57 pages • 1 hour read
Barbara W. TuchmanThe Guns of August
Nonfiction | Book | Adult | Published in 1962A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Index of Terms
Alsace-Lorraine
Alsace-Lorraine is a region of what is now northeastern France. Its position on the border between France and Germany has led to a blending of cultures, though the historical population was predominantly German-speaking. Consequently, its status has been a recurring point of friction between France and Germany, particularly in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Germany’s annexation of the territory following the Franco-Prussian War was a particular source of national shame and anger in France in the years leading up to World War I. The region’s background thus contributes to Tuchman’s exploration of the theme War Is Caused by Hubris, Not Inequity.
British Expeditionary Force (BEF)
The British Expeditionary Force was the name given to those divisions of the British army stationed in Belgium and France at the outbreak of WWI. Under the command of Sir John French, its function was to help France repel the German invasion. In this, it was partially successful, as France did not ultimately fall to German control. However, Tuchman argues that mistakes and miscommunications, particularly on the part of France, hampered the BEF’s ability to support the French forces, developing the themes of The Courage of Ordinary Soldiers Versus the Military Machine and The Ripple Effects of Individual Actions.
Élan and Cran
Roughly translated, these words mean “spirit” and “guts,” respectively. In the run-up to WWI, the French thought these would carry them to victory against greater forces. In the pages of history, such intangible ideas are hard to measure, but French spirit and guts may have at least helped safeguard against defeat. Badly beaten and exhausted, the French found the strength for one last battle that caused the German retreat.
The Schlieffen Plan
The Schlieffen Plan, named for Field Marshal Alfred von Schlieffen, was Germany’s plan going into World War I. To avoid fighting a war on two fronts, the plan called for Germany to knock out France’s military quickly before pivoting to face Russia. To do so, Germany would attempt to pin the French army between two forces, the larger of which would invade through Belgium. The ultimate failure of this plan, which Tuchman documents in detail in The Guns of August, laid the groundwork for the trench warfare that would define the rest of the conflict, at least on the Western Front.
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