Cauldron Battles

(Cauldron Battles)

This time in August, 1914, the Battle of Tannenberg was fought in East Prussia between the German 8th Army and two invading Russian armies, the 1st and the 2nd, advancing from Russian Poland. It was at this point that two German generals, Paul von Hindenburg and Erich Ludendorff were sent to command the 8th. In the subsequent action, the Russian 2nd Army was encircled and largely destroyed, a cauldron battle, its commander committing suicide. However, 8th Army's plan to hold 1st Army in place and then maneuver its divisions south to envelop the Russian 2nd Army had already been conceptualized by excellent staff officer, Colonel Max Hoffman. Hindenburg had been recalled to service and Ludendorff was named his deputy. When Tannenberg was fought with devastating results for the Russians, it had been the two commanders of 8th Army who received the renown.


It is being discussed that the 2024 Presidential Election could prove to be another battle of annihilation, another cauldron. At least that is the theory if the GOP nominee is again Donald Trump. Now arguments made on this matter have been amended over these last months as the weakness of President Biden becomes more manifest. The idea that any new Biden-Trump rematch defaults to the former has proven less certain. The possibility exists within Democrat circles that the Biden-Harris team could be replaced as confidence in Biden's ultimate victory begins to wane. Therefore, one can look at this example.


When war was declared, Germany sent most of its armies west to attack France based on its Schlieffen Plan. The 8th Army was alone in East Prussia and at first, its commander, General Maxamillian von Pritwitz, wanted to withdraw behind the Vistula River, in essence abandoning East Prussia. That was why he was replaced by the Hindenburg/Ludendorff team. In this example, Biden would be General Pritwitz. Democrats, in order to replace him would need the equivalent of its own Hindenburg/Ludendorff but also find its own Max Hoffmann.


What would this do to the broader electorate ? How would the calculations on defeating former President Trump, again, change if Biden is removed ? The going theory has been that it does not matter since Trump has his legal issues and various court appearances to contend with and the hope of Democrats that keeps Trump occupied. If polling data is to be believed, there remains a significant segment of the population that would rather die than vote for the former President. People have yet to see who Democrats select for their Hindenburg, their Ludendorff, or their Hoffman.

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