1.5: War Begins- The Schlieffen plan

The Schlieffen Plan

• German General Alfred Von Schlieffen created this attack on France.
• Germany had to be prepared to fight both France and Russia, avoid war on 2 front.
• The plan was based on 5 assumptions

1. Russia’s large but backwards, army would take months to mobilize.
2. Belgium could be intimidated into allowing Germany to pass through w/o proposition.
3. France would surrender if Paris was taken.
4. Britain would not be able to send its army in time to save France.
5. Germany was Strong enough to defeat any one opponent with ease.

Why did the plan fail?

• Belgium fought back, causing the Germans to waste time fighting them.
• Russia took only 6 weeks to prepare, and began invading German.
• German troops that made it through Belgium turned south too soon.
• German troops attacked by British troops.
• German advances were stoppped at the Marne River and both sides dug in.
• German army had to split because of 2 fronts of France and Russia.
• Turned out to be a long costly war, which Germany was trying to avoid.