Trap for Russia. 105 years ago the First World War began
105 years ago, 28 July 1914, the First World War began. Blaming Belgrade for Serbs behind the assassination of Archduke Ferdinand, Austria-Hungary attacked Serbia. Russia declared that it would not allow the occupation of Serbia, and began mobilization. 1 August Germany declared war on Russia.
Nicholas II announces the beginning of the war with Germany from the balcony of the Winter Palace. 20 July (2 August) 1914
By the beginning of the First World War, the crisis of the capitalist predatory system began. The system crisis of the West. The great powers of the West divided the whole world among themselves, the new “living space” was no longer there. Both America, Asia, Africa, Australia, the big islands were mastered. Western parasites (financial and banking houses) of the West controlled most of the planet. Created the most effective parasitic system of global robbery of countries and peoples. Financial International built its world order — the global slave-owning system.
Everybody got into slave dependency on the global parasite. Including the Ottoman Empire (the core of the then Muslim world), Indian and Chinese civilizations, Korea and Japan. Only autocratic Russia, the Russian civilization, in which the networks of global parasites were weak, remained. This did not suit the masters of England and the USA (in London and Washington the “command center” of the Western world was located).
The first serious crisis of capitalism began. To maintain the existence of the parasitic system (vampire, predatory) it was necessary to constantly expand, to draw into the "financial pyramid" new victims, donor clients, new countries and peoples. And those no longer left. The gigantic pyramid cracked at the seams. The parasite urgently needed a new “living space”. A victim was assigned to Russia, the Russian people, who had successfully resisted the West for a thousand years. The collapse and plundering of the Russian Empire allowed the West to continue to exist. Also, the owners of London and Washington decided to eliminate competitors within the most western project - to destroy and rob the German world, the Austro-Hungarian and German empires. In addition, the Balkans and the Ottoman Empire were destroyed.
To foment war, they used Germany and Austria-Hungary. In this way, World War solved several important problems.
First, the West solved the “Russian question” - destroyed, dismembered Russia, destroyed and crossed out stories Russian, the most rebellious and dangerous people on the planet. A nation that bears an alternative to the global slave-owning civilization is life based on conscience and justice, co-flourishing of peoples and tribes.
Secondly, it was possible to forget about the crisis of capitalism at the expense of the total robbery of victims and the restructuring of the world system.
Thirdly, the owners of the USA and England destroyed the competitors inside the western project. Destroyed the German world, put him in the position of "junior partner." They destroyed the monarchies, introduced "democracy" (in fact, plutocracy - the domination of the rich oligarchs, bank houses). The Islamic world was subjected to the same destruction and robbery.
Fourth, by destroying Germany and Russia, the Anglo-Saxons could build their world order. Sustainable global slave pyramid. The world of gentlemen- "chosen" and "two-legged tools", slaves-consumers.
Thus, the First World War was a trap, a trap for Russia. Russian society had a lot of internal problems, contradictions, but in order to blow up the empire, a fuse was needed, a detonator. This detonator and became a world war. The best minds of Russia like Stolypin, Durnovo, Rasputin understood this very well. Warned about this. The Russian people did not need this war. It was necessary to fight for the interests of the United States, Britain and France. Russian used as "cannon fodder". We had no fundamental contradictions with Germany, the Germans and the Russians could live very well in peace, friendship and cooperation. At the same time, the strategic alliance of Russia and Germany was mortally dangerous for the owners of Paris, London and Washington. Russians and Germans (German and Slavic worlds) could create a huge continental zone of prosperity.
Our external enemies and internal ones (Westerners, Freemasons, the “fifth column”) thwarted all attempts to bring Russia and Germany closer. They torpedoed the Björk 1905 Treaty of the Year. A huge role in this matter was played by the Western agent of influence, the Russian Westernizer-reformer Witte. In return, Russia in 1907 was finally dragged into the Entente. From this point on, meaningless, insane and suicidal war for us has become a matter of time and technology. Russia was cynically used by the masters of the West in their strategic interests. Strain Russian with the Germans. Formally, Russia was the "ally" of England and France, in fact, from the very beginning it was prepared as a victim, sentenced to destruction.
The crisis of capitalism, of the Western world, predetermined all the major military-political, economic, and national-historical contradictions between the leading powers. By the beginning of 1914, there were major contradictions: Anglo-German, French-German, Russian-Austrian, Russian-German, and Austro-Italian. A whole tangle of contradictions took shape in the Balkans: the interests of the Balkan countries, Turkey, Russia, Austria-Hungary, Germany, France and England were tied up there.
These contradictions were manifested by two military-political blocs: the Triple Alliance - Germany, Austria-Hungary and Italy (Rome gradually settled down from the Germans), created back in 1879-1882, and the Entente - the union of England, France and Russia. In 1891-1893 The Franco-Russian alliance was issued. In 1904-1907, after the resolution of a number of mutual contradictions, the Anglo-French and Anglo-Russian agreements were signed.
World War was also preceded by a series of conflicts and local, regional wars, which set the stage for a major war. So, in the 1870-s, Russia did not allow Germany to finish off France. In response, in 1878, Russia did not receive the support of Germany at the Berlin Congress following the outcome of the next Russian-Turkish war. Cooling begins between Berlin and Petersburg. Germany makes an alliance with Austria-Hungary (its former traditional enemy) to create a counterweight to Russia. Germany makes a number of colonial seizures. A young German colonial empire is being created, a German fleet is being built, which is disturbing Britain. Germany was late for the division of the colonial "pie" and dissatisfied. The interests of the German and British colonialists clash in Africa and Turkey. The German capitalist predator needs a new “living space”.
The British fought in Afghanistan. Russia conquered Turkestan. Russian and British interests clashed in Central Asia and Persia. Against the background of the growing threat from the German Empire, France is making every effort to ally with Russia. Russia because of the Balkan crisis, the contradictions with Austria-Hungary, the Russian-German economic contradictions and the collapse of the Union of Three Emperors (Russia, Austria and Germany), is coming closer to France.
In Asia, a new predator is emerging - the Japanese Empire. She is pursuing a policy of enslaving Korea, claiming her share of the pie in China. In 1894 - 1895 Japan is smashing China. However, the West, using the Japanese to “hack” Korea and China, does not allow it to receive all the fruits of victory. Japan’s interests are limited. At the same time, the West substitutes Russia. Russian and Japanese bleed. In Japan, they believe that the main offender, who did not allow the Japanese to end the seizure of Chinese territories and Korea, is Russia. Japan begins preparations for war with Russia. In this case, her full support was provided by England and the USA. The owners of London and Washington use Japan as a "ram" against Russia. Russian-Japanese War 1904-1905 becomes a kind of rehearsal of world war. The masters of the West were able to weaken Russia's position in the Far East and again turn its attention to Europe and the Balkans.
In 1898, the US is ravaging the old colonial power - Spain. Americans capture Cuba, Puerto Rico and the Philippines. In doing so, the US is strengthening its strategic position in the Caribbean and the Pacific. Americans seize the Isthmus of Panama, pushing the European powers in South America. In 1899, Washington proclaimed the “Open Door” policy (Hay Doctrine) in China. Americans demand free trade and free entry of capital in China. With a powerful economy, the United States offered "free trade", so they could force out other Western predators and Japan. The United States begins global politics in preparation for the seizure of world leadership. For this they need a world war that will weaken the old great powers, including Britain. At the same time, Washington planned to use the war in Europe for enrichment (the United States during the war turned from a world debtor into a world creditor), and intervene in it at the final stage in order to get the maximum benefit.
London, fearing the rapid economic, military and naval strengthening of Germany, begins to look for "cannon fodder" for the war in Europe. Against the background of the threat from Germany, the Anglo-French Entente was created in 1904. The British and French forget about their past and modern contradictions in order to resist the Germans. Attempts of Russia and Germany to get closer at the end of 1904 (Berlin rendered a number of signs listening to Russia during the war with Japan) in 1905 were thwarted. In 1907, Russia entered into agreements with England. Petersburg recognized the protectorate of Britain over Afghanistan; both sides recognized China’s sovereignty over Tibet and abandoned attempts to establish control over it; Persia (Iran) was divided into three zones - Russian in the north, British in the south and neutral in the center of the country.
The situation in the Balkans is getting worse. The seizure of Bosnia and Herzegovina by Austria-Hungary in 1908 caused the Bosnian crisis, which almost caused a big war. Serbia and Montenegro are willing to start a war against the Austrians. Berlin is willing to support Vienna. Austria-Hungary is preparing a war against Serbia. Under pressure from Russia, which is not ready for war with Germany and Austria-Hungary on two fronts, Belgrade is inferior. Russia is suffering a major diplomatic defeat in the Balkans. Thus, a rehearsal of the explosion of the “powder magazine” of Europe was held. In 1909, the war was avoided. In particular, the head of the Russian government, Stolypin, spoke out categorically against the war with Germany and Austria-Hungary, stating that "to unleash a war is to unleash the forces of the revolution." In 1911, Stolypin will be killed and there will be nobody to reason with Nicholas II in 1914.
In Berlin, they are inclined to believe that it is necessary to defeat France and Russia in order to take dominant positions in Europe and in a large part of the world. At the same time, the German ruling circles were completely convinced that Britain would remain neutral. The British did everything that the Germans retained this illusion until the very beginning of the war. In Austria-Hungary, the “war party” was confident that a victorious war would calm the society, preserve the “patchwork empire”, and allow it to make new conquests in the Balkans. Especially in Vienna, they wanted to crush Serbia. The murder of the heir to the throne, Franz Ferdinand, who was opposed to the war, led to the victory of the "war party".
Meanwhile, the Balkans are still seething. During the First Balkan War 1912, Bulgaria, Serbia, Montenegro and Greece are ravaging Turkey. Turks lose almost all their possessions in Europe. Then the allies can not divide the prey (in particular, the Macedonian question). In 1913, the Second Balkan War begins. Bulgaria begins the war for Macedonia with Serbia, Montenegro and Greece. Romania and Turkey are also opposing Bulgaria, wishing to profit at the expense of the Bulgarians. Bulgaria defeated, loses all the territories captured during the First Balkan War and, moreover, Southern Dobrudja. In the Balkans, there are new controversial issues. As a result, Turkey and Bulgaria, wanting to take revenge, are leaning towards the German bloc.
Military-political alliances in Europe before the beginning of the First World War. Source: https://ru.wikipedia.org
All the great powers were preparing for war. Russia recovered from the war with Japan, carried out a number of changes in the armed forces. But its military and naval programs were not completed. Russia had a good cadre army, a strong officer corps. The problem was in trained reserves. After the destruction of the personnel core of the army, its fighting qualities plummeted. In addition, the Crimean War, the war with Turkey 1877-1878. and the Japanese campaign 1904-1905's. showed the depressing quality of the generals, high command. The big problem, especially after it became clear that the war would be protracted, was the situation with the military-industrial complex of the empire. Russia did not have time to become an industrial power. During the war, all major types weapons and equipment will have to be purchased abroad, becoming dependent on the "allies", wasting the gold reserves of the state.
Germany was best prepared for 1914. Her army was stronger than the Russian and French. The Germans had the advantage in heavy field artillery, in military equipment and the organization of the army. The German Empire, unlike opponents, could set up fairly well-trained reserves. The high degree of training of reserve parts was caused by the presence of a powerful officer and non-commissioned officer corps, the presence of a stock of weapons and the corresponding organization. Also, the Second Reich had the most developed network of railways best prepared for military transport and could quickly maneuver forces from the Western to the Eastern Front and vice versa. The military industry of Germany surpassed the Russian and French, taken together, not yielding to the military potential of the entire Entente, together with England.
The Austro-Hungarian military potential was low. However, it was believed in Berlin and Vienna that it would be enough to occupy the Balkans (defeat Serbia) and hold back Russia until the approach of the German divisions, which in the first stage of the war divided France.
France had a strong army, powerful fortresses on the border. The colonies had a large amount of manpower. However, the French wanted revenge, overestimated their forces, prepared for a decisive offensive, and not for active defense. Although they had to wait for the active offensive of Russia on the Eastern Front, the arrival of British troops, reserves from the colonies, complete the restructuring of the economy and the rear on military tracks. The British expeditionary mission was small (only six divisions), but of good quality. In general, the British planned to use Russians, French, Serbs, etc. as cannon fodder on the continent. There was also their own cannon fodder - in the colonies and dominions there was a large supply of manpower, but little or no training. In India there was a native army (about 160 thousand people). Part of these forces could be transferred to Europe, but this took time. Britain's strength was in her navy, which made it possible to block the German Navy in ports and cut off the Second Reich from sources of raw materials and resources. This allowed the capture of isolated German colonies. British industry made it possible to equate the potential of the Entente's military industry with that of Germany.
On the sea, the Entente, despite the best efforts of Germany, possessed considerable superiority. The British fleet was still the most powerful in the world. The British had 30 dreadnoughts, France and Russia - on 7. Germany and Austria could set the 24 dreadnought. The combined fleet of the Entente had even greater advantage over obsolete armadillos, armored cruisers, high-speed light cruisers. The superiority of the Entente at sea allowed Germany and Austria-Hungary to be blocked, to cut off their sea communications, colonies, sources of raw materials and resources. The German bloc had to rely only on its resources, accumulated reserves and raw materials, food resources of South-Eastern Europe and the Ottoman Empire. The Entente also had enormous human and material resources of Russia, the colonial empires of Britain and France, and the whole world was at their service. Dominion of the sea, sea communications turned the United States into a logistical base, arsenal and treasury of the Entente.
Thus, in a protracted war, full advantage was on the side of the Entente. True, in 1914, very few people thought about it. The governments and general staffs of all great powers counted on a short war. Germany was in a hurry to start a war before Russia completed the modernization of the armed forces. In Berlin, they planned to crush France with a powerful blow while Russia was still going to war. Then, together with Austria-Hungary to solve the Russian question. The Germans relied on the superiority of their training and speed of action. At the same time in Berlin, they counted on the help of Italy, or at least on friendly neutrality, and on the fact that England would not enter the war. For France and especially Russia, it was advisable to wait a few years to complete the military programs. It took time for the advantage of the Entente in human and material resources to affect the fronts.
On the whole, Russia generally had to avoid entering into a big war that was strategically beneficial to the masters of the West. The war led to the death of the cadre army — the last support of the autocracy, provoked the hatred of the people who did not need this war, and led to the intensification of a heterogeneous “fifth column”, to revolution.
Russian poster 1914 of the year
To be continued ...
Nicholas II announces the beginning of the war with Germany from the balcony of the Winter Palace. 20 July (2 August) 1914
Wolf Pit for Russia
By the beginning of the First World War, the crisis of the capitalist predatory system began. The system crisis of the West. The great powers of the West divided the whole world among themselves, the new “living space” was no longer there. Both America, Asia, Africa, Australia, the big islands were mastered. Western parasites (financial and banking houses) of the West controlled most of the planet. Created the most effective parasitic system of global robbery of countries and peoples. Financial International built its world order — the global slave-owning system.
Everybody got into slave dependency on the global parasite. Including the Ottoman Empire (the core of the then Muslim world), Indian and Chinese civilizations, Korea and Japan. Only autocratic Russia, the Russian civilization, in which the networks of global parasites were weak, remained. This did not suit the masters of England and the USA (in London and Washington the “command center” of the Western world was located).
The first serious crisis of capitalism began. To maintain the existence of the parasitic system (vampire, predatory) it was necessary to constantly expand, to draw into the "financial pyramid" new victims, donor clients, new countries and peoples. And those no longer left. The gigantic pyramid cracked at the seams. The parasite urgently needed a new “living space”. A victim was assigned to Russia, the Russian people, who had successfully resisted the West for a thousand years. The collapse and plundering of the Russian Empire allowed the West to continue to exist. Also, the owners of London and Washington decided to eliminate competitors within the most western project - to destroy and rob the German world, the Austro-Hungarian and German empires. In addition, the Balkans and the Ottoman Empire were destroyed.
To foment war, they used Germany and Austria-Hungary. In this way, World War solved several important problems.
First, the West solved the “Russian question” - destroyed, dismembered Russia, destroyed and crossed out stories Russian, the most rebellious and dangerous people on the planet. A nation that bears an alternative to the global slave-owning civilization is life based on conscience and justice, co-flourishing of peoples and tribes.
Secondly, it was possible to forget about the crisis of capitalism at the expense of the total robbery of victims and the restructuring of the world system.
Thirdly, the owners of the USA and England destroyed the competitors inside the western project. Destroyed the German world, put him in the position of "junior partner." They destroyed the monarchies, introduced "democracy" (in fact, plutocracy - the domination of the rich oligarchs, bank houses). The Islamic world was subjected to the same destruction and robbery.
Fourth, by destroying Germany and Russia, the Anglo-Saxons could build their world order. Sustainable global slave pyramid. The world of gentlemen- "chosen" and "two-legged tools", slaves-consumers.
Thus, the First World War was a trap, a trap for Russia. Russian society had a lot of internal problems, contradictions, but in order to blow up the empire, a fuse was needed, a detonator. This detonator and became a world war. The best minds of Russia like Stolypin, Durnovo, Rasputin understood this very well. Warned about this. The Russian people did not need this war. It was necessary to fight for the interests of the United States, Britain and France. Russian used as "cannon fodder". We had no fundamental contradictions with Germany, the Germans and the Russians could live very well in peace, friendship and cooperation. At the same time, the strategic alliance of Russia and Germany was mortally dangerous for the owners of Paris, London and Washington. Russians and Germans (German and Slavic worlds) could create a huge continental zone of prosperity.
Our external enemies and internal ones (Westerners, Freemasons, the “fifth column”) thwarted all attempts to bring Russia and Germany closer. They torpedoed the Björk 1905 Treaty of the Year. A huge role in this matter was played by the Western agent of influence, the Russian Westernizer-reformer Witte. In return, Russia in 1907 was finally dragged into the Entente. From this point on, meaningless, insane and suicidal war for us has become a matter of time and technology. Russia was cynically used by the masters of the West in their strategic interests. Strain Russian with the Germans. Formally, Russia was the "ally" of England and France, in fact, from the very beginning it was prepared as a victim, sentenced to destruction.
The alignment of forces
The crisis of capitalism, of the Western world, predetermined all the major military-political, economic, and national-historical contradictions between the leading powers. By the beginning of 1914, there were major contradictions: Anglo-German, French-German, Russian-Austrian, Russian-German, and Austro-Italian. A whole tangle of contradictions took shape in the Balkans: the interests of the Balkan countries, Turkey, Russia, Austria-Hungary, Germany, France and England were tied up there.
These contradictions were manifested by two military-political blocs: the Triple Alliance - Germany, Austria-Hungary and Italy (Rome gradually settled down from the Germans), created back in 1879-1882, and the Entente - the union of England, France and Russia. In 1891-1893 The Franco-Russian alliance was issued. In 1904-1907, after the resolution of a number of mutual contradictions, the Anglo-French and Anglo-Russian agreements were signed.
World War was also preceded by a series of conflicts and local, regional wars, which set the stage for a major war. So, in the 1870-s, Russia did not allow Germany to finish off France. In response, in 1878, Russia did not receive the support of Germany at the Berlin Congress following the outcome of the next Russian-Turkish war. Cooling begins between Berlin and Petersburg. Germany makes an alliance with Austria-Hungary (its former traditional enemy) to create a counterweight to Russia. Germany makes a number of colonial seizures. A young German colonial empire is being created, a German fleet is being built, which is disturbing Britain. Germany was late for the division of the colonial "pie" and dissatisfied. The interests of the German and British colonialists clash in Africa and Turkey. The German capitalist predator needs a new “living space”.
The British fought in Afghanistan. Russia conquered Turkestan. Russian and British interests clashed in Central Asia and Persia. Against the background of the growing threat from the German Empire, France is making every effort to ally with Russia. Russia because of the Balkan crisis, the contradictions with Austria-Hungary, the Russian-German economic contradictions and the collapse of the Union of Three Emperors (Russia, Austria and Germany), is coming closer to France.
In Asia, a new predator is emerging - the Japanese Empire. She is pursuing a policy of enslaving Korea, claiming her share of the pie in China. In 1894 - 1895 Japan is smashing China. However, the West, using the Japanese to “hack” Korea and China, does not allow it to receive all the fruits of victory. Japan’s interests are limited. At the same time, the West substitutes Russia. Russian and Japanese bleed. In Japan, they believe that the main offender, who did not allow the Japanese to end the seizure of Chinese territories and Korea, is Russia. Japan begins preparations for war with Russia. In this case, her full support was provided by England and the USA. The owners of London and Washington use Japan as a "ram" against Russia. Russian-Japanese War 1904-1905 becomes a kind of rehearsal of world war. The masters of the West were able to weaken Russia's position in the Far East and again turn its attention to Europe and the Balkans.
In 1898, the US is ravaging the old colonial power - Spain. Americans capture Cuba, Puerto Rico and the Philippines. In doing so, the US is strengthening its strategic position in the Caribbean and the Pacific. Americans seize the Isthmus of Panama, pushing the European powers in South America. In 1899, Washington proclaimed the “Open Door” policy (Hay Doctrine) in China. Americans demand free trade and free entry of capital in China. With a powerful economy, the United States offered "free trade", so they could force out other Western predators and Japan. The United States begins global politics in preparation for the seizure of world leadership. For this they need a world war that will weaken the old great powers, including Britain. At the same time, Washington planned to use the war in Europe for enrichment (the United States during the war turned from a world debtor into a world creditor), and intervene in it at the final stage in order to get the maximum benefit.
London, fearing the rapid economic, military and naval strengthening of Germany, begins to look for "cannon fodder" for the war in Europe. Against the background of the threat from Germany, the Anglo-French Entente was created in 1904. The British and French forget about their past and modern contradictions in order to resist the Germans. Attempts of Russia and Germany to get closer at the end of 1904 (Berlin rendered a number of signs listening to Russia during the war with Japan) in 1905 were thwarted. In 1907, Russia entered into agreements with England. Petersburg recognized the protectorate of Britain over Afghanistan; both sides recognized China’s sovereignty over Tibet and abandoned attempts to establish control over it; Persia (Iran) was divided into three zones - Russian in the north, British in the south and neutral in the center of the country.
The situation in the Balkans is getting worse. The seizure of Bosnia and Herzegovina by Austria-Hungary in 1908 caused the Bosnian crisis, which almost caused a big war. Serbia and Montenegro are willing to start a war against the Austrians. Berlin is willing to support Vienna. Austria-Hungary is preparing a war against Serbia. Under pressure from Russia, which is not ready for war with Germany and Austria-Hungary on two fronts, Belgrade is inferior. Russia is suffering a major diplomatic defeat in the Balkans. Thus, a rehearsal of the explosion of the “powder magazine” of Europe was held. In 1909, the war was avoided. In particular, the head of the Russian government, Stolypin, spoke out categorically against the war with Germany and Austria-Hungary, stating that "to unleash a war is to unleash the forces of the revolution." In 1911, Stolypin will be killed and there will be nobody to reason with Nicholas II in 1914.
In Berlin, they are inclined to believe that it is necessary to defeat France and Russia in order to take dominant positions in Europe and in a large part of the world. At the same time, the German ruling circles were completely convinced that Britain would remain neutral. The British did everything that the Germans retained this illusion until the very beginning of the war. In Austria-Hungary, the “war party” was confident that a victorious war would calm the society, preserve the “patchwork empire”, and allow it to make new conquests in the Balkans. Especially in Vienna, they wanted to crush Serbia. The murder of the heir to the throne, Franz Ferdinand, who was opposed to the war, led to the victory of the "war party".
Meanwhile, the Balkans are still seething. During the First Balkan War 1912, Bulgaria, Serbia, Montenegro and Greece are ravaging Turkey. Turks lose almost all their possessions in Europe. Then the allies can not divide the prey (in particular, the Macedonian question). In 1913, the Second Balkan War begins. Bulgaria begins the war for Macedonia with Serbia, Montenegro and Greece. Romania and Turkey are also opposing Bulgaria, wishing to profit at the expense of the Bulgarians. Bulgaria defeated, loses all the territories captured during the First Balkan War and, moreover, Southern Dobrudja. In the Balkans, there are new controversial issues. As a result, Turkey and Bulgaria, wanting to take revenge, are leaning towards the German bloc.
Military-political alliances in Europe before the beginning of the First World War. Source: https://ru.wikipedia.org
The need for blitzkrieg for Germany
All the great powers were preparing for war. Russia recovered from the war with Japan, carried out a number of changes in the armed forces. But its military and naval programs were not completed. Russia had a good cadre army, a strong officer corps. The problem was in trained reserves. After the destruction of the personnel core of the army, its fighting qualities plummeted. In addition, the Crimean War, the war with Turkey 1877-1878. and the Japanese campaign 1904-1905's. showed the depressing quality of the generals, high command. The big problem, especially after it became clear that the war would be protracted, was the situation with the military-industrial complex of the empire. Russia did not have time to become an industrial power. During the war, all major types weapons and equipment will have to be purchased abroad, becoming dependent on the "allies", wasting the gold reserves of the state.
Germany was best prepared for 1914. Her army was stronger than the Russian and French. The Germans had the advantage in heavy field artillery, in military equipment and the organization of the army. The German Empire, unlike opponents, could set up fairly well-trained reserves. The high degree of training of reserve parts was caused by the presence of a powerful officer and non-commissioned officer corps, the presence of a stock of weapons and the corresponding organization. Also, the Second Reich had the most developed network of railways best prepared for military transport and could quickly maneuver forces from the Western to the Eastern Front and vice versa. The military industry of Germany surpassed the Russian and French, taken together, not yielding to the military potential of the entire Entente, together with England.
The Austro-Hungarian military potential was low. However, it was believed in Berlin and Vienna that it would be enough to occupy the Balkans (defeat Serbia) and hold back Russia until the approach of the German divisions, which in the first stage of the war divided France.
France had a strong army, powerful fortresses on the border. The colonies had a large amount of manpower. However, the French wanted revenge, overestimated their forces, prepared for a decisive offensive, and not for active defense. Although they had to wait for the active offensive of Russia on the Eastern Front, the arrival of British troops, reserves from the colonies, complete the restructuring of the economy and the rear on military tracks. The British expeditionary mission was small (only six divisions), but of good quality. In general, the British planned to use Russians, French, Serbs, etc. as cannon fodder on the continent. There was also their own cannon fodder - in the colonies and dominions there was a large supply of manpower, but little or no training. In India there was a native army (about 160 thousand people). Part of these forces could be transferred to Europe, but this took time. Britain's strength was in her navy, which made it possible to block the German Navy in ports and cut off the Second Reich from sources of raw materials and resources. This allowed the capture of isolated German colonies. British industry made it possible to equate the potential of the Entente's military industry with that of Germany.
On the sea, the Entente, despite the best efforts of Germany, possessed considerable superiority. The British fleet was still the most powerful in the world. The British had 30 dreadnoughts, France and Russia - on 7. Germany and Austria could set the 24 dreadnought. The combined fleet of the Entente had even greater advantage over obsolete armadillos, armored cruisers, high-speed light cruisers. The superiority of the Entente at sea allowed Germany and Austria-Hungary to be blocked, to cut off their sea communications, colonies, sources of raw materials and resources. The German bloc had to rely only on its resources, accumulated reserves and raw materials, food resources of South-Eastern Europe and the Ottoman Empire. The Entente also had enormous human and material resources of Russia, the colonial empires of Britain and France, and the whole world was at their service. Dominion of the sea, sea communications turned the United States into a logistical base, arsenal and treasury of the Entente.
Thus, in a protracted war, full advantage was on the side of the Entente. True, in 1914, very few people thought about it. The governments and general staffs of all great powers counted on a short war. Germany was in a hurry to start a war before Russia completed the modernization of the armed forces. In Berlin, they planned to crush France with a powerful blow while Russia was still going to war. Then, together with Austria-Hungary to solve the Russian question. The Germans relied on the superiority of their training and speed of action. At the same time in Berlin, they counted on the help of Italy, or at least on friendly neutrality, and on the fact that England would not enter the war. For France and especially Russia, it was advisable to wait a few years to complete the military programs. It took time for the advantage of the Entente in human and material resources to affect the fronts.
On the whole, Russia generally had to avoid entering into a big war that was strategically beneficial to the masters of the West. The war led to the death of the cadre army — the last support of the autocracy, provoked the hatred of the people who did not need this war, and led to the intensification of a heterogeneous “fifth column”, to revolution.
Russian poster 1914 of the year
To be continued ...
Information