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TP IP 13 World War I Policy seems more familiar in an ancient way (Romans) Context - 19th Century Revolutions - Nationalism and

Industrial -- France - liberty, egality, fraternity, freedom (Liberalism from the Enlightenment) -- agrarian to urban; work; standardization requires education; socialism expansion; -- desire to manage international system; -- technology outpaces social/doctrinal ability to adapt US Civil War and Russo-Japanese War foreshadow WWI combat Austro-Hungrarian beset by nationalism but diverse groups require political entity Pan-Slavic vs Pan-Germanic nationalism provides latent instability The failed revolution in Germany: civilian control of military; CGS; Schlieffen repolarizes pol-mil; the war galvanizes direction they go; Military solutions in Germany, France and Russia are completely divorced from politics Character of great wars - actually cover large spectrum from irregular to total; ------------------Political Configuration Germany - balance of power with Austria and Russia disrupted; supernationalism; Wilhelm related to George and Tsar; competing strategic priorities (support of Austro-Hungarians); Russia - warm water port; revolutions; tsarists attempt to force nationalism to create unity; France - revolution; nationalism; --------------------------Operational Planning Moltke - defense in depth to bargain out Schlieffen - offensive knock out West front first; Russia is more difficult opponent; history if 1871 influence; problem of Belgian neutrality and geostrategic ports for Britain; force structure requirement is not accepted--socio-economic conservatism concerned about socialist movement; Non-frictional development--very scientific approach (not Clausewitzian); Logistics and C2 requirements underestimated; Technological leaps in weapon lethality; underestimated casualties View of war as a-political: problem is you don't know a priori; focus on technology as solution...not rational? In war, military trumps political to much higher degree than peace time; military drives political choices; ------------------------Outbreak of War Rising soviet military power will overpower East front by 1917 (German estimate) Schlieffen plan has a shelf life (vanishing window of opportunity)

England is source economic power England concerned about continental hegemony--don't want France, Germanyor Russia to emerge When Schlieffen plan fails: sunk costs override thoughts of settlement; pursuit of allies to escalate; attempt to fracture entente; Falkenhayn; Verdun--denial through punishment strategy; get French out of war then British will have to settle; assumption that Germans will win casualty fight, but actually it hurts them more; Trench warfare limits--even if you break through, you can't supply forward; Gallipoli - opening a second front to resupply Russia AND because of operational failure everywhere else; populations are getting hollowed out; strategic maneuver to bypass operational problem; initially conceived to strategically undergird Russia; coalition politics plays in--Russians torpedo Greek participation over Constantinople-vital interests trump; problem: minesweepers...Turks have mined straits; -------------

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