Ready

On the morning of August 20, the weather was fine and bright. The once-raging North Sea had calmed, and the Dover Strait was equally tranquil.

At Calais, within the Headquarters for Operations Against Britain, Field Marshal von Falkenhayn, the Minister of War and Chief of Staff, had personally arrived to serve as Commander for Operations Against Britain, assuming full responsibility for directing the Imperial Army's war against the British Army.

Field Marshal von Falkenhayn rose at five that morning. By the time he had washed, dressed, eaten breakfast, and arrived at the operations room, he discovered that all the important generals participating in this operation against Britain had already gathered there.

General Kluck, Commander of the Imperial Army's 1st Army Corps; General Bülow, Commander of the Imperial Army's 2nd Army Corps; General Hutier, Commander of the Imperial Army's 3rd Army Corps; Lieutenant General Ludendorff, acting commander of the Imperial Army's 8th Army Corps; Lieutenant General Waldersee, Deputy Chief of Staff; and Lieutenant General Seeckt, Commander of the Army Air Corps, were all present. Important naval officers had also arrived: General Reinhard Scheer, Commander of the High Seas Fleet; Vice Admiral Hipper, Chief of Staff; Major General Richter Fiers, Commander of the Bombardment Formation; and Lieutenant General Alexander Linsingen, Commander of the Marine Corps.

Lieutenant General Ludendorff and Lieutenant General Seeckt had only just assumed their new posts. Ludendorff was only fifty this year; becoming the commander of an army corps at such an age was undoubtedly exceptionally young. That was why the word "acting" had been added before his title. But everyone knew that once this war was over, the word "acting" could be removed. Moreover, his rank would be promoted to general.

From Ludendorff's assignment to the 8th Army Corps to his appointment as corps commander, only three years