The above group photo is of the staff - The Western Front Association

BOOK
REVIEW: Paul Conlon
The Real German War Plan 1904
– 14,
Terence Zuber
In this book
Terence Zuber has
presented
a detailed analysis of Imperial
Germany’s
war plans
leading up to
the outbreak
of the First
World War.
He had
already
presented
some of the
information
in his earlier
book,
German War
Planning
1871-1914, however new
information has come to light
since his
first book. He has taken the opportunity
to present an updated study of German
war planning. His footnotes claim 85% of
this book is new material, with necessary
reprint of some previously published
material.
Any reader needs to be prepared to
clear their
mind of any preconceptions
that they have concerning the Schlieffen
Plan before reading this book as he
proceeds to demolish the Schlieffen Plan
and the role it played.
This is not a book to undertake lightly
as it is a detailed scholarly
examination of
all the currently available sources of
information. Peer review will either
vindicate or reject Zuber’s analysis. If
vindicated will dispel all the currently
accepted wisdom of the Schlieffen Plan
and Germany’s intentions at the outbreak
of the war.
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So overall this book is a bit of a slog
and although
it is less than 200 pages
long it is heavy going with huge amounts
of information to take in.
Just as a taster, in the first page he
states the Schlieffen Plan
was intended
to destroy the French army in one quick
enormous battle and no forces were to be
sent to East Prussia to guard against the
Russians.
Zuber’s style is unlikely to win him
many friends
as he is very dismissive of
and arrogant towards all those in the
“Schlieffen Camp”.
I was less than convinced by his
analysis of the Marne
Campaign and
would need to read more on this subject
before reaching my own conclusions on
this matter.
For anyone interested in the build-up to
the Great War
this is an essential read
and is full of interesting snippets and a
selection of these are dealt with in Gareth
Simon’s excellent detailed review on
Amazon.
I have also done a brief resume of
other reviews of Zuber (not in any order
of priority):
A. Gilbert (www.warbooksreview.com)
believes
the book is for devotees of the
1914 campaign rather than the general
military reader and that Zuber cherry
picks facts to suit the argument.
An important point on the History
Forum (www.armchairgeneral.com) is
“the near total lack of references by the
leadership in the German Army towards
the Schlieffen Plan as Moltke’s campaign
unfolded” suggests there was no such
Plan.
T. Holsinger (www.strategypage.com)
makes two important points for Zuber’s
book namely his scholarly and readable
explanation of the strategic context
underlying all German war planning over