This multi-volume series in seven parts is the first English-language translation of Der Weltkrieg, the German official history of the First World War. Originally produced between 1925 and 1944 using classified archival records that were destroyed in the aftermath of the Second World War, Der Weltkrieg is the untold story of Germany's experience on the Western front, in the words of its official historians, making it vital to the study of the war and official memory in Weimar and Nazi Germany. Although exciting new sources have recently been uncovered in former Soviet archives, this work remains the basis of future scholarship. It is essential reading for any scholar, graduate student, or enthusiast of the Great War.

This volume, the first of the series to appear in print, focuses on 1915, the first year of trench warfare. For the first time in the history of warfare, poison gas was used against French and Canadian troops at Ypres. Meanwhile, conflict raged in the German High Command over the political and military direction of the war. The year 1915 also set the stage for the bloodbath at Verdun and sealed the fate of the German Supreme Commander, Erich von Falkenhayn. This is the official version of that story.

Foreword by Hew Strachan

Co-published with the Laurier Centre for Military, Strategic and Disarmament Studies

Table of Contents for
Germany's Western Front: Translations from the German Official History of the Great War 1915, edited by Mark Osborne Humphries and John Maker

Table of Maps

Preface

Introduction

Acknowledgements

A Note on the Translation and Sources

PART I: WINTER AND SPRING

1. The Question of the War's Centre of Gravity in January

2. The Western Front to the Middle of April

Decision-making at the OHL

Operations on Western Front until the Middle of February 1915

The Battle of Soissons

Seventh Army

The Winter Battle in the Champagne

Fifth Army

The French and British High Commands at the Beginning of the Year

The Apex of the Winter Battle in the Champagne from the Middle of February until the Middle of March 1915

Intentions of the French Commanders in the Champagne

The German Defence

Operations on the Remainder of the Western Front from the Middle of February to the Middle of March 1915

The Battle at Neuve Chapelle

Armee Abteilung Strantz

The OHL's Return to the Western Front

The Defensive Battles from the Middle of March until the Middle of April

The Defensive Battle of Armee Abteilung Strantz

Armee-Abteilung Strantz

3. The Change in Falkenhayn's Plans

The Creation of the New GHQ Reserve

The Plan to Mount a Decisive Breakthrough Operation in the West

The Political Situation and its Influence on the Military Decision-Making

To the Dardanelles Offensive

To the Employment of the GHQ Reserve in the East

PART II: SPRING AND SUMMER

4. The General Situation of the Central Powers in May

The Intervention of Italy

The Intensification of the Economic Situation and Economic Warfare by Submarine

The Manpower and Ammunition Situation to the End of the Year

5. The Western Front from the Middle of April to the Beginning of August

Operations to the Start of the Spring Battle at the Beginning of May

The OHL and the Western Army in April

Fourth Army's Gas Attack at Ypres

The Offensive Battles of the Armee Abteilungs Strantz and Gaede

The Actions of the French and British Commanders to the Beginning of May

The Beginning of the Spring Offensive in the Artois

Sixth Army's Battles from 9-14 May

General Lochow's Assumption of Command on the Main Battle Front and the Fighting until the Middle of June

Operations of the Remaining Armies on the Western Front from the Middle of May to the End of July

The Renewal of the Major Offensive in the Artois: Operations from 16-18 June to the End of the Spring Offensive

The Reorganization of the Western Army Part I: Until the Beginning of August

6. Overview of the Multi-Front War During the Summer

The General Situation to the Beginning of August

The OHL's Peace Efforts

Shifting the War's Centre of Gravity

PART III: SUMMER AND AUTUMN

7. Overview of the Military Situation to the Middle of September

8. The Western Front from Mid-August to the Beginning of the Autumn Offensive

The Enemy's Situation and Plans in the Summer

The OHL from August to 22 September

The Events on the Western Front until 22 September

In the Artois

In the Champagne

On the Remainder of the Western Front

9. The Autumn Offensive in the Artois and Champagne

The Preparation for the Battle (22 to 24 September 1915)

In the Artois

In the Champagne

The OHL until Noon on 25 September

The 25th of September

The Attack in the Artois

The Attack in the Champagne

Actions of the OHL during the afternoon of 25 September

26 September

In the Artois

In the Champagne

The Situation at the OHL

The Further Course of the Battle until the end of September

In the Artois: Operations, 30 September-10 October

In the Champagne: Operations, 11-13 October

In the Artois: Operations, 30 September-10 October

In the Artois: Operations, 11-13 October

In the Champagne: Operations, 30 September-5 October

In the Champagne: New Major Offensive Operations after 6 October

The Enemy's Situation at the End of the Offensive

Lessons Learned from the Fall Offensive

10. The Western Front to the End of the Year

Operations of the Remaining Armies until mid-October

The Reorganization of the Western Army Part II

Operations from mid-October until the End of the Year

Fourth Army

Sixth, Second, and Seventh Armies

Third Army

Fifth Army

Armee Abteilung Strantz

Armee Abteilung Falkenhausen

Armee Abteilung Gaede

The Entente's Situation in the West at the End of the Year

The Situation at the OHL in November and December

11. The Central Powers' Situation at the End of 1915

APPENDICES

Appendix 1: A Comparison of German, British, and French Artillery in the Spring Battles in the Artois

Appendix 2: A Comparison of German, British, and French Artillery in the Autumn Battles

Appendix 3: A Comparison of Forces at War's Beginning and the end of 1915

Appendix 4: Overview of Powder and Munitions Production from War's Beginning to the End of 1915

Appendix 5: Standing Orders for the Defence in the West

Selected Bibliography

Index