Expectations of the War

1. Expectations of the War Jemima Jakob & Liam

3. Sir John French, the British commander - was expecting to fight a knockout blow. The thought process of Sir John French was “ No previous experience … had led me to anticipate a war of positions. All my thoughts, all my prospective plans, all my possible alternatives of action, were concentrated upon a ware movement and maneuver” - Source 2.1

4. The plans for mobilization were all based on elaborate railway timetables, precisely calculated over the years. The moment The signal was given, millions of men would report at their barracks. Thousands of trains would be assembled and would proceed day after day to their allocated places. The timetables were rigid and could not be altered without months of preparation

5. The expectation of war which was shared by Europe’s political and military leaders was that they would fight a knockout blow, in the importance of speed and mobility. Austria believed that it would crush Serbia in weeks – if not days.

6. The mobilization plans had become crucial because each nations armed forces & logistical support systems were so huge. The mobilization plans had to be prepared so carefully because once they had been put into action they could not be altered.

7. Austria declared war on Russia’s companion Slav state, Serbia, the Tsar had a major decision to make. Should he order the mobilization of Russia’s forces against Austria alone, or against both Austria and Germany? Yes it can be argued because they went straight as opposed to negotiating to sort out their differences