Fallen French captain in a field on the Marne, ca. September 1914. Today 109 years ago, August 22, 1914, is known for the French Army suffering 27,000 deaths on the Western Front. The bloodshed happened during the Battle of the Frontiers, the initial phase of the Western Front. The French attacked uncoordinated some 15 different times across the front on August 22, 1914, though it was mainly in the Battles of Rossignol, Charleroi and the the Ardennes that the losses occurred. The French suffered immense casualties by advancing en masse across open terrain in broad daylight with minimal artillery support, wearing extremely visible dark blue and red uniforms into German machine-guns and artillery, deploying outdated 19th century tactics. The French military doctrine was that enough "offensive spirit" could overcome any defense. This led to the French infantry recklessly but uselessly charging into certain death. Following the doctrine, the French officers refused to retreat du...