Race to the Sea

Following its defeat in First Battle of the Marne, German Empire changes its tactic in the West for a more... minimalistic one.

The commanders of the German Empire's army didn't foresee their humiliating defeat in the battle of the Marne. When that actually happened and the Schlieffen Plan had to be thrown out to the trash bin - together with general Helmuth von Moltke, chief of German General Staff that was seen as responsible for this 'mess' - a new plan had to be taken.   What followed was a Race to the Sea. A period of military engagements near the northern flank of the Western Front. German Empire hoped to take as many ports (especially Dunquerque and Calais) from the French Republic to slow down the process of arrival of British reinforcements.   The battle was ultimately indecisive, as while the German Empire failed to achieve its goals, those of the opposing side (counteroffensive and pushing Germans back) weren't realized as well. It was the last battle that could be seen as even remotely manoeuvre one, as soon enough both sides were bogged down in the first period of trench warfare.