World War 1 Preparation Plans (WWI AP WORLD)

Following Germany's defeat of France in the Franco-Prussian War (1870-71), European nations prepared for inevitable future conflicts.
Conflicting ambitions among major powers fueled tensions, particularly France's desire to reclaim Alsace and Lorraine from Germany.

Objectives:
- Developed by Ferdinand Foch and adopted by Joseph Joffre in 1913.
- Aimed at recapturing Alsace and Lorraine amid expectations of French superiority based on national spirit (élan vital).
Strategy:
- Offensive, deploying four French armies to invade Alsace-Lorraine.
- Southern wing focused on capturing Alsace and Lorraine; northern wing would decide actions based on German movements.
Challenges:
- Little preparation for a potential German advance through Belgium until war declaration.
- Overconfidence in deterring German invasion due to British support led to inadequate defensive measures in August 1914.
- Misjudged German reserve forces and underestimated the effectiveness of the Schlieffen Plan.
Outcome:
- Initial attacks in Alsace and Lorraine were disastrous, leading to a defensive stance for the French army.

Overview:
- Designed by Count Alfred von Schlieffen, this plan addressed a two-front war against France and Russia.
Key Assumptions:
- Assumed slow Russian mobilization (six weeks) allowed time for a rapid victory over France.
Execution:
- Aimed to invade France through Belgium, employing five German armies in a wide flanking maneuver towards Paris.
- Ensured minimal forces would stay in the east to delay Russian advances.
Advantages:
- Outflanking French forces aimed to encircle and destroy them, keeping major resistance in France rather than Germany.
Weaknesses:
- Supply and communication difficulties hampered operations; reliance on fast mobilization led to overextension of forces.
- Unanticipated French resilience and effective counter-strategy at the First Battle of the Marne shifted to trench warfare.

Context:
- Plans are less known due to focus on larger powers.
Plan B:
- Aimed at dealing primarily with Serbia, deploying six armies – three for invasion and three to guard against Russian advances.
Plan R:
- Revised to strengthen defenses against potential Russian support for Serbia, eventually deploying four armies against Russia and two against Serbia.

Plan G:
- Predicted a German attack against Russia while allowing initial losses to protect against further territorial loss.
- Relied on manpower reserves to turn the tide once mobilization was complete.
Plan 19:
- Aimed at a more aggressive strategy while preparing for a German offensive against France.
- Intended simultaneous Russian advances into East Prussia and Silesia without the disregard for initial losses.

Approach:
- No formal war strategy; focused on protecting trade interests and supporting Belgium and France after initial conflict onset.
- The British Expeditionary Force (BEF) mobilized to aid allies, expecting a lengthy preparation timeline.

Neutrality Constraints:
- Could not prepare openly for war. Concentrated defenses west of the River Meuse.
Troop Composition:
- Armed forces included 117,000 field troops and 67,000 fortress troops.

War Preparation:
- Prepared to double its army from five to ten divisions upon declaration of war, waiting to assess Austria-Hungary's tactical intentions.

Position:
- Initially dedicated to neutrality as stated by President Wilson; swift increase in exports to Allies fueled interest in their victory.
Impact of Events:
- Incidents like the Lusitania sinking swayed public opinion against Germany.
- Wilson's Fourteen Points aimed at post-war peace advocated for League of Nations and various reforms but faced congressional resistance.