"Vince Brannigan" wrote in message
...


Keith Willshaw wrote:
"Joe Osman" wrote in message
...

Christophe Chazot wrote:


I seem to recall that The French began WWI with an offensive
into Germany and received heavy losses, which probably made
them reluctant to do so in WWII.



Hardly

WW1 began with the Germans attacking through Belgium
following the Schlieffen plan. In subsequent offensives the
French did indeed suffer horrendous casualties.


It's a mix of both On 3 August Germany attacked belgium.
They did not pass Charleroi until Until Aug 22. (althought they were
fighting the french in Belgium


and the BEF

On august 8 Joffre ordered the French offensive into Alsace Teh Germswn
wer suppsoed to withdraw and trap the French from behind but they made
the studid decison to contest the french advance.

http://www.firstworldwar.com/battles/lorraine.htm


The 3rd coming before the 8th it would seem that the
opening gambit was indeed a German attack and
the fact of the French offensive having occurred on the 8th
would appear to make it subsequent.

In any event French losses around Mulhouse were light,
the town itself having been taken without serious opposition
the French were subsequently on the defensive.

Keith