From Lorraine to where was there a complete line of entrenched German forces facing Britain and France ?
After the battle Erich von Falkenhayn reasoned that it was no longer possible for Germany to win the war , and on 18 November 1914 he called for a diplomatic solution , but Chancellor Theobald von Bethmann - Hollweg , Paul von Hindenburg and Erich Ludendorff disagreed .