1. During World War I, France was one of theTriple Entente
powers allied against the Central Powers. Although fighting
occurred worldwide, the bulk of the fighting in Europe occurred
inBelgium, Luxembourg, France and Alsace-Lorraine along what came
to be known as theWestern Front. Specific operational, tactical,
and strategic decisions by the high commands on both sides of the
conflict led to shifts in organizational capacity, as the French
Armytried to respond to day-to-day fighting and long-term strategic
and operational agendas. In particular, many problems caused the
French high command to re-evaluate standard procedures, revise its
command structures, re-equip the army, and develop different
tactical approaches.n to the coast.
2. France had been the major power in Europe for most of the
Early Modern Era: Louis XIV, in the seventeenth century, and
Napoleon I in the nineteenth, had extended French power over most
of Europe through skillful diplomacy and military prowess. The
Treaty of Vienna in 1815 confirmed France as a European power
broker. By the early 1850s, Prussian Chancellor Otto von Bismarck
started a system of alliances designed to assert Prussian dominance
over Central Europe. Bismarck's diplomatic maneuvering, and
France's maladroit response to such crises as the Ems Dispatch and
the Hohenzollern Candidature led to the French declaration of war
in 1870. France's subsequent defeat in the Franco- Prussian War,
including the loss of its army and the capture of its emperor at
Sedan, the loss of territory, including Alsace-Lorraine, and the
payment of heavy indemnities, left the French seething and placed
the reacquisition of lost territory as a primary goal at the end of
the 19th century; the defeat also ended French preeminence in
Europe. Following German Unification, Bismarck attempted to isolate
France diplomatically by befriending AustriaHungary, Russia,
Britain, and Italy.
3. Joseph Joffre was Commander-in-Chief, a position he had held
since 1911.[3] While serving in this position, Joffre was
responsible for development of the Plan XVII blueprint for the
invasion of Germany, which proved unsuccessful.[3] Joffre was
thought to be the 'Savior of France' due to his serenity and a
refusal to admit defeat, valuable at the beginning of the war,
along with his regrouping of retreating allied forces at theBattle
of the Marne.[
4. Germany marched through neutral Belgium as part of the
Schlieffen Plan to invade France, and by August 23 had reached the
French border town of Maubeuge, whose true significance lay within
its forts.[6] Maubeuge was a major railway junction and was
consequently a protected city.[6] It had 15 forts and gun
batteries, totaling 435 guns, along with a permanent garrison of
35,000 troops, a number enhanced by the British Expeditionary
Force.[6] The BEF and the French Fifth Army retreated on August 23,
and the town was besieged by German heavy artillery starting on
August 25.[6]The fortress was surrendered on September 7 by General
Fournier, who was later court-martialed, but exonerated, for the
capitulation.[6]
5. Who was the Commander in WW1 For France? In what century did
France Had major Power Did commander Succeed On what day Did
Germany Want to Invade France How much Forts did the City of
Maubeuge have