The disparity in the number of nations arrayed against the Central Powers was a common motif, and was updated as the numbers on each side increased. Italy's entry into the war on May 23, 1915 changed the numbers again.

Central Powers (top) Sultan Mohammed V of Turkey, Kaiser Wilhelm II of Germany, Kaiser Franz Joseph of Austria-Hungary. Allies (center and bottom rows) Tsar Nicholas II of Russia, King George V of the United Kingdom, President Raymond Poincaré of France, King Nikola of Montenegro, King Peter of Serbia, King Victor Emmanuel of Italy, King Albert I of Belgium, Emperor Taishō of Japan.

In the center, a poem: Drei gegen Acht, Three against Eight.

Drei gegen Acht.



Gebt Acht, Ihr “Acht”, es blitzt und kracht

und schlägt manch’ schwere Lücke.

Jung-Siegfrieds Schwert schlug unversehrt

Den Ambosz einst in Stücke.

Und Treue, Mut und Einigkeit

Geb’ uns zum Siege das Geleit.

- Richard Ott



Three against eight



Take heed, your "night" flashes and crashes

And suggests some serious gap.

Young Siegfried's sword split the anvil

Yet stayed intact.

And loyalty, courage and unity

Will lead us to victory.



Reverse:

Postmarked Frankfurt, July 21, 1915

Other views: Larger, Back

Tuesday, September 10, 1918

"Marshal Foch's plan entailed the direct participation in favourable conditions of nearly the entire Belgian Army in an important phase of the general offensive. The Sovereign gave his consent when the Marshal came to La Panne on the 9th September to offer him, in agreement with Sir Douglas Haig, command of a combined force in which the preponderant role would be reserved to our troops. The constitution of the 'Flanders Army Group' was decided—it would include the Belgian Army and the Second British Army. The French Army would be represented by the 7th Corps of three divisions and the 2nd Cavalry Corps, as well as important reinforcements of artillery.

On the following day, the 10th, at the Château de Bombom, the Marshal's residence, the King signified his approval and accepted as Major-General General Degoutte, who had distinguished himself at the head of the Sixth French Army."

Quotation Context

Allied Commander-in-Chief Ferdinand Foch was preparing for offensives along the Western Front, from the North Sea to Verdun, all to launch at the end of September, 1918. Albert, King of the Belgians, would command the Flanders Army Group described, Douglas Haig the British forces, incorporating some American units. Henri Philippe Pétain commanded the French forces, still including some American units, and John J. Pershing the American First Army.

Source

The War Diaries of Albert I King of the Belgians by Albert I, pp. 221–222, copyright © 1954, publisher: William Kimber

Tags

1918-09-10, 1918, September, Ferdinand Foch, Foch, Douglas Haig, Haig, Albert, Albert I