Between 1914 and 1918, The German Empire had 3 Chiefs of the “Oberste Heeresleitung”, the High command of the German army. Helmuth von Moltke “The Younger”, led it in 1914 during the Invasion of France, and is much criticized for his over cautious attitude (especially when he transferred 2 Army Corps to the East, leaving the flanks exposed in the Marne). After his failure, came Erich von Falkenhayn, who led from the end of 1914 until mid 1916. He focused most of the German efforts against Russia, pushing them out of most of Lithuania and Poland, while also adopting an “attrition warfare” tactic against the West in Verdun. He would be later fired after the failure in Verdun and at the Somme, and instead came Paul von Hindenburg (With Ludendorff as part of the dual). Hindenburg is known for the retreat in 1917 to the “Hindenburg Line” which frustrated the allied Spring offensives of 1917, while also encouraging the revolutionary movements in Russia by sending back Lenin to provoke a revolution and restoring the Unrestricted Submarine Warfare that brought the US into the War. Ultimately, Hindenburg/Ludendorff failed to break the allied lines in the “Kaiserschacht” offensive of 1918, exhausting the last of Germany’s reserves and leading to the 1918 armistice ending the war.
Of these 3 commanders, who was the most competent leadership in the German High Command during WWI ? On which direction do you think the War would’ve gone if this commander was in charge from the very beginning ?
Of these 3 commanders, who was the most competent leadership in the German High Command during WWI ? On which direction do you think the War would’ve gone if this commander was in charge from the very beginning ?