Chapter 490: Replacing Generals on the Eve of Battle

Setting aside the minor incident of gas warfare, the situation on the Western Front remains quite intense. After the failure of the Battle of the Marne, the German army was unwilling to accept the collapse of the Schlieffen Plan and instead committed more troops to launch an offensive against Paris.

The French army is no pushover either; they possess sufficient determination to defend Paris, and fierce fighting has erupted between the German and French forces between the Marne and the Aisne rivers.

While the German army was still launching offensives on the front lines, a quarrel broke out within the German High Command in the rear.

The then-Chief of the German General Staff, Helmuth von Moltke the Younger, requested an audience with Kaiser Wilhelm II after the Battle of the Marne concluded, bringing with him bad news: the total failure of the Schlieffen Plan.

The original intent of the Schlieffen Plan was to quickly organize an army of over a million men to capture Paris before the French could mobilize, thereby forcing France to surrender rapidly.

Yet today, not only is Paris safe, but the German army has suffered a defeat at the Marne; the First Army has sustained heavy losses, and the Second and Third Armies have also suffered massive casualties.

Under these circumstances, the Schlieffen Plan has completely collapsed, and the German High Command's plan for a lightning war has essentially fallen through.

As Chief of the German General Staff, Moltke the Younger certainly understands what the failure of the Schlieffen Plan signifies. Germany is currently fighting a two-front war; once the dream of a quick victory vanishes, Germany will have to bear the immense pressure of a two-front war alone, and the final result seems to be nothing but defeat.

Although Moltke the Younger is unwilling to admit it, the results of the war have already bloodily demonstrated a fact: his modifications to the Schlieffen Plan were entirely wrong.

Because Moltke the Younger reduced the number of troops in the Low Countries, the mere three German armies were simply unable to capture the French capital of Paris in a short time.

If there had been even a few more German troops in the Belgian region—even just one more army—the result likely would not be what it is now.

Precisely because he understands that his own redeployments led to the failure of the front-line war, Moltke the Younger is pale-faced. He went to the palace to see Wilhelm II with great reluctance, bringing the news that the Schlieffen Plan had failed.

How could Kaiser Wilhelm II accept such an outcome? Upon hearing that the Schlieffen Plan had gone bankrupt and that Germany would have to fall into a war of attrition, Wilhelm II angrily questioned: "My Chief of Staff, please tell me why the Schlieffen Plan failed?"

Hearing Wilhelm II's inquiry, Chief of Staff Moltke the Younger's expression was complex. He could hardly tell the Kaiser directly that the failure of the Schlieffen Plan was entirely his own fault, could he?

Although the current result is what it is, when the Schlieffen Plan was modified, there were not many people in the German military and High Command who opposed it.

Now, although it is certain that modifying the plan was a mistake, Moltke the Younger does not feel that he should be the one to take the blame.

This was just a normal strategic judgment error; could it be that others would not make mistakes?

Looking at the complex-faced, silent Moltke the Younger, how could Kaiser Wilhelm II not understand his thoughts?

For Wilhelm II, he absolutely cannot accept the failure of the war, much less the bankruptcy of the Schlieffen Plan, because this would greatly shake the morale of the German military.

Seeing that Moltke the Younger was unwilling to take responsibility, Wilhelm II said angrily: "My Chief of Staff, please tell me, under your command, does our Western Front still have any chance of victory?"

"Even if we fight to the last man, we must never accept the outcome of a German defeat. If you cannot lead the armies on the Western Front to victory, then leave the position of Chief of Staff to someone more capable."

Wilhelm II's words were already an open ultimatum; in the current situation, it was essentially equivalent to forcing Moltke the Younger to resign.

Moltke the Younger certainly understood that he could not lead the Western Front armies to victory. Having now lost the trust of Kaiser Wilhelm II, there was naturally no need to continue clinging to the position of Chief of Staff.

Consequently, the very next day, German Chief of Staff Moltke the Younger resigned to Wilhelm II citing poor health. Wilhelm II quickly agreed to Moltke the Younger's resignation request and immediately appointed Minister of War Erich von Falkenhayn as the new German Chief of Staff.

The change in the Chief of Staff caused quite a stir within the German military. Many high-ranking military officials did not expect that Moltke the Younger, who had been deeply trusted by Kaiser Wilhelm II, would step down so quickly.

What was even more unexpected was that Wilhelm II agreed to Moltke the Younger's resignation request almost instantly, as if without a moment's hesitation.

Compared to Moltke the Younger, who became famous by relying on his uncle, Field Marshal Moltke, the current Chief of Staff Falkenhayn does not have such a high status within the German military.

Falkenhayn was born in 1861 and is only 52 years old this year, which is relatively young among the military high command.

More importantly, despite Falkenhayn being promoted to the rank of General of the Infantry upon his appointment as German Chief of Staff, he was merely an ordinary Major in Germany ten years ago, in 1903.

It took only ten years to go from Major to Major General, then he was quickly promoted to Lieutenant General after the outbreak of World War I, and then promoted again to the rank of General of the Infantry because he was appointed as the German Chief of Staff by Kaiser Wilhelm II.

Falkenhayn's promotion speed during this period could not be described as anything but fast; he could even be called the officer with the fastest rank promotion within the German military.

This is equivalent to Falkenhayn taking only ten years to go from Major to General, leaping from an inconspicuous low-to-mid-level military officer to the top of the military, where he can decide the strategic plans of the German army.

The reason for Falkenhayn's rapid promotion speed actually has little to do with his ability. If one were to open Falkenhayn's resume, one would find that he did not participate in any important battles; from joining the army to his promotion to Major in 1903, he relied basically on seniority.

As time reached the 20th century, the intensifying conflict between the two major military blocs led Germany to accelerate its preparations for war.

Falkenhayn also officially entered the eyes of Kaiser Wilhelm II and was rapidly promoted within the last ten years, counting as one of Wilhelm II's confidants in the military.

The reason for appointing Falkenhayn as the new German Chief of Staff was actually a power balance by Kaiser Wilhelm II.

With the bankruptcy of the Schlieffen Plan, the German military had split into two factions.

One faction, led by the original supporters of the Schlieffen Plan, still supports concentrating forces to attack France, looking for opportunities to complete the Schlieffen Plan again.

Another group of officers believes that since the Western Front can no longer achieve significant results, it would be better to put their energy into the Eastern Front.

The Russian army on the Eastern Front is weak and incompetent; if they could achieve major results on the Eastern Front and force Russia to surrender, Germany could then re-concentrate its energy to deal with France.

Because Germany concentrated most of its forces on the Western Front, there were more officers supporting the former. But after the Schlieffen Plan went bankrupt, the Eastern Front officers also began to make their voices heard; they hope Germany can put more energy into the Eastern Front, as doing so would also allow them to earn more military merit. **CHAPTER 491: The Russian Rescue Plan**