Mike Irwin
Member
I'm still looking through my references for an order of battle for the First Battle of the Marne, but I think your characterization of Joffre is absolutely and totally incorrect, Vladimir.
There is no way in hell that any French general would have allowed Paris to be taken, especially not by Germany, without a serious, and protracted fight.
Had Joffre not planned on standing before Paris, he simply would have ordered Gallieni to move his troops out of the city -- Joffre was commander in chief of the French army, Gallieni was subordinate.
As it originally panned out, the French initially were preparing to hold Paris against siege, if necessary, but when the French struck, and stalled the German envelopment advance outside Paris, the defending troops were moved from defense to offense.
At that time only the French government had moved out of Paris, to Bordeaux, in case of a siege or envelopment of the city.
There is no way in hell that any French general would have allowed Paris to be taken, especially not by Germany, without a serious, and protracted fight.
Had Joffre not planned on standing before Paris, he simply would have ordered Gallieni to move his troops out of the city -- Joffre was commander in chief of the French army, Gallieni was subordinate.
As it originally panned out, the French initially were preparing to hold Paris against siege, if necessary, but when the French struck, and stalled the German envelopment advance outside Paris, the defending troops were moved from defense to offense.
At that time only the French government had moved out of Paris, to Bordeaux, in case of a siege or envelopment of the city.