Parseval's Quest (First Solution and Second Problem)
A Decision Game from 1893
This is the third post in Parseval’s Quest, a decision game based on a problem that Count Schlieffen presented to officers of the Great General Staff in 1893. If you haven’t done so already, please read the first two installments of this series.
Please note that the point of the game is not to replicate Count Schlieffen’s solution. Rather, it is to engage the problem as it is and, having done that, ponder the differences between your solution and those of others.
Count Schlieffen’s Solution
The 5th Infantry Division is badly outnumbered by the French forces that it faces. It will therefore:
avoid any “earnest engagement” [ernsteres Gefecht] with the enemy
use artillery to prevent attempts by the enemy to move around the main body of your division in the direction of St. Avold
You order the Cavalry Division, which finished its assembly near Saarbrücken yesterday afternoon, to move towards St. Avold in order to support the 5th Infantry Division.
The Second Problem
It is now the afternoon of 2 June 1893.
Before noon today, you heard artillery fire in the distance.
The various elements of II Army Corps are arriving according to schedule. Thus, by the time the sun sets tonight, all of four of your divisions will be available for employment.
The advanced parties, each composed of two infantry companies, of two other German army corps, have arrived in Saaralben and Saarunion.
What do you think that the French 6th Army Corps is doing?
What is your commander’s intent [Absicht] for the operations conducted by the II Army Corps on 3 June 1893?
What specific orders do you give?
As before, please feel free to use the comments section to provide your solutions. I will post a paraphrase of Count Schlieffen’s solution on Monday, 4 September 2023.
For Further Reading:
I don’t believe that the enemy intends to move toward St. Avold. Their capture of that town would not solve their problem: the arrival of our reinforcements within the next 24 hours. I believe they still intend to stop our reinforcements from assembly
5th Division will continue to delay the enemy in order to buy time for II Corps to assemble.
4th Division will move to the vicinity of Sarralben and prevent the enemy from interfering with II Corps assembly.
3d Division will act as our reserve, ready to relieve 5th division if they become combat ineffective.
On 3JUN, I intend to move II Corps south along the river and attack the enemy on their right flank IOT relieve the pressure on 3,4, &5th divisions.
joking answer: have the cavalry ride forward to feign the arrival of reinforcements and hopefully push the enemy back.
A guess: St. Avold seems like the logical direction for the enemy to go, but they likely know our assembly areas are on or behind the river. I would actually warn 3rd and 4th ID (those are infantry, right) to try to form a line anchored on Saaralben to the right and 5 ID on the left to prevent a wide right hook. The cavalry already in the area of St. Avold and 5 ID's pinning action should suffice - they need to make quick gains in these early stages, meaning they may simply try to avoid resistance. Prolonging the battle to bleed the enemy of momentum is our primary concern.
Comment: Love these problems. Not having ever served in a military, doing anything remotely military-like, or being any kind of outdoorsy is a big disadvantage here!