1915
Spring Offensive
Von Falkenhayn was meeting with the german military staf and high ranking officers to discuss a grand planned offensive against the Russians by spring the same year. However before something solid could be put down on paper the French attacked at Metz and did so with succes as they managed to throw out the army under von Württemburg who retreated North to avoid being overrun.
Von Strantz, commander V. Armee-Korps with Ludwig III von Bayern at Metz January 1915
This shook the German Military High Command as while they expected the French to make their move sometime this year they didn't expect it to hit so early and in a scale the Germans underestimated the French being capable of thus never have there been made any effort to increase the size of the defending armies in the west, everything was focused on the offensive operations in the east. It became a more severe problem when finally after recon flights and observers trying to paint the total picture of the French offensive it's been estimated by some that the total amount of men being thrown by the French into this offensive could be well over a million.
1st battle of Metz
Von Falkenhayn ordered von Hindenburg and his 8. Armee to head West to push them back into France and make sure they'll never set foot in Germany again. This ment that a large scale offensive planned against Russia is put on hold untill the Western crisis is resolved.
Whilst a offensive was out the Germans in the east would keep the Russians busy to avoid them being able to regroup, reorganize and rearm to pull of an offensive of their own as it could spell disaster if they would break through our lines in the east as well.
When Hindenburg finally arrived in Lorraine whilst picking up extra men and guns to strengthen the 8. Armee the 4. Armee and 5. Armee where ordered to prepare to attack Metz from the North and Hindenburg would push in from the North east.
The counter attack began in late April by means of a swift infantry assault and the attack made good progress having the fortifications in sight but it came to an abrupt end when they saw the French in the thousands which lay in wait for the Germans to come close.
The battle was quick and the Germans where forced to break of the attack.
2nd Battle for Metz
Hindenburg suprised and shocked that the French had concentrated such a large numbers around Metz decided to immediatly attack again the same month to bluff the French that the Germans where there in numbers too. Before the attack began the Germans used their heavy guns on the French entrenched positions before sending in the troops. Hindenberg focused this time on a much smaller and weaker position but still the French wouldn't give in and break from their lines. Instead Hindenburg alarmed as intel arrived that the British have reached close to Metz he pulled out to the North and assesed the situation with urge to Berlin to focus everything the war produced to be send West as he puts it ''if the French break through in the Rheinland it'll be a catastrophic event that'll decides the outcome of the war and it will not be in Germany's favour''.
3th Battle for Metz
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In Austria-Hungary the threat of losing Przemysl was gone as the Russians where pushed back and being delt some serious blows. von Krasnik commanding the 1. Armee managed to enter Dubno and lay siege on the fortifications this wasn't what was ordered by the Austrian High command in Vienna but it seemed to have positive effects as the Russians seemed concerned if they would lose this strategic location as it being the center of the 3 large fortificated towns of the Volhynia region.
The desired effect would be if the Austrians would manage to push the Russians West of these fortifications up and over them and then create a firm foothold for any upcomming attacks whilst hoping still to reach out for the Germans up North forcing the Russians to pull out before being completly cut of in the west and thus clearing the danger for Germany to be attacked where it'll be the closest to it's capital.
Whilst the Austrians where relieved as the Russians where in a bit of a disarray and didn't manage to pose much of a threat it came like with the Germans from the other side of their nation.
The Serbians Attack.
At night they crossed the Sava and waited on the banks near the fortifications of Peterwardein and attacked at dawn defeating the 5. Armee under von Frank who retreated to Novi Sad in the North.
Von Österreich most displeased by this retreat and leaving Peterwardein in the hands of the Serbs did see hope as in April the Bulgarians whos wargoals had been recognized earlier in March declared war officialy this month, having prepared they could enter Serbia on the moments notice with 2 armies and more underway from the east.
This however ment that Greece who no longer could stand by decided to side with the enemy and declared war shortly after the Bulgarians. This wasn't much of a concern since the Greek army wasn't large enough to become a serious threat but granting acces now to enemy troops from the larger nations they could provide a jumping board for the armies of Britain and France to attack Austria-Hungary, Ottoman Empire and Bulgaria it could become one thus spies are being send to be on the look out for any activity of the sort.
Late April saw a counter attack by von Frank to recapture Peterwardein but it wasn't succesful as the Serbians held and forced von Frank to retreat again back into Novi Sad and thus von Österreich ordered the 6. Armee under Potiorek to leave Sarajevo and head North.
Hopefully the Serbian forces will be stretched thin to cover both East and West.
