The Battle of Mulhouse, fought in the opening days of World War I, was a significant early engagement that highlighted the challenges of French military strategy against a determined German defense. As part of the broader Battle of the Frontiers, this battle in Alsace revealed the complexities of modern warfare and set the tone for the brutal conflict that would follow. This article provides a detailed exploration of the Battle of Mulhouse, covering its time and date, location, causes, course, casualties, and outcome, offering valuable insights for historians and enthusiasts.
Time and Date of the Battle
The Battle of Mulhouse occurred from August 7 to August 10, 1914, with the main fighting concentrated on August 7–8 and a second attempt on August 9–10. The battle was one of the earliest engagements of World War I, taking place just days after Germany’s declaration of war on France on August 3, 1914. The initial French offensive began in the early morning of August 7, with combat continuing intermittently over the next few days until the French withdrawal on August 10.
Location of the Battle
The Battle of Mulhouse was fought in the region of Alsace, near the city of Mulhouse (Mülhausen in German), in what is now eastern France, close to the Swiss and German borders. Mulhouse, an industrial hub, was strategically located in the Sundgau region, approximately 30 kilometers northeast of Basel, Switzerland, and 100 kilometers south of Strasbourg. The terrain around Mulhouse featured rolling hills, forests, and open fields, with the city itself situated near the Rhine River. The battle extended to nearby towns such as Altkirch, Cernay, and Thann, as French forces attempted to advance into German-held Alsace. The region’s proximity to the fortified German frontier made it a focal point for France’s early offensive.
Causes of the Conflict
The Battle of Mulhouse was a direct result of the broader tensions that ignited World War I, combined with specific French strategic and nationalistic goals. Key causes included:
- Outbreak of World War I: The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand on June 28, 1914, triggered a cascade of declarations of war. Germany’s declaration against France on August 3, 1914, activated the Schlieffen Plan, which prioritized a rapid advance through Belgium to defeat France before turning to Russia. France, allied with Russia and Britain through the Entente Cordiale, responded with its own war plan, Plan XVII, which emphasized offensive operations to reclaim lost territories.
- French Desire to Reclaim Alsace-Lorraine: Alsace and Lorraine, annexed by Germany after the Franco-Prussian War of 1870–71, were potent symbols of French national pride. The French General Staff, led by General Joseph Joffre, prioritized their recapture as a moral and strategic objective. Mulhouse, a key industrial city in Alsace, was seen as an achievable target to boost morale and disrupt German control.
- Plan XVII’s Offensive Strategy: France’s Plan XVII called for aggressive assaults into Alsace and Lorraine to exploit perceived German weaknesses. The French believed a rapid offensive could recapture Mulhouse and push toward the Rhine, underestimating German preparedness and the strength of their fortifications.
- German Defensive Preparations: Germany’s Seventh Army, under General Josias von Heeringen, was tasked with defending Alsace. Anticipating French attacks, the Germans fortified key positions around Mulhouse, leveraging the region’s terrain and their superior artillery and machine-gun emplacements.
- Mobilization and Escalation: The rapid mobilization of millions of troops in early August 1914 created an atmosphere of urgency. France’s need to strike quickly to offset Germany’s advance through Belgium drove the decision to launch an early offensive in Alsace, setting the stage for the Battle of Mulhouse.
These factors combined to make Mulhouse a critical early target, as France sought to reclaim lost territory and assert its military strength.
Course of the Battle
The Battle of Mulhouse was part of the broader Battle of the Frontiers, marking France’s first major offensive into German-held territory. It unfolded in two phases, with the French VII Corps, under General Louis Bonneau, facing the German Seventh Army. The battle’s progression revealed the flaws in French strategy and the strength of German defenses.
First Offensive (August 7–8, 1914)
On the morning of August 7, 1914, the French VII Corps, comprising approximately 32,500 men from the 14th and 15th Divisions, supported by artillery and cavalry, crossed the border into Alsace. The initial objective was to capture Altkirch, a town 15 kilometers southwest of Mulhouse, as a stepping stone to the city. French troops, motivated by patriotic fervor, advanced with bayonets fixed, adhering to the doctrine of offensive à outrance (all-out attack).
The French encountered light resistance from German outposts and captured Altkirch by mid-morning, suffering minimal casualties (around 100). Emboldened, General Bonneau ordered an advance toward Mulhouse, 15 kilometers northeast. By the afternoon of August 7, French troops entered Mulhouse, greeted by cheering Alsatian civilians who viewed them as liberators. However, the French advance was poorly coordinated, with inadequate reconnaissance and overextended supply lines.
The German Seventh Army, under General von Heeringen, quickly organized a counteroffensive. On August 8, German reinforcements, including the XIV and XV Corps, launched a counterattack from fortified positions around Mulhouse. The Germans, equipped with 77mm field guns and Maxim machine guns, exploited the open terrain to devastating effect. French troops, lacking sufficient artillery support and unprepared for defensive warfare, were overwhelmed. By the evening of August 8, Bonneau ordered a retreat to Altkirch, abandoning Mulhouse after less than a day of occupation.
Second Offensive (August 9–10, 1914)
Determined to salvage the campaign, General Joffre reinforced the VII Corps with elements of the First Army, under General Pierre Dubail, and formed the Army of Alsace under General Paul Pau. On August 9, the French launched a second attempt to capture Mulhouse, advancing through Cernay and Thann. The renewed offensive initially gained ground, with French troops re-entering Mulhouse by early afternoon.
However, the Germans had fortified their positions and received additional reinforcements. German artillery, positioned on high ground, bombarded French columns, while machine-gun fire decimated advancing infantry. The French, still relying on outdated tactics like massed bayonet charges, suffered heavy losses. By the morning of August 10, German counterattacks, supported by superior coordination and firepower, forced the French to withdraw again. The Army of Alsace retreated across the border to Belfort, marking the end of the battle.
Strategic Consequences
The failure at Mulhouse exposed the weaknesses of Plan XVII, particularly its overreliance on offensive tactics and underestimation of German defensive capabilities. The French retreat left Alsace in German hands and strained resources needed for other fronts, particularly in Belgium, where the German advance continued unchecked. The battle also led to Bonneau’s dismissal, as Joffre sought to reorganize French forces for subsequent engagements.
Casualties
The Battle of Mulhouse was a costly engagement for both sides, though the French bore the brunt of the losses due to their aggressive tactics and exposure to German firepower. Exact figures vary, but estimates include:
- French: Approximately 4,000 casualties (killed, wounded, and missing), with around 1,000 killed during the two offensives. The VII Corps suffered heavily, particularly on August 8, when German artillery and machine guns inflicted significant losses during the retreat from Mulhouse.
- German: Approximately 3,000 casualties, including 800–1,000 killed. The German Seventh Army, fighting from fortified positions, sustained fewer losses due to their defensive advantage and effective use of artillery.
These figures, while relatively small compared to later battles like Verdun or the Somme, were significant for an early engagement and highlighted the destructive power of modern weaponry, even in a short campaign.
Who Won the Battle of Mulhouse?
The German Empire decisively won the Battle of Mulhouse. The German Seventh Army, under General Josias von Heeringen, repelled both French offensives, retaining control of Mulhouse and Alsace. The French failure to hold the city, despite initial gains, exposed the flaws in Plan XVII and the unpreparedness of the French army for modern warfare. While the French briefly occupied Mulhouse on August 7 and 9, German counterattacks forced their retreat by August 10, securing a tactical and strategic victory for Germany. The battle’s outcome bolstered German confidence in their defensive strategy while weakening French morale and resources in the opening phase of the war.
Conclusion
The Battle of Mulhouse, fought from August 7 to 10, 1914, was a sobering lesson for France in the early days of World War I. Driven by the desire to reclaim Alsace and the aggressive tactics of Plan XVII, the French VII Corps and Army of Alsace suffered a costly defeat against a well-prepared German Seventh Army. The battle, centered around Mulhouse and nearby towns, revealed the limitations of French offensive doctrine against modern defenses, with approximately 4,000 French and 3,000 German casualties.
Germany’s victory solidified its hold on Alsace and set the stage for further clashes in the Battle of the Frontiers, while France’s retreat underscored the challenges of the war ahead. For historians and students, the Battle of Mulhouse serves as a critical case study in the strategic miscalculations and devastating human cost of World War I’s opening phase, highlighting the transition to a new era of industrialized warfare.
