towards the Meuse. However, they lack sufficient artillery to break through and suffer immense casualties as a result.
April: Battle of Bouillon: The French offensive however, takes the Germans by surprise, who believed that an offensive in the Ardennes was unlikely. As a result, the French break through easily and advance north.
May: Battle of Brussels: Having failed in his objectives and faced with enemy offensives, Bülow orders the German army to fall back to shorten his line.
May: Battle of Weert: Advancing only five kilometers and suffering tens of thousands of casualties, the Dutch call off their offensive
May: Battle of Bouillon: The French continue advancing, taking Libramont-Chevigny in mid-May. However, their advance begins slowing due to stiffening German resistance.
May: Battle of Gorizia: The Austro-Hungarians launch an offensive against the Italians and make headway towards the Tagliamento River.
June: Battle of Bouillon: The French offensive finally stops at Saint-Hubert. The French dig-in and hold off against multiple German counter-attacks until the front-line settles.
June: Battle of Gorizia: The Austro-Hungarians reach the Tagliamento River but do not cross it.