The Pre-Sedan phase of the war saw France begin the war against Germany with a large standing army of professional and trained soldiers. Often quite experienced from the various adventures of the French Empire. Though it also saw a poorly managed mobilization that saw the army pushed into the fight before it was ready. Not only that, but the army also deployed in a way that its left and right wings were at risk of being split by the Vosges Mountains, leaving them isolated from each other.