If that former President is Theodore Roosevelt, not only would the USA go to war in some meaningful manner, Roosevelt would probably be leading those soldiers himself.
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If that former President is Theodore Roosevelt, not only would the USA go to war in some meaningful manner, Roosevelt would probably be leading those soldiers himself.
Woo, go Falkenhayn!
Wait, I'm supposed to be rooting for the Tommy.
... naah, go Falkenhayn! Leave not a single french peasant unpulverised!
Wait, I'm supposed to be rooting for the Tommy.
... naah, go Falkenhayn! Leave not a single french peasant unpulverised!
He would need no soldiers, He would punch the germans in the face, while singing AMERICA, FUCK YEAH!
He wouldn't need to punch anyone in the face. He was a forward-thinking, progressive man who was aware of America's critical weakness in the Moustache Gap. Theodore Roosevelt and Paul von Hindenburg would have a moustache duel to settle the fate of Europe, and my money is on the bull moose.
Subtle Kurtie, real subtle. I was surprised Mosley didn't suffer a tragically painful and untreatable wound in his gentleman's area, given what he deserved he got of likely. 
Subtle Kurtie, real subtle. I was surprised Mosley didn't suffer a tragically painful and untreatable wound in his gentleman's area, given what he deserved he got of likely.
I suggested that actually.
Chapter thirty-two: Verdun or the Mincing Machine
For several thousand years of warfare, a battle, however great the scale, had been a matter of hours. This was still the case in 1914, but for the exception of a few battles from the Napoleonic wars onwards -Leipzig, Gettysburg...-, which increased the span to days. The real change was inagurated by the Russo-Japanese campaign, when battles had to be measured in weeks. With the Great War the standard became months. And there was not a longer battle than Verdun, which holds the duration record, extending from January 30 to November 4, 1916 (1).
The front prior to the beginning of the Battle.
]The German way of "softening" the enemy trench line.
After being delayed for a week by, fog, heavy rain and high winds, the German offensive (codename Gericht, "Judgement") began on 20 January 1916 at 7:15 am with a ten-hour artillery bombardment by 808 guns, that fired close to 1,000,000 shells along a front about 30kms long by 5kms wide. More than half of the German artillery firing on 20 January was heavy, the most numerous guns (470 guns) being 210mm and 150mm howitzers. Twenty six super heavy long range guns, up to 420mm in caliber, were also aimed at some of the forts and the city of Verdun itself. This incessant pounding or "Trommelfeuer" ("drum fire" - a barrage fired not as salvos but rather by each gun in random succession) was the heaviest and longest artillery preparation ever inflicted since the beginning of the Great War. The ground carried the noise it produced as a rumble that was heard a hundred miles away. This massive preparation was followed by an attack by four armies. The bombardment completely pulverized the French trenches, phone lines, and artillery. French forces took massive losses during this bombardment. Some soldiers were ripped to pieces or buried underneath the earth, and human remains were seen hanging in tree branches. German forces then began their push. French forces resisted from all sides, and by the end of the first day, the Germans had suffered about 600 casualties.
French troops going intno a communication trench that would led them to the frontlines.
French soldiers attacking the enemy
By then the Germans had taken Le Mort Homme and Forts Douaumont and Vaux. Their advanced trenches were at just three miles of Verdun, but they could advance no further. This was largely accomplished by the vicious resistance of the French soldiers and the uninterrupted, night-and-day trucking along a narrow departmental road: the so-called "Voie Sacrée" which kept the French army at Verdun alive. Also, von Falkenhayn had exhausted the magre resource he could use for an offensive in the West. Then began the second part of the offensive, which von Falkenhayn claimed that was to "bleed white" the French army. During March 1916 the French failed to reoccupy Fort Douaumont. The assault had been planned by recently promoted General Robert Nivelle, who had replaced Petain -promoted to lead the overall Centre Army Group, which still included the Verdun sector, for his successful defence-. It involved also using massive artillery preparations, but failed. Then, by early May, the Germans pressed westwards in the Dijon area, but just as a distraction for a renewed onslaught against Verdun. This time, however, the French were ready and the attack came to a bloody end and von Falkenhayn retook his defensive strategy with gusto. Furthermore, he had additional reasons to stop attack, as it was obvious that the British were preparing themselves for a big operation somewhere - Ypres, apparently.
French 87th regiment in trench at Hill 34 outside Verdun
The front was to remain calm while the big Allied offensive took place, further west. Then, in October, the French launched a major counter-offensive to recapture Douaumont, which was finally taken on November 4. Thus the battle of Verdun came to an end. After almost nine months of battle, the two armies were almost back to their initial positions.
German troops at Verdun
The Battle of Verdun —also known as the Mincing Machine of Verdun or Meuse Mill— became a symbol of French determination to hold the ground and then roll back the enemy at any human cost. The fact that the French High Command had been caught unprepared by the assault in February 1916 and that, in some examples, had stuck to useless onslaughts unsoported by less guns than needed, was overlooked by the joyful France, which needed another symbol to add to the Marne.
Von Falkenhayn had failed. He had not bleeded white the French army, even he had caused more casualties than he had suffered. However, the French army was still capable of fighting and German was facing a coordinated Allied offensive on three fronts.
[GAME NOTES: Well, the IA did attack Verdun -or so so-, albeit briefly, in January, but, apparently, it did not like facing several well entrenched French divisions with some big guns, so, after some days of getting beaten, the IA stopped -wise IA. Of course, as it was January and I had to had Verdun regardeless of the opinion of the IA and seein that the German army did not move his grey ass to go for a fight -"SISSIES!!!!", that would say MY Halifax-, I prepared a dirty trick, that is, I left just a few divisions to be massacrated, as the IA only moves when it seens that the enemy is awfully week, while keeping a big pack of reserves near to race towards the attacked place to bloody the IA's nose. After a couple of times of doing that, I decided to keep the troops in place and began attacking. Then I saw June incoming and... well... you shall see...
Why did I kept attacking? For the sake of repeating -so so- history and because it was a way to get used to future "pushes". And because I was sending French soldiers to death, after all.
Just kidding, you know.
About getting used to future bloodbaths, of course
](1) Well, the real battle lasted from February to December, but the IA and me had other ideas.
(2) Does it sound familiar to you? If not, just wait a bit...
(3) Like the "Ardennes are unpassable", yeah. Is it a French tradition to get caught with their trousers down or what?
(4) A British called French, a French called Herr, a German called François and a Russian called von Rennenkampf... [INSERT YOUR RANT HERE]
(5) Well, he was already there, so, why not using him?
@Nathan Madien: It was too obvious, methinks... Yes, I have a soft spot for Teddy since he kicked Spain out of Cuba
(bearing in mind that with the lost Spain also lost the Phillipines, were not for the dead, one could argue that it was a bargain ), so, I couldn't allow Wilson and his petty arguments to drive me mad. If someone has to make me go nuts, Teddy will be the man!@quaazi: He tried, he tried...
@yourworstnightm: And with just one hand, as with the other would be busy with his cigar.
@c0d5579: That would be a show to see!
@El Pip: I was tempted, Pip, I was very tempted, but, as he cannot feel anything from his navel downward, I decided to allow him to keep his balls.
For the use he's going to make of them... I'm sorry for the FIA, but it's going to look for another president. Two birds down with a single shot, I guess...@trekaddict: Yes, he did.
@Nathan Madien (2):
That settles the question, methinks
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Business as usual then. Blimey, this war is depressing!
I cannot even distinguish the individual soliders in the 87th regiment.
I cannot even distinguish the individual soliders in the 87th regiment.
Aww, you be mean.
Bleeding others dry while having your own units resting and drinking tea.
Bleeding others dry while having your own units resting and drinking tea.
Well that went well.
You'd hope the BEF has learnt from that. At this stage a good plan would be; ridiculous barrage, advance to the edge of artillery range, dig in, buy some more shells, repeat. Not the most cunning of plans, but it's got to be better than the alternatives. Mind you I suppose such a plan wouldn't maintain the vital 'pressure' on the Germans that is necessary to stop them forcing the French from the war.
Are we sure that just letting Germany keep Belgium and vast swathes of Northern France is really a bad idea? I would happily take the damage to national prestige and influence of just quitting the war (perhaps with the bribe of keeping all of Germany's overseas colonies..) in exchange for keeping a few hundred thousand men alive.
You'd hope the BEF has learnt from that. At this stage a good plan would be; ridiculous barrage, advance to the edge of artillery range, dig in, buy some more shells, repeat. Not the most cunning of plans, but it's got to be better than the alternatives. Mind you I suppose such a plan wouldn't maintain the vital 'pressure' on the Germans that is necessary to stop them forcing the French from the war.
Are we sure that just letting Germany keep Belgium and vast swathes of Northern France is really a bad idea? I would happily take the damage to national prestige and influence of just quitting the war (perhaps with the bribe of keeping all of Germany's overseas colonies..) in exchange for keeping a few hundred thousand men alive.
Aye. Lets hope Haig and the army figure out right quick that at the moment advances should only be done under cover of excessive artillery fire.
As for Belgium and France...somehow I don't think Germany will be satisfied with ONLY the land conquered right now...I think they'd ask for some British colonies and hefty 'reparations' as a price of gaining peace with Germania. I think if this years offensives fail, you'd see part of the Empire willing to take such a deal...the question is, would the Germans offer it?
The blockade must be biting viciously tight at the moment, without even a notional threat from the High Seas Fleet the Royal Navy must be running a close blockade. Germany's position really isn't that strong, though I concede the leadership may not be bright enough to realise that fact - they don't strike me as the kind of chaps who are that bothered about the population starving all around them.
True, but sooner or later even they should notice a large angry mob gathered outside their headquarters.
@Nathan Madien (2):
That settles the question, methinks
If looks could kill, Teddy could crush Germany in one or two blows.
Just Germany? Hell that's the look of a man who could crush the entire Central Powers in a couple of blows.
How on earth did Wilson ever beat a 'tache like that in 1912?
Not to distract you from this hirsutitude, kurt, but I could not help but notice that we are now in 1916. Does this mod include events for certain activities occurring around Easter of the year, particularly in say the Dublin area, and the subsequent scandalous prosecution and execution of the humanitarian, Sir Roger Casement, by a most egregious government?
Not to distract you from this hirsutitude, kurt, but I could not help but notice that we are now in 1916. Does this mod include events for certain activities occurring around Easter of the year, particularly in say the Dublin area, and the subsequent scandalous prosecution and execution of the humanitarian, Sir Roger Casement, by a most egregious government?
Yes, there is an event dealing with Ireland and some kind of "party", as we shall see in the next installement, among some other things...
Guess Verdun will always be Verdun, slaughter for the sake of slaughter. Both Napoleon and Moltke the Elder must have turned in their graves over the handling of that 'battle'.
Guess TR as president would mean more American soldiers in Europe, and a lot earlier to boot. They could even be spared Pershings command, as I think TR would prefer his friend Wood to lead the expeditionary force. The fact that Pershing both refused to learn about trench warfare from the British and French and that he threw away hundreds of American lives, ordering assaults on German positions just hours before the armistice make me have a rather low opinion of the mans skill.
Guess TR as president would mean more American soldiers in Europe, and a lot earlier to boot. They could even be spared Pershings command, as I think TR would prefer his friend Wood to lead the expeditionary force. The fact that Pershing both refused to learn about trench warfare from the British and French and that he threw away hundreds of American lives, ordering assaults on German positions just hours before the armistice make me have a rather low opinion of the mans skill.