ABSTRACT
The conviction that French "passivity" had played an important role in her defeat would help the acceptance of tactical offensive doctrines in the years before the Great War. The French understanding of strategic planning changed remarkably little since 1818. The story of the French Army until 1914 is as much one of continuity as of innovation. The problem with the French Army in 1914 was not so much its adoption of a flawed tactical doctrine, offensive a outrance, for no continental army had a significantly more effective tactical doctrine at the beginning of the Great War. The continuities of the French frontier would insure its relevance. Even the Maginot Line would have garnered old Pelet's approval had it been used as intended, to channelize a German offensive and allow the French Army to concentrate powerful reserves for a counter-attack.
