Effect of the German Invasion of France

Although the German Army had been slowed, and was not able to execute Von Schlieffen's full plan, France had come very close to defeat. During the first weeks of September 1914, French forces had been pushed back to the Marne River, just 21 km outside of Paris. The French government had panicked, and moved to the southern city of Bordeaux in order to escape the German advance. The people of Paris also began to leave the city in fear of being occupied by the Germans. As well, the city was being prepared for defense by cutting down trees to build barricades.

The situation was not much better for British forces. They had just completed a 300 km fighting retreat from the Belgian border towards Paris. Fortunately, French reserves were starting to assemble south of Paris to save the city, but were well over 60 km away. In one of the more interesting stories of the war, the taxi drivers of Paris helped save the city.

Eyewitness Account

A block had brought me momentarily to a halt against the boundary wall of a chateau, when a car with its lights extinguished, ploughing its way through the throng, forced a confused wave of men and beasts against me, the weight of which flattened me against the wall…. Another car followed in its wake, then others and still others, in endless, silent, succession. The moon had risen, and its rays shone reflected on the shiny peaks of taxi-drivers' caps. Inside the cabs, one could make out the bent heads of sleeping soldiers. Someone asked, "Wounded" And a passing voice replied: " No. Seventh Division. From Paris. Going into the line…"
Unknown
7 September 1914

Battle of the Marne and the Race to the Sea

During the four days of fighting around Paris, the German Army was pushed back. They were shocked by the resistance of the French Army. As the French began to push the German Army back, the Germans began to look for good positions to stabilize their defensive lines.

The revised German plan now attempted to outflank the British and French armies. This led to the "race for the sea" phase of World War One. German forces would attempt to go around and behind the Entente forces. As the German Army was attempting to get around British and French forces, they were attempting to go around the German army. At every point that the two forces met the soldiers would dig in.

MULTIMEDIA
Click HERE to look at a map showing how each side attempted to outflank each other in the Race to the Sea.

As each side maneuvered to gain ground and breakthrough, the British decided to move and protect the ports cities along the English Channel. These cities were important supply points for the British Army, and had to be defended. In effect, the opposing forces were creating a continuous line of men and trenches to face each other. The end only came when the armies reached the English Channel.

The overall effect of this phase of the war was the creation of a solid line of trenches. These trenches stretched from the channel to the Swiss border. As well, as this line of trenches became more and more permanent, the tactics of armies changed. No longer did the armies move quickly across the countryside. They began to dig-in and wait. With the war only eight weeks old, maneuver and mobility were no longer able to occur. For the most part, the trench line established in the first weeks of the war would become permanent for the remainder of the war.