| Aufmarschplan |
|
German strategic deployment plan |
| Burgfrieden |
|
Literally, “castle truce;” used by Wilhelm II in 1914 to announce an end to domestic strife |
| Cannae |
|
Battle of the Second Punic War in which Hannibal in 216 BC—in one of the greatest tactical feats in military history—defeated a superior Roman army under Consuls Lucius Aemilius Paullus and Gaius Terentius Varro; model for Alfred von Schlieffen |
| Casus belli |
|
An occasion for war |
| Casus foederis |
|
A case within the stipulations of a treaty |
| Climacteric |
|
A major turning point, or critical stage; a Churchill term |
| Coup de main |
|
A bold strike; see also Handstreich |
| Coup de théâtre |
|
A theatrical blow |
| Couverture |
|
French: “covering force” |
| En avant! |
|
Forward! |
| Ersatz |
|
Draft replacements |
| Francs-tireurs |
|
Irregulars; guerrillas; common term for armed civilians |
| Handstreich |
|
A bold strike; see also Coup de main |
| Hors de combat |
|
“Put out of the fight;” casualties |
| Kriegsgefahr |
|
Danger of war; state of German premobilization |
| Landser |
|
German term for common soldier |
| Landwehr |
|
German reserve; Territorial Army (British); National Guard (American) |
| Offensive à outrance |
|
All-out offensive; French army doctrine |
| Poilu |
|
French term for common soldier |
| La position fortifée |
|
Fortified positions, such as Liège, Namur, Nancy, Verdun |
| Pantalon rouge |
|
“Red trousers;” worn by French soldiers |
| Plan de renseignements |
|
French: “deployment plan” |
| Schlacke |
|
“Cinders;” applied to German troops at the Marne |
| Schwenkungsflügel |
|
“Pivot wing;” applied to German First, Second, and Third armies |
| Soixante-quinzes |
|
75s; French 75mm guns |
| Union sacrée |
|
“Sacred union;” French domestic truce of 1914 |
| Vollmacht |
|
Full power of authority |
| Westaufmarsch |
|
German strategic deployment plan in the west |
