Part II, Section F (Armies of the Right Flank)
The Modern Military Commander
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Field Marshal Count Moltke, Count Schlieffen, and the World War
Georg Wetzell
(Continued)
Armies of the Right Flank (First and Second Armies)
In compliance with previous directives, the operations directed by the commanding general of the Second Army Commander (General von Bülow) will continue across the Marne, in the general direction of Maubeuge. The Deputy Chief of Staff (Lieutenant General von Stein) will arrive tomorrow at Headquarters, Second Army, for further orientation and will remain there.
The Second Army will release the X Corps, Guard Corps, and Guard Reserve Corps to the Third Army tomorrow. The IX Reserve Corps and two Ersatz divisions will be transferred to the Second Army and temporarily function as G. H. Q. reserve.
The I and II Cavalry Corps will remain on the right flank. The III Cavalry Corps will move, by rail, from Alsace-Lorraine to the right flank.
Boundary with the Third Army (upon arrangement of the details): approximate line Malmedy-Namur.
Third, Fourth and Fifth Armies
Beginning August 17:
The Second Army will release the X Corps, Guard Corps and Guard Reserve Corps to the Third Army.
The Third Army will transfer the XIX Corps to the Fifth Army
The XVIII Reserve Corps of the Fourth Army will be assigned to the Fifth Army.
The IV Cavalry Corps will also join the Fifth Army.
The boundary between Second and Third Armies (upon arrangement of the details) will be the approximate line Malmedy-Namur
The boundary between the Third and Fourth Armies will be the line St. Vith-Laroche-St. Hubert (these towns to be included in the zone of the Fourth Army).
The Fifth Army (less Group Metz) will close in on the Fourth Army in the area Wiltz-Luxemburg-Trier.
The advance guards of the three armies will reach the approximate line Namur-Marche-Luxemburg by August 20. In rear of the armies of the right flank, two second-line corps of the Third Army and one corps each of the Fourth and Fifth Armies will temporarily remain at the disposal of G. H. Q.
In the event of a hostile attack, the Fifth Army will retire in the direction of Wiltz. The Fifth Army will be reinforced by four Ersatz divisions in the Rhineland, in the vicinity of Trier and Saarburg. At present, these reinforcements are moving by rail.
Tomorrow, I will assign one of my staff officers to the headquarters of each army. These staff officers will remain with the Army Headquarters, Fourth Army, until the morning of August 20.
By making these changes in the order of battle and in the strategic plans on August 16-17, 1914, in conformity with the hostile situation, the German High Command would have created a better foundation for the Battles of the Frontiers.
To be continued …
