The Entente's grand, high-profile moves naturally could not be concealed from the Germans, but how to respond was another question altogether.
Once the Entente exerted force on the eastern, western, and southern fronts simultaneously, the Alliance's days would become difficult. The Austro-Hungarian Empire was clearly no longer capable of containing both Bulgaria and Russia at once; even facing either one alone would be difficult!
By the principle that those capable should bear more of the burden, the Germans naturally had to step in themselves. And then came the problem. First, the German army would lack sufficient troops to cover all three fronts at once. Second, logistical supplies would be difficult to guarantee!
Falkenhayn, the German Chief of the General Staff, had already returned to Berlin. Taking over command of the troops was the famed German commander, Marshal August von Mackensen.
Falkenhayn proposed, "Your Majesty, the Russians are already crippled. At the very least, they cannot cause us trouble this winter. If it is only Bulgaria, the Austro-Hungarian Empire should be able to handle it. We should concentrate our forces on achieving a breakthrough on the Western Front. So long as we can breach Paris, we can force the French to withdraw from the war!"
Having just won a great victory on the Eastern Front, Falkenhayn clearly hoped to replicate that miracle on the Western Front—achieving an exchange ratio of one to two, or even one to three, and using brutal casualties to force the French out of the war.
However, his proposal did not receive the support of the German High Command. Chancellor Theobald von Bethmann Hollweg questioned him, "Chief of Staff, how can you be certain that once we launch a full-scale offensive on the Western Front, the Russians will not counterattack?
"The Russians would not even need to