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Postcard image of Kaiser Wilhelm II and Kaiser Franz Joseph, in the Secessionist style. The men are in a hexagonal lozenge, an image that may have been drawn from them riding in a carriage. Kaiser Wilhelm is wearing the uniform and shako of the Death's Head Hussars. Above the image, the word "Völkerkrieg" (people's war); below "1914; In Treue Fest" (fixed in loyalty).

Postcard of Kaiser Wilhelm II and Kaiser Franz Joseph, in the Secessionist style. Kaiser Wilhelm is wearing the uniform and shako of the Death's Head Hussars.

Image text

Völkerkrieg (people's war)

1914; In Treue Fest



People's War

Firm in Loyalty

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Friday, November 13, 1914

"Decision to Break Off the Flanders Offensive

Inundations, skillfully managed by the Belgians, put an end to the attack of the German right wing, which was making good progress and bore the main pressure. The young army corps further South fought with incomparable enthusiasm and unexcelled heroism. The disadvantages of their urgent and hasty formation and training, and the fact that they were led by older and for the most part retired officers, as others were not to be had, naturally made themselves felt. In particular there were deficiencies in the new field-artillery formations, a fact that was emphasized by the shortage of ammunition. At the beginning of November, G.H.Q. could not conceal from itself that a further thorough-going success was no longer to be obtained here, particularly in the inundated area, in the face of an opponent who was continually growing stronger.

. . . After the East had been provided with all the reserves at hand, both of men and ammunition, the forces in the West were no longer sufficient . . ."

Quotation Context

Conclusion of General Erich von Falkenhayn Chief of the German General Staff in early November 1914. The Allies had defeated the Germans in the Battle of Flanders, the Belgians on the Yser at the end of October, the British and French at Ypres. The last great German attack in the campaign was on November 11. In the East, a German-Austro-Hungarian advance in September and October, almost to the gates of Warsaw was reversed by the Russians, requiring Falkanhayn to send men and supplies to the Eastern Front, and to entrench on the Western Front.

Source

General Headquarters and its Critical Decisions, 1914-1916 by Erich von Falkenhayn, pp. 35, 36, copyright © 1920 by Dodd, Mead and Company, Inc., publisher: Dodd, Mead and Company, Inc., publication date: 1920

Tags

Falkenhayn, 1914, November, 1914-11-13