The Battle of Mons
August 23rd ,1914
The battle of Mons was one of the battles apart of the eleadged 'Battles on the Frontier' that had taken place during the month of August. The Battles on the Frontier contained five offensives launched under French Commander-in-Chief Joseph Joffre and German Chief of Staff Helmuth Von Moltke. The battle of Mons was one of five battles where the German invasion plan known as the Schlieffen Plan and the French XVII invasion Plan collided. Changing the course for both plans. (The XVII Plan was just like the German's Schlieffen Plan. The French planned to invade Germany via Belgium as well.)
After arriving to the coastline in Belgium on August 14, the British Expeditionary Force (BEF) under the command of Sir John French, cautiously moved towards the frontlines. Thus keeping up with the French commander General Lanrezac and his fifth army. While on his way to the town of Charleroi, the BEF ran into calvery patrols from the German first army at Soignies on August 22nd. While ignoring wise advise, unaware of the German strength and victories at Lorraine and the Ardennes, Sir French quickly drew up plans to attack the Germans. Sir French then ordered five of his divisions to establish defensive positions close to the Mons Canal where he unexpectingly ran into German General von Kluck and his first army already there. Von Kluck was then determined to launch a frontal attack against the BEF having gone against orders from high command. Meanwhile, Sir French sent two infantry corps commanded by Haig and Smith-Dorrian across a forty kilometer front stretching from east to west of Mons. At the beginning of the battle, the British were heavily out numbered in both men and in fire power.
While the German's had both 160,000 troops and 600 guns the British had only 70,000 troops and 300 guns. After using a preliminary artillery barrage, Von Kluck launched his offensive against Smith-Dorrian and as a result British rifle men were killed by the advancing Germans. But after a few days of battle, the German advance was being halted by the experienced British riflemen who were shooting rounds so fast that Von Kluck thought they were using machine guns. The British also suffered 1,600 casulites after a few days of fight. When Von Kluck paused the assult, Sir French recieved news that Lanrezac and his men retreated and could not asist the British. So Sir French ordered Haig and Smith-Dorrian to retreat to the British second line of defense. Von Kluck renewed his offensive and the British saw the full strength of the German forces causing the British to futher retreat. Von Kluch chose not to chase the British but to instead address the casulities of the battle. But in the end Von Kluck inflicted 8,000 casulities to the British rear-gaurd at the battle of Le Cateau on August 26.
After arriving to the coastline in Belgium on August 14, the British Expeditionary Force (BEF) under the command of Sir John French, cautiously moved towards the frontlines. Thus keeping up with the French commander General Lanrezac and his fifth army. While on his way to the town of Charleroi, the BEF ran into calvery patrols from the German first army at Soignies on August 22nd. While ignoring wise advise, unaware of the German strength and victories at Lorraine and the Ardennes, Sir French quickly drew up plans to attack the Germans. Sir French then ordered five of his divisions to establish defensive positions close to the Mons Canal where he unexpectingly ran into German General von Kluck and his first army already there. Von Kluck was then determined to launch a frontal attack against the BEF having gone against orders from high command. Meanwhile, Sir French sent two infantry corps commanded by Haig and Smith-Dorrian across a forty kilometer front stretching from east to west of Mons. At the beginning of the battle, the British were heavily out numbered in both men and in fire power.
While the German's had both 160,000 troops and 600 guns the British had only 70,000 troops and 300 guns. After using a preliminary artillery barrage, Von Kluck launched his offensive against Smith-Dorrian and as a result British rifle men were killed by the advancing Germans. But after a few days of battle, the German advance was being halted by the experienced British riflemen who were shooting rounds so fast that Von Kluck thought they were using machine guns. The British also suffered 1,600 casulites after a few days of fight. When Von Kluck paused the assult, Sir French recieved news that Lanrezac and his men retreated and could not asist the British. So Sir French ordered Haig and Smith-Dorrian to retreat to the British second line of defense. Von Kluck renewed his offensive and the British saw the full strength of the German forces causing the British to futher retreat. Von Kluch chose not to chase the British but to instead address the casulities of the battle. But in the end Von Kluck inflicted 8,000 casulities to the British rear-gaurd at the battle of Le Cateau on August 26.