The Guns Of August

From August 20-24, four major battles are fought on the Western Front. In Lorraine the French bruise and batter themselves against dug-in German forces, finally retreating from a battle that will ultimately signal the end of the offensive strategy and turn the war to the trenches. The Germans, tasting victory, mount a counteroffensive under Rupprecht.

At the same time, a second major battle begins as Joffre orders an attack through the Ardennes, still thinking of the decisive victory. All along that front, battles erupt in the dark forest. In some places, German machine guns, entrenched, again mow down the advancing French. In other places, the French artillery is able to destroy the Germans, but everywhere, no matter the victor, bodies pile up. The French believe they have numerical superiority, but in fact it is the opposite, and the French attack breaks.

On the Sambre, a river that runs through Belgium and France, the third major battle has also begun, though it is actually two battles. Because of poor communication, the British and French troops will fight two different battles, at Charleroi and Mons, only thirty-five miles apart. French General Lanrezac is ordered to attack but knows he is outnumbered badly. The Germans, with their big guns, open fire on Belgian troops at Namur.