The French Army planned to respond to a German attack with a counteroffensive into Lorraine. When war came, the offensive was launched on August 21, 1914 and is known to history as the Battle of the Frontiers. The offensive was a failure, and when it ended, the French Army was everywhere in retreat.
 

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Fanfare

Opening War Theme

Danse macabre
Composed in 1874 by Camille Saint-Saëns. Public domain.
Performed by the University of Chicago Orchestra and used pursuant to a Creative Commons CC BY-NC-ND 3.0 license. Source.

Closing War Theme

 

Except when otherwise indicated, the contents of this podcast are © and ℗ 2016, 2017 by Mark Painter, all rights reserved. Some music and sound effects used by arrangement with Pond 5.

 
The sudden outbreak of the Great War found a German battlecruiser, SMS Goeben, alone in the Mediterranean except for the light cruiser, SMS Breslau. But these two ships would give the Entente navies no end of grief.
 

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Fanfare

Opening War Theme

The Sorcerer’s Apprentice
Composed in 1897 by Paul Dukas. Public domain.
Public domain recording. Source.

Egmont Overture
Composed in 1810 by Ludwig van Beethoven. Public domain.
Performed by the Czech National Symphony Orchestra. Public domain recording. Source.

Closing War Theme

 

Except when otherwise indicated, the contents of this podcast are © and ℗ 2016, 2017 by Mark Painter, all rights reserved. Some music and sound effects used by arrangement with Pond 5. Photograph from the German Federal Archive used pursuant to a Creative Commons CC-BY-SA 3.0 license.

 
The first military action of the war was the German offensive against France, which began with invasions of Luxembourg and Belgium. The Belgians surprised everyone with the ferocity of their resistance.
 

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Fanfare

Opening WarTheme

Fantasie fromSiegfried
Composed in 1876 by Richard Wagner. Public domain.
Performed by the United States Marine Band. Public domain recording. Source.

Closing War Theme

 

Except when otherwise indicated, the contents of this podcast are © and ℗ 2016, 2017 by Mark Painter, all rights reserved. Some music and sound effects used by arrangement with Pond 5.

 
A look at pre-war planning by the French, British, and Austrian militaries.
 

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Playlist:
 
Fanfare

Opening Theme

Élégie
Composed in 1880 by Gabriel Fauré. Public domain.
Performed by Hans Goldstein. Used pursuant to a Creative Commons CC BY-SA 3.0 license. Source.

“Who Can from Joy Refrain?”
Composed in 1689 by Henry Purcell. Public domain.
Performed by Michel Rondeau. Used pursuant to a Creative Commons CC BY-NC 3.0 license. Source.

Symphony No. 1 in C minor
Composed in 1876 by Johannes Brahms. Public domain.
Performed by the Czech National Symphony Orchestra. Public domain recording. Source.

Closing Theme

 

Except when otherwise indicated, the contents of this podcast are © and ℗ 2016, 2017 by Mark Painter, all rights reserved. Some music and sound effects used by arrangement with Pond 5.