ww2 help

[Alecras234]

instead of Germany was going to attack France via Belgium Shall i say Germany attacked France via Belgium?

 

[Wurger]

If you mean the Shlieffen's plane.. nope. It was a plan so no one has attacked anybody. But if you mean the direct action started on 3 August 1914 you can say Germans attacked France viia the Belgium.

 

[Alecras234]

Like this,
Alfred Von Shlieffen designed battle plan – 1905

Germany attacked France via Belgium

Shlieffen plan was intended to avoid a two front war by defeating France in less than 6 weeks

Alfred Von Shlieffen died – 1913

Shlieffen plan used in 1914

August 2 1914, Germany demanded access into Belgium and being refused

August 3 1914, Germany attacked Belgium

August 4 1914, Britain declares war on Germany

 

[Wurger]

Alec, the statment " Germany attacked France via Belgium " is added incorrectly. Why ?... because it is not put in the chronological order. The first 5 points are about von Shlieffen and his plan. So you can't add that there because nobody was fighting yet. The next 3 points say about the beginning of the real war. So it has to be added there. Like I wrote it below.


August 3 1914, Germany attacked Belgium
August 4 1914, Britain declares war on Germany
Germany attacked France via Belgium

If you really want to add the point at the beginning of the list you may use the one.... Germany planned to attack France via Belgium. And this sentence is correct.

 

[Alecras234]

i'm confused, this is my list of facts, what's right and whats wrong?

Alfred Von Shlieffen designed battle plan – 1905
Germany planned on attacking France via Belgium
Shlieffen plan was intended to avoid a two front war by defeating France in less than 6 weeks
Alfred Von Shlieffen died – 1913
Shlieffen plan used in 1914
August 2 1914, Germany demanded access into Belgium and being refused
August 3 1914, Germany attacked Belgium
August 4 1914, Britain declares war on Germany

 

[Wurger]

Now all is right. All is correct.

 

[Alecras234]

Thank you for helping me, could you explain if i do another list of facts how i should do it? i had trouble with the wording in the list you helped me with.

 

[Wurger]

No problem. Glad I helped. I think the way you did the list of facts is a very good idea. All next ones can be done in the same way.

 

[Alecras234]

Shall i do a list from this chapter?

The first major confrontation between the Great Powers took place in the Belgium town of Mons on 23 August; Britain's first battle on mainland Europe since Waterloo almost a century before. The 'contemptible' BEF, despite being outnumbered three to one, inflicted huge casualties on the Germans, delayed their advance, and then retreated in good order. The Retreat from Mons was, as legend would have it, guided by the 'Angels of Mons', ghostly apparitions who safely led the British soldiers away from the battlefield. The Germans advanced through
France but were rapidly running out of steam, too exhausted to maintain the momentum. By early September they had reached the River Marne, only thirty miles north of Paris. The military commander of Paris, General Joseph Gallieni, was old enough to remember 1871 when the Prussians, Germany's predecessors, had besieged the capital to the point of starvation. He had no intention of allowing the Germans anywhere near Paris again. After three days of fighting at the Marne, the Germans looked poised to break through the French and British forces, and onto Paris. Gallieni was to send reinforcements but while he had the troops he had no means to transport them.

 

[Wurger]

If you wish you may create two or three points.

 

[Alecras234]

ok back to the Schlieffen plan, why did the Germans move in a circle through France via Belgium??

 

[Wurger]

Because there was the fortified area along the French-German borderline. And also there were almost all units of the French Army gathered at the area.

 

[Alecras234]

hi, i cant think how to word what my book says to make into short facts. HELP

The first major confrontation between the Great Powers took place in the Belgium town of Mons on 23 August; Britain's first battle on mainland Europe since Waterloo almost a century before. The 'contemptible' BEF, despite being outnumbered three to one, inflicted huge casualties on the Germans, delayed their advance, and then retreated in good order. The Retreat from Mons was, as legend would have it, guided by the 'Angels of Mons', ghostly apparitions who safely led the British soldiers away from the battlefield. The Germans advanced through
France but were rapidly running out of steam, too exhausted to maintain the momentum. By early September they had reached the River Marne, only thirty miles north of Paris. The military commander of Paris, General Joseph Gallieni, was old enough to remember 1871 when the Prussians, Germany's predecessors, had besieged the capital to the point of starvation. He had no intention of allowing the Germans anywhere near north.

 

[Wurger]

The first battle of the BEF - Belguim, Mons, 23 August 1914.
Retreat of the BEF from Mons.
Creating of the legend of the 'Angels of Mons'
Germans advancing.
September 1914 - retreating the French Army and BEF reached the Marne River.
General Joseph Gallieni - the Chief of Paris garrison and defence of the fortress.

 

[Alecras234]

How did you go about making those short facts from the book, did you just pick out bits here and there from the chapter?

The first two facts sound ok to me but the others dont really. Should Germans advancing be Germans advanced into France? Should September 1914 - retreating the French Army and BEF reached the Marne River be September 1914 - the BEF reached Marne river and French army retreated? im trying to work out how you did these facts.

 

[Wurger]

I understand. OK. I'll explain it to you.
All the info can be found in the text of the chapter you posted above. The only thing I had to add from my memory was the info on Gen. Joseph Gallieni .

Here is the text that says about the first battle of the BEF with the date...
"The first major confrontation between the Great Powers took place in the Belgium town of Mons on 23 August; Britain's first battle on mainland Europe since Waterloo almost a century before. The 'contemptible' BEF, despite being outnumbered three to one, inflicted huge casualties on the Germans, delayed their advance, "

The part says about the retreat of the BEF from the Mons town.
"and then retreated in good order. The Retreat from Mons was, "

Here is the info about the legend of the Angels of Mons'...
"as legend would have it, guided by the 'Angels of Mons', ghostly apparitions who safely led the British soldiers away from the battlefield."

And here about the German's advancing ..
"The Germans advanced through "

To answer your question ..

Should Germans advancing be Germans advanced into France?

It can be wrote in the way too But I was thinking about more general info .

Here is about reaching of the Marne River
"By early September they had reached the River Marne, only thirty miles north of Paris."

To replay your question..

Should September 1914 - retreating the French Army and BEF reached the Marne River be September 1914 - the BEF reached Marne river and French army retreated?

No it can't be as you wrote. It is because both the BEF and the French Army were reteating together.

Here is the story ..

The battle at the Mons town in Belgium was the first battle the BEF had. But the BEF is not the only army that fought against the Germans in the Belgium. Also the French Army was fighting there. After the lost battle at Charleroi ( East of Mons ) and a danger of being bottled up by Germans , both the French Army and the BEF had to retreat from Belgiom and got back to France.. As a result , Germans advanced in Belgium and entered the France. Both Armies, I mean the French one and the BEF, were moved behind the Marne River where the new French Group Army was concentrated. Being reinforced with the new units, both allied armies started the new battle called the First Battle of the Marne.

 

[Alecras234]

Does this sound ok?

The first battle of the BEF – 23 August, Belgium, Mons

BEF retreat from Mons

Creating the legend the Angels of Mons

German army advance through France

Retreat of the French Army and BEF reached the Marne River – September 1914

did this happen during the schlieffen plan? So the BEF attacked the German Army at Mons but then as the Germans advanced the BEF retreated and that's when the Angels of Mons took the BEF away, is that right?

 

[Wurger]

It sounds good except the point..

- German army advance through France ..

I would say

- German army advance through Belgium to France.

And yes that happened during the Schlieffen's plan. But all that happened in the Belgum. The BEF helped the Belgian Army that was retreating because of the German's attack. Although the BEF stopped the German units at Mons , the French Army was defeatad at the Charleroi town. The Charleroi town is located east of the Mons in distance of about 50 km ( 24 miles ). Therefore the BEF and French Army had to retreat. Just Germans were continuing the attack through the Charleroi.

The last point happened in France. The Marne River is in France.

 

[Alecras234]

so BEF retreat from Mons is wrong, it's Belgium that retreated?? im confused. First battle with BED was at mons, Belgium, 23 August 1914, BEF retreat mons? Angel of mons drag BEF away from fighting, German army advance through France ..Retreat of the French Army and BEF reached the Marne River – September 1914. Am i on the right lines, and this was as the germans went through Belgium to get to France in a circle to Paris?

 

[Wurger]

No Alec. the retreat of the BEF from the Mons is correct. The Mons is a town in Belgium. The town is located near the Belgium-France borderline. So the battle of Mons was in Belguim. Although the BEF stopped the Germans attack there, the Brits had to retreat. Then Germans advanced and soon reached the France territory.

The Angels of Mons is a legend only. There is no proof there were real people who helped the BEF soldiers with fighting while retreating.