quality of soldiers (GWU)

• Was skill of soldiers more important than generalship determining outcome?

  Moltke understood with developments to the rifled musket, frontal assaults were no longer feasible. He advocated use of small unit advances, each branching off then converging on the target. However the use of mission tactics was largely reliant on the highly skilled soldiers of the German army who were able to delegate command and use their initiative on the battlefield, showcased with their capture of Napoleon III and over 100000 of his forces following Sedan which contributed massively to the outcome of the FPW
• Argument Moltke shows how the skill of generals is more important than size of armies in APW?

  He was outnumbered- his army was around 326,000 strong whilst his 2 enemies had 270,000 (Austrians) and 120,000 (North-German state). But using his principles he left only 48,000 to defend against the N-G army. The remainder went against the Austrians and using 5 railway lines to coordinate movement of his forces he defeated them by frontal attack with one army, whilst the second attacked from the side. His 48,000 defeated the Northern German army and captured Hanover.
• How did QS affect the nature of the GWU?


  The Prussians increased their standards of training so they had more skill and flexibility, this allowed them to perform their rapid manoeuvres like at Sedan 1870 where they outflanked the French and encircled them. The high skill allowed them to use complex tactics
• How did the French soldiers lack of weapons training affect the outcome?


  They were unable to use the latest kit (Mitrailleuse) which could've given them an advantage to win if the soldiers had been trained to use it
• What allowed Moltke to carry out his highly effective and speedy mobilisation plans and perfect use of the Prussian 'mission tactics' to avoid frontal assaults?


  The individual skill level of the highly trained Prussian army which was less reliant on conscripted soldiers