has anyone ever beaten france in 1914? - and general strategy WWI

[Weserübung]

I consider myself a decent gamer with this sort of games and won WWI with germany, France and Russia easily - my first 3 games of DH

But I never decisivly beat the french in 1914, like take paris. Even when I actually implement schlieffens plan by moving almost anything except the totally outdated units though BEL and into northern France they always stop me in the one provice before paris and it takes so long to wither them down there that winter comes and fortified paris is swarming with french soldiers. then it takes 1915 to fight evelasting battles to move the front past paris and by summer 1916 i encircle like 60 divisions in normandy and bretange then take brest and everything north of the loire river which breaks the french.

also I noticed that russia isnt attacking germany at all. I had less than 20 divs in the east but they pushed only into AH. Austria handles themselfs very well holding off the russians and romanians and even mangage to conquer serbia and take Rome but eventually collapse in 1916 too. Then after france an AH are gone russia offers me peace even though i havent attacking them on their territory yet. I understand that the czar wants the war to end because his people are upset with it all but russia freely offers almost all of central poland and the southern baltic lands for peace.

appreciate your input guys.

 

[Mr_B0narpte]

I'd say its impossible to capture Paris in 1914 due to land unit speed in the game, but if anyone proves me wrong, I'll shut up.

 

[Weserübung]

I'd say its impossible to capture Paris in 1914 due to land unit speed in the game, but if anyone proves me wrong, I'll shut up.

could somebody PLEASE proof him wrong - no offense Napoleon but I'd like to believe that old Schlieffen had a workable plan

not that this game could proof any of that, but thats not the issue here

 

[Mr_B0narpte]

could somebody PLEASE proof him wrong - no offense Napoleon but I'd like to believe that old Schlieffen had a workable plan

None taken, but don't forget good old Moltke! (the younger) I'm probably going to spark an argument here, but Schlieffen's plan was for 1905 not 1914! Moltke certainly helped adjust the plan to the changing realities.

 

[Gytis]

My first game as Germany I took Paris by October 1914 .

 

[Mr_B0narpte]

My first game as Germany I took Paris by October 1914 .

Screenshot and I'll shut up.

 

[Wowwars]

Screenshot and I'll shut up.

i'll shush wit the british guy if u show it.

 

[Lanassa]

could somebody PLEASE proof him wrong - no offense Napoleon but I'd like to believe that old Schlieffen had a workable plan

not that this game could proof any of that, but thats not the issue here

Ah yes, "the Schlieffen Plan". We have dismissed that claim.

 

[Weserübung]

okay the imposed execution of the plan was seemingly impossible but the plan was sound by taking into account the french fortifications and roads/railways of the adjacient countries. However in 1905 russia was still considered an ally of germany so it is very reasonable to assume that the original implementations called for a one front war against the french.

this further shows how german policy makers missed, political, diplomatic and military ones, to asset the true change in strategic situation and come up with a new plan maybe even to try and solve the two ongoing "cold wars" of germany against england because of the arms race and against france/russia over alsac-lorraine and the balkan issues in a more peaceful manner. but it isnt like decisionmakers today are that much better than back then, so I am not judging here.

btw I want that screen as proof too

 

[unmerged(343207)]

2,3 months ago I managed to do that
The trick is to make your right wing strong the French will forget your border hold no more than 15 div in east although originally you shoud have less make your commander in chief someone who improves your land units speed mobility dictorine don't forget support your army who is moving towards Paris from south the more provinces you capture south of Paris the time it takes for the French to reach there

 

[Mr_B0narpte]

Ah yes, "the Schlieffen Plan". We have dismissed that claim.

Sorry, but are you dismissing the claim that the "Schieffen Plan" could have succeeded or that it was doomed from the start? Also, who do you mean by "We"?

2,3 months ago I managed to do that

Screenshot!

 

[Lanassa]

Sorry, but are you dismissing the claim that the "Schieffen Plan" could have succeeded or that it was doomed from the start? Also, who do you mean by "We"?

Links exist for a reason! Also, referential humor.

As to whether the German military could have won WWI in 1914, I lean towards "it was unlikely and they had to get really lucky for it to work", but it was possible. I don't buy the van Creveld critique of the logistics of the plan - they were implausible-to-ridiculous, but the Germans weren't beaten in September by logistical concerns, and First and Second Armies, while exhausted and despite their poor links with the rest of the army, still weren't running low on ammunition or food. Part of it was the Germans screwing up the pursuit at the end of August, part of it was Joffre making the right redeployment moves based on his excellent position on interior lines.

 

[Gytis]

OK, I'll try to recreate this just for you guys sometime (don't have time for playing now). The trick I used was to attack with with like 70 divisions in a narrow front through Belgium, leaving little for the defense of southern France border and eastern front. Part of the task force was all of the engineered brigades and cavalry divisions I had. Together with the speed bonus of the minister this allowed to create a very speedy task force.

 

[Gytis]

Well, just to prove it's possible I occupied France at about October 8-12 (missed the exact date, but the final battle of Paris was won by 8th October and I have a screenshot dating I think 12th October). Will post the screenshot tomorrow.

What I found strange, that it's 2 weeks past it and France still didn't surrender. Are victory conditions in 1.01.1?

 

[collum]

Here, did this run just now just for the screenshots. Enjoy

If you're wondering about the east front, I left a minimal stationary line of troops there that by now in November the Russians have pushed back a bit in some places for small gains, but it isn't anything that I can't more than regain now that I have practically 90% of my divisions freed up from France being defeated now.

 

[Gytis]

I managed to take Paris before 12th October. I used different approach how it was done. Unlike Super_Ang, I chose a more northern flanking maneuver. The options were Hard/Normal. Here several pictures how it was done:



Here you see the already by 30th August my 10 division strong cavalry army is ready to thrust towards Paris bypassing most of France army.







Here you see me taking a risky move of concentrating most of army for the attack on Paris. This is, however, not as dangerous as it seems. Forces can be relatively quickly pulled both from the west and from the east of the choke point to defend against encirclement.






And here is the promised picture, Paris taken by October 1914 . Dedicated to Mr_B0narpte and Wowwars .

I have found that if you follow the Schlieffen plan, it is relatively easy. With 10 cavalry divisions, 25 eng brigades and Moltke as Chief of Staff, Germany has tools to wake it's blitzkrieg. For the attack on France left flank through Belgium I concentrated 1 cavalry army of 10 divisions and 3 engineers armies of 8 divisions, and the screening force was 9 corps of 4 divisions, meaning a total 70 divisions of task force. France can hardly can resist that. You can see from the second screenshot they even chose to attack in force through my left flank into Strasbourg, further weaking it's possitions where it matter the most - at the outskirts of Paris.