Part II, Section E (Armies of the Left Flank)
The Modern Military Commander
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Field Marshal Count Moltke, Count Schlieffen, and the World War
Georg Wetzell
(Continued)
I shall give a brief outline of the situation.
Prior to the departure of the High Command from Berlin, August 16, the following directives should have been issued, first by telephone, then by telegram (in writing):
Fifth Army
The Fifth Army will place the following formations under the command of General von Mudra, thereby forming Group Metz:
XVI Corps
XIII Corps
VI Reserve Corps
the main reserve of the fortress of 'Metz' [33rd Reserve Infantry Division]
all horse drawn units of the heavy artillery reserve at Metz
Group Metz will take up positions in readiness in the area between the fortress of Metz and the Nied River. With its right flank resting on the Seille River, it will be ready to attack in a southeasterly direction, against Lunéville, on the morning of the 19th. The commanding general, Group Metz, will report to me at Saarbrücken, at 5:00 PM, August 17.
Sixth and Seventh Armies
The main forces of the Sixth and Seventh Armies will not engage the enemy in combat but will withdraw beyond the Metz-Strasbourg railroad to the line Bolchen-Sarreunion and the region east of the Vosges Mountains. I shall issue all further instructions upon my arrival at Saarbrücken, 5:00 PM, August 17. The army commanders, their Chiefs of Staff, and the commanding general of Group Metz will report to me at Saarbrücken.1
To be continued …
The repetition of the order instructing General von Mudra to report to Saarbrücken and the fact that he is to do so at the same time as the commanding generals of the Sixth and Seventh Armies suggests that General Wetzell expected that those three formations would cooperate closely with each other.