How can Germany win the Battle of the Marne?
- Thread starter Bomster
- Start date
Riain
Banned
Surrounding Lanzerac's 5th Army sometime between 20-24 August, not sending 5 division from the siege of Namur to East Prussia, not allowing the left wing to attack and stripping it to reinforce the right wing. That said the OHL wasn't really set up to make the former and latter happen.
Best way was to... never fight it at all. Junk the Schlieffen plan, focus on knocking out Russia. This keeps the UK out of the war
Apparently during the Battle of Charleroi on August 21st, 1914, the French 5th Army was nearly encircled by the Germans. The 5th Army would later stop the German advance at the Marne. This seems like a suitable POD.
Judging by Battle of Frontiers the Germans would have blunted any French offensive in 1914 if roles were reversed, would you agree ?
Yes, but the French were more likely to invade through Alsace-Lorraine and that would have been a disaster
Riain
Banned
These are command decisions, the latter 2 are with OHL and simply need to be made in line with the prewar plan. The encircling of 5th army is more difficult because it basically requires them to cooperate and stay still while the Germans move to cut them off.