Summary

Chapter 19: Retreat

After the Battle of the Frontiers, the Germans cut into France from Belgium. A million soldiers made up the invading force that entered France on August 24th. The German right wing was on the march to Paris in a front that was seventy-five miles wide with Kluck’s army on the right wing. Joffre had to deal with his retreating armies. He issued a new general order that proposed creating a new Sixth Army in the German path by taking men from the Lorraine front. It would join the forces of the French Fourth and Fifth Armies and the British forces in September. The retreating French were trying to arrest the advancement of the Germans. The German goal was envelopment. Both sides had Sedan on their minds. In retreat, the French fought with competence, which had not always been the case...