Moltke Biography and Timeline

Chief of Staff

Appointed Chief of Staff by Prince Wihelm

Mobilization

Mobilizes the German forces, uses the same plan against the Austrians in 1866

Role range: 1870-1871

Battle of Sedan

French defeat followed by the fall of Paris. Deputed by William to accept the surrender of the French. Commands a hill top over the Meuse valley looking into Sedan 2 miles away. Arrives with 150,000 , travelling 50 miles in 3 days through the Argonne Forest

Role range: 1870-1871

Siege of Paris

Paris is surrounded, Moltke believes it can be starved out in 6 weeks

Role range: 1870-1871

Siege of Paris

Moltke & the Crown Prince join forces at St-Germain-en-Laye

Role range: 1870-1871

Chief of General Staff

Appointed Chief-of General Staff

Role range: 1870-1871

Chief of General Staff

Appointed Chief of Staff, right hand man of the Commander in Chief, the King

Invasion of Russia

To avoid war on two fronts develops a strategy for invading Russia & then France

Quartermaster General

Appointed Quartermaster General

Chief of General Staff

Appointed Chief of the General Staff, nephew of General von Moltke

Telegrams the Austrian Chief of Staff to mobilize at once against the

Telegrams the Austrian Chief of Staff to mobilize at once against the Russians

Role range: 1914-1918

German High Command Assesses Antwerp Threat

Helmuth von Moltke and the German high command evaluate Belgian offensive activity from Antwerp. The threat to German communications influences decisions about reserve deployments.

Role range: 1914-1918

Capture of Amiens

Germany captures Amiens

Role range: 1914-1918

Siege of Nancy

Calls off Prince Ruprechts siege of Nancy

Role range: 1914-1918

Battle of Marne, 1st

Orders a retreat of 65 km to the River Aisne. Establishes a new line of defence & ends hope of a short war

Role range: 1914-1918

German Staff Reviews Troop Transfers from Belgium

German headquarters considers transferring forces from Belgium to the main western front while preserving enough troops to contain Antwerp. Repeated Belgian sorties complicate the allocation of reserves.

Role range: 1914-1918

Capture of Antwerp

Antwerp surrenders to the Germans

Role range: 1914-1918

Battle of Marne, 1st

Carries out the Schlieffen Plan but is defeated at the Battle of the Marne

Role range: 1914-1918

Dismissal

Carries out the Schlieffen Plan but is defeated at the Battle of the Marne

Role range: 1914-1918

Invasion of France

France will be defeated in 6 weeks then Germany will concentrate on Russia

Role range: 1914-1918

Invasion of Poland

Launches war on 2 fronts by invading Poland along the "Polish tongue"

Role range: 1914-1918

Invasion of Russia

France will be defeated in 6 weeks then Germany will concentrate on Russia

Role range: 1914-1918

Plan-Schlieffen

Carries out the Schlieffen Plan but is defeated at the Battle of the Marne

Role range: 1914-1918

Schlieffen Plan

Moves 2 divisions to Alsace-Lorraine & the Russian Front. Makes plans to invade France on 2 fronts mainly through Belgium & then invading Russia. Launches the Schlieffen Plan but fights on 2 fronts. France will be defeated in 6 weeks then Germany will concentrate on Russia. Alters the original right & left wing proportions from 2:1 to 3:1

Role range: 1914-1918