Battle of the borders

The battles of the Borders was held between the 10 and the August 28th 1914. It includes/understands three axes in the Ardennes, in Lorraine and Alsace.

Strategic idea

The strategic idea of the French command is integral part of the Plan XVII. She is to attack of face the German troops concentrated along the Franco-German border, to carry overall Alsace and Lorraine with, for final intention, to be established on left bank of the Rhine and to counter by the side a possible German offensive in Belgium.

Unfolding

In Alsace

Strategic intention

French side, it acts to take foot in Alsace to be established along the the Rhine within the framework of the Plan XVII. This offensive has a particular political significance to mark the return of France in the annexed provinces.

German side, it is necessary to limit any intrusion of the French Armies on the German territory. This concern is not new. As of 1870, the Reich made a very particular effort to prepare a possible return of the French, in particular by the installation of fortifications, initially around Strasbourg, then in the area of Mutzig then the installation of a strategic railway network semi-civilian, semi-soldier whose objective is to be able to supply more easily of possible combatants in Piedmont of the the Vosges.

Course of the battle

Involved forces

With dimensions French

Alsace is under the responsibility of the I {{Re}} Armée which is divided between the two simultaneous efforts that it must make towards the east and north. An army of Alsace or VII {{E}} Armée ordered by the general Paul Pau is formed on August 10th, starting from the 7 {{E}} Army corps taken with the I {{Re}} Armée with Yvon Dubail. The 7th Body which is composed of the 14 {{E}} and of the 41 {{E}} DI receives in reinforcement the 44 {{E}} DI, the 57 {{E}}, 63 {{E}} and 66 {{E}} DI of reserve, the 8 {{E}} Division of Cavalry and the 116e brigade of infantry.

With dimensions German

The battle

Plan XVII initially envisaged that part of the First army enters to Alsace by Belfort Gap and the Collar of Schlucht for Colmar, for, in the second time, to go on the bridges on the Rhine, to cut them and hold the head of bridge of Last nines Brisach. As of on August 4th, the movement starts. August 7th, VIIe Army corps emerges in High-Alsace and enters to Mulhouse. A counter-attack coming from Cernay obliges it to be withdrawn on Belfort. August 10th, the new Army of Alsace penetrates again in Mulhouse and runs up against a line of defense Brisach Colmar-Nine. August 25th, it is withdrawn. It dissolved and is then cut into two. A part (VIIe CA and 63°DR) share for Amiens in order to reinforce the left wing of the device. The elements which remain to him move back on a Col line of Catch-Belfort with for mission of keeping the line of Crete of the Vosges. In spite of combat violent one, the frontline thus described remains appreciably the same one until 1918

In Lorraine

The objective for the Germans is to close again the Belgian clipper by the south, by avoiding the strengthened places of the Système Séré de Rivières (Verdun, Toul, Epinal, Belfort).

For the state French major it is a question of advancing until Saarbrucken, to be able to be pressed along the Saar until the success of the offensive on Luxembourg of the III {{E}} Armée.

Ordered by the general Yvon Dubail, the I {{Re}} French Army operates in the east of Lorraine. More in the west, of Pont-à-Mousson to Blâmont, the II {{E}} Armée is ordered by the general Edouard de Castelnau. More with north, to cover Metz and the top of Meuse, the Armée with Lorraine is made up between the 17 and on August 26th under the direction of the major generals Paul Durand then Michel Maunoury it will be then dissolved and its manpower will form the VI {{E}} Armée. These troops are opposed to the German armed Life and VIIe.

After six day of progression beyond the border of 1870, the second army is taken August 19th and 20th in the Bataille of Morhange which makes close to 8 000 died in the two camps. Subjected to heavy artillery rammings, it must be folded up in direction of Lunéville, Saint-Nicolas-of-Port and Large-Crowned (heights in the east of Nancy).

When against Armed Anger, on August 20th it runs up against the troop German placed in defensive on the heights north of the Saar, Bataille of Sarrebourg, French must move back of about fifteen kilometers. But they manage to preserve their positions more at the east towards Donon, and the losses were heavy with dimensions German. However, following the failure of IIe Armed, they are likely to be made overflow by the west. August 21st, Dubail must give the order to be folded up on Blâmont.

August 23rd, IIe French Army folded up Seille behind. German begins an offensive then aiming at boring the Trouée Charms to seize Nancy and Toul by avoiding the strengthened zones. The German projection is stopped on August 29th after many combat. Follow then a few days of respites or the two camps reorganize. From the September 4th, the Bataille begins from Large Crowned, advanced French, which lasts until the 13. The face of Lorraine is stabilized then for the four following years.

In the south east, towards Saint-Dié, the Bataille of High Meurthe is held simultaneously. Here also Armed Anger manages to contain the German progression, then to stabilize the face after an operation of German retirement September 12th and 13rd.

In Belgium

The battle of the borders takes very an other form there. The Plan XVII is not held as envisaged. Indeed, when the general Joffre learns that the Germans penetrated in Belgium, he reorientates the V {{E}} Armée with the Général Lanrezac towards North to cover the French Army against the turning movement that the 3 German armies undertook within the framework of the Plan Schlieffen. The only part of the operation which belongs to the battle of the borders as such is thus the reorientation of Ve Armée towards North, its displacement in Belgium even and its installation in defensive along the valley of Sambre and the Meuse between Dining and Charleroi to meet the Germans there on favorable positions. It is what occurs the August 20th 1914, within the framework of the Bataille of Charleroi. On its left, the British Task force (BEF) is installed on the channel of the Center in the area of Mons

In the Ardennes

August 24th, the French troops (4th army) fold up and give an opinion in particular on Sedan and its surroundings. Dice on August 25th the German troops, IIe armed, tackle the French positions. The German attacks are pushed back by French artillery massed on the heights of the village of Frénois. August 26th the German troops pass the Meuse in several places such as Donchery, Iges… occupy Sedan the French troops gather on the forest plate of Marfée and the Mount Coix Piot. Rough combat are held on Méziéres. Some attempts at against attacks are carried out until August 29th date on which on order of the Joffre general the 4th army beats a retreat, of the combat of late guards will still take place in the surroundings of Rethel. (The department of the Ardennes will be the only one with being entirely occupied during the 4 years of war.)

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