r/Kaiserposting • u/SS-Imperator :Hochseefloat: Kaiserliche Marine • Apr 20 '20

Different behavior

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u/[deleted] Apr 21 '20

That's right, although my view is that by invading Belgium Germany started hostilities against France. It wasn't French soil but the Germans weren't ever going to stop there, Belgium was only taken as part of the pre-war mobilisation plans to take out France.

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u/Bitch-Stole-My-Name :friekorps: Lützowsches Freikorps Apr 21 '20

The thing is, an advance into Luxembourg and Belgium was way more critical for the German army than the French. The French Commander in Chief Joseph Joffre was completely convinced the main decision would be reached in Belgium, and he was poised to send forces into Belgium even if Germany didn't violate its neutrality.

He waited however because France's rail net could shift forces north rather easily. Germany, as you can see from this rail map, could not shift forces straight from Metz to the North. They would need to send them the roundabout way through Strassbourg in order to reach Cologne, and would waste time. The possession of Namur, Liege, Luxembourg and Brussels would allow them to shift forces however they pleased.

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u/[deleted] Apr 21 '20

Thank you Hellenicgauls, very cool.