Winston Churchill wrote that the first month of the First World War was "a drama never surpassed." Drive on Paris recreates all of the nerve-wracking drama of that momentous period. The game succeeds in balancing simple mechanics, historical fidelity and fun. To add a little variety and historical flavor, here is a new scenario and some options that can be applied to the standard scenarios.

Another Scenario: The Battle of the Marne--The Schlieffen Plan to the End

Could the Schlieffen Plan have succeeded if the German High Command had avoided crucial mistakes and adhered faithfully to it? If General von Moltke had avoided costly errors and had not swerved from von Schlieffen's carefully worked out program, could the drive on Paris have ended with the Germans marching down the Champs Elysees? This scenario assumes that different decisions by von Moltke have set the stage for an attempt to end the campaign as originally designed. The assumptions are:

1. In this scenario 4 Ers Div, 8 Ers Div, 10 Ers Div and Gds Ers Div set up covering Antwerp and Maubeuge, which frees up 3 Reserve Corps and 7 Reserve Corps to fulfill their intended roles in the master's plan. These Ersatz divisions were intended by von Schlieffen as reinforcements for the Right Wing, but were switched by Moltke to the Left Wing when a breakthrough on that front seemed possible for a fleeting moment. When Moltke regained his proper focus on the all-important Right Wing, he failed to redirect these vitally needed reinforcements back to where they should have gone.

2. The XI Corps and the Guard Reserve Corps are not transferred to the Eastern Front. The Germans paid dearly for von Moltke's decision to send these divisions east.

3. General von Kluck does not race ahead of von Bulow across the Marne. In this scenario, he follows orders and keeps his 1st Army in line with Bulow's 2nd Army. As a result, the German line on the Marne is shorter, allowing Kluck to mass more of his divisions on his right flank to march around Paris. At this point the Schlieffen Plan is still viable.

4. Von Kluck intends to wheel to the west around Paris instead of changing direction to the southeast, as he did in the actual campaign. He directs aerial reconnaissance and Marwitz's cavalry corps in the direction of Paris. Historically, Kluck neglected these precautions because the German High Command was convinced the French army was already defeated. As a result, Kluck was ignorant of the presence of Maunoury's VI Army near Paris. In this scenario, he is aware that the French have an army on his flank and deploys accordingly. He is in a position to parry any counterstroke and try to bring Schlieffen's great wheel full circle.

5. (Optional) After the fall of the Belgian fortresses, the Germans carefully conserve what remains of Emmich's highly trained assault forces. They are able to piece together one composite unit (11+14 Assault KG) to be used in the attack on Paris.

The starting point is the same as Scenario 5.4, on which this variation is based. But the situation and the goals for each side are different. The Germans have reached the Marne and the point in the campaign when historically their mistakes caught up with them and they were forced to withdraw. This time there is still a chance for Schlieffen's bold plan to succeed. It is easy to see that the premises behind the scenario are all in favor of the Germans. The front line of their order of battle has been strengthened by a substantial number of units, and their initial deployment is better. But these advantages are offset by the victory conditions. They must, at a minimum, isolate Paris to claim victory.

First Turn: 9
Last Turn: 16
Game Length: 8 turns
Map Area and Set Up: The area of the map in play and the set up of all units is the same as Scenario 5.4 From the Marne to the Sea, except as listed below for some German units.

German Set Up:

25.32: 8 Ers Div
26.32: 10 Ers Div
22.23: Gds Ers Div
24.24: 4 Ers Div, Krupp, Skoda
14.10: 2/2 Cav, 4/2 Cav, 9/2 Cav
14.11: 3/II, 4/II
15.10: 7/IV, 8/IV
15.11: 5/III, 6/III, 11+14 Assault KG (option)
16.09: 17/IX, 18/IX
17.12: 1 Army HQ, 10 Ldw, 11 Ldw, 27 Ldw
18.09: 5 Res/3 Res, 6 Res/3 Res
19.09: 7 Res/4 Res, 22 Res/4 Res
20.08: 13 Res/7 Res, 14 Res/7 Res
21.08: 1Gd/Gd, 2 Gd/Gd
22.08: 1GdR/GdR, 3 GdR/GdR
22.09: 2 Army HQ, 25 Ldw, 29 Ldw
27.10: 22/XI, 38/XI
27.13: 3 Army HQ, 47 Ldw
28.10: 23 Res/12 Res, 24 Res/12 Res
29.10: 23/XII, 32/XII
30.10: 24/XIX, 40/XIX

Reinforcements: Follow the Reinforcement Schedule of Scenario 5.4 for both sides.
Victory Conditions: If the Germans capture Paris (hex 14.05): they win a Massive Victory. If they are able to surround Paris and cut it off, but have not captured hex 14.05: they win a Major Victory. If the Allies avoid both of the above conditions, they win.

Drive on Paris Options

The French Doctrine Line (FDL) rule is a creative departure from history for the sake of play balance. [Ed. note: Hmm? I thought the idea of the FDL rule was to reflect the historical emphasis, in the minds of the French high command, in favor of the Alsace-Lorraine operation.] The following options are an attempt to free French units from the FDL restrictions, so that they can be used in ways that are closer to their historical counterparts. The trick is to do this without adversely affecting the game's balance in favor of the Allies or bogging it down with undue complexity.

Most of the Allied options focus on allowing more French units to freely operate west of the FDL. I wanted to find a way to allow these troops to deploy and operate as they did historically. It just doesn't seem right not to have Sordet's Cavalry Corps on the left of the BEF at some point during the "Great Retreat." Lanrezac's V Army seems incomplete without the 18th Corps in the line on the Sambre. The effect of this increased geographical freedom is offset by options that favor the Germans. The variants also offer a way to inject more variety and uncertainty into the game. They are all based on history and either actually occurred, or could have, given a few plausible twists of fate.

German Options

1. Field Marshall Sir John French orders the BEF out of the line of battle to rest and refit. All British units must retreat their full Movement Allowance toward the southeast for 1 turn, and then cease all movement for 1 turn. On the following turn the BEF may resume normal movement and operations. The Germans can exercise this option at any time from Turn 6 to Turn 8. Historical note: Sir John fully intended to carry out his threatened disengagement when his disillusionment with the French command and the strain of continual retreat brought this mercurial officer to the breaking point. This move was potentially so disastrous to the Allied cause that Lord Kitchener scampered to France to intervene.

2. The four Ersatz divisions that enter as reinforcements on Turn 4 at Mobilization Point 7 (Karlsruhe) now enter at Point 1 (Aachen). This option is admittedly a two-edged sword. While it strengthens the German right, it weakens the left. Historical note: Schlieffen planned that these divisions should arrive on the right, in order to cover Antwerp and prevent needed front line units from being siphoned off for this purpose. Moltke unwisely changed their entry point when the possibility of a left wing offensive briefly presented itself.

3. The Skoda siege guns are deployed at the start with Emmich's assault force. The Skoda unit sets up in Aachen (hex 38.33). Historical note: The Germans did not think it was necessary to bring up these guns immediately because they underestimated the Belgian resolve to resist invasion. The Skoda guns could have been used against Liege at the beginning of hostilities.

4. The Krupp siege guns are available sooner. The Krupp unit arrives on Turn 2 at Mobilization Point 1. The limited movement allowance of the Krupp unit greatly limits its usefulness. To give this option more punch, increase the Movement Allowance of the unit to 6. Historical note: Modifications to the road model of the gun would have increased its mobility.

5. The summer weather is unusually mild. Marching troops are not exhausted as quickly. The German Forced March rules extend through Turn 10. On die rolls of 4,5 or 6 stacks can move fully during Exploitation. Historical note: The extraordinary heat of August 1914 was an important factor in the campaign.

6. Allied units (French or British) fail to receive a retreat order in time. In any single attack (German player's choice), the retreat part of the defender's combat result must be converted into step losses. The German player may choose to implement this variant on any turn from Turn 5 (August 20-23) to Turn 8 (September 1-4). To increase the option's impact, allow the German player to select two attacks. Historical note: This occurred on several occasions during the "Great Retreat," e. g., the Gordon Highlanders at Le Cateau.

7. The units of Emmich's assault force are given a limited replacement capacity. The Germans have two (and only two) steps of refit capacity that can be used as desired to reconstitute and/or refit any of the three special EM KGs. One of the units can receive both replacement steps or two units can receive one each.

Allied Options

1. England sends 2 additional divisions with the BEF when it goes to France. The 3rd Corps (4/III and 6/III) lands with the other units of the BEF. Historical note: The British government had originally agreed to send 6 divisions to aid the French when war threatened.

2. Sordet's Cavalry Corps (1/I, 3/I, 5/I) is free to operate on either side of the FDL. Historical note: One of Sordet's important tasks during this period was to cover the left flank of the BEF for a time.

3. The French 18th Corps (35/XVIII, 36/XVIII) is free to operate on either side of the FDL. Historical note: This corps was a part of the historic events that revolved around Lanrezac's V Army, which held the most critical part of the French line.

4. The magnificent Algerian divisions (37 Alg, 38 Alg) are free to operate on either side of the FDL when they arrive.

5. Variants 2,3 and 4 above are all in use. This in effect completes the French V Army as it fought in the campaign. More than one German option may be required to balance the impact of this one.

6. Joffre replaces Lanrezac sooner. Flip 5 Army HQ (Lanrezac to d'Esperey) on Turn 6. This increases the refit capacity and improves command radius sooner. Historical note: Joffre wanted to remove Lanrezac, who had lost faith in his own army as well as in Joffre, sooner than he actually did. He refrained because of their long acquaintance.

7. The BEF arrives in Belgium. All British units land at Ostende. Rule 2.2b (the restriction on French and British units entering Belgium) is ignored. Historical note: This one is a real wild card, but it was actually discussed and advocated, and quickly discarded, at the time. What the overall effect of such a move would have been is debatable. Why not try it one time?

Before the scenario begins one or more options can be selected as desired by each side, or they can be chosen at random. The impact of some of the options will be moderate, while others will obviously have a much greater effect. All of the variants can be applied to the campaign scenario; some of them can also be adapted to the shorter scenarios.

Recommended Reading

The Guns of August, by Barbara Tuchman, is a renowned classic that completely deserves its lofty reputation. Often praised for its ability to take the reader back in time, to enable one to experience the tension of the moment while forgetting that you already know the outcome, August is like a wargame in this respect. More enjoyable than any book of its kind I have ever read, Tuchman's masterpiece of historical narrative draws you into its world, to relive the campaign that decided the war.

Liaison 1914: A Narrative of the Great Retreat, by Major-General Sir Edward Spears, was written by the British liaison to the French V Army. Spears, a lieutenant at the time, was in a unique position to view firsthand many of the most crucial events of the campaign. His position allowed him to participate in the inner workings of the commands of both the BEF and the French V Army, two formations at the center of the awesome drama unfolding around him. No individual was better placed to witness so much history. The author was also a very gifted writer. Liaison is filled from cover to cover with fascinating personal observations and insightful military analysis. It is very similar in that regard to Edward Porter Alexander's Civil War memoirs. As enjoyable as it is informative, no less a personage than Winston Churchill wrote that once he started reading Spears' account, he couldn't put it down.

The Marshall Cavendish Illustrated Encyclopedia of World War I, Volume 1: 1914 is part of an exceptional multi-volume history of the entire war. The first volume covers the conflict's beginning and, like the other volumes, is lushly illustrated (many maps, diagrams, and illustrations in full color). These are not shallow picture books. Volume 1 of the Encyclopedia can itself boast of an array of highly respected contributors, including Barrie Pitt, John Keegan, Sir Basil Liddel Hart, Christopher Duffy, and Peter Young. All of the events of the drive on Paris are covered.