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What were the aims of the schlieffen plan?

Designed to achieve a quick victory against France in the West and then concentrate onRussia in the East.

Formulated in 1905 by Alfred Graf von Schlieffen, Chief of the German General Staff.

Aim was to defeat France in six weeks, using the main German force with minimum defenceagainst Russia, then to concentrate all force on Russia.

In the west, heaviest force on right wing invade France through Low Countries, outflankFrench defences in Lorraine, minimal defence there, encircle Paris and force surrender.

What modifications to the plan were made by von moltke

Improve balance right and left, more defence against Lorraine. Only invade Belgium, not Holland. Need Holland for Germany to breathe. Schlieffen Plan hampered by growing concern in Austria about Serbia and the possibility of a

war between them (would weaken Austrias support for Germany against Russia in Poland).

What was the impact of Belgian resistance?

the decision not to invade through Holland slowed the German mobilisation as they wereforced to squeeze through a more narrow area between the Ardennes and the Dutch border.

This allowed time for Belgian and French mobilisation and for Britain to move troops to

Belgium.

Belgian resistance was stronger than anticipated by the Germans (Liege). The British slowedthe German advance at Mons.

It also meant that the supplies for Germany were halted.How was the plan changed during the invasion?

The Schlieffen Plan was changed on 29 August when the German 1st Army under von Kluckwheeled to the east of Paris instead of the west. This was a fundamental departure from von

Schlieffens plans of encircling Paris, and exposed the right flank of the Germans to attack.

Why did the schlieffen plan fail?

The decision not to invade through Holland slowed the German mobilisation as they wereforced to squeeze through a more narrow area between the Ardennes and the Dutch border.

This allowed time for Belgian and French mobilisation and for Britain to move troops to

Belgium.

Belgian resistance was stronger than anticipated by the Germans (Liege). The British slowedthe German advance at Mons.

There were serious problems of transportation and supply for the Germans. Despite meetingmore resistance from Belgium than expected, they were ahead of schedule and could not

maintain supplies for their soldiers. This was particularly important at the Battle of the

Marne.

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The thrust of the swinging right flank (German first army under von Kluck) was weakened byvon Moltkes revision of the plan (1911) and by moving troops from the right flank to

Lorraine, Antwerp and Russia during the invasion.

The French Plan XVII left the Franco-Belgian border largely undefended and contributed tothe near success of the Schlieffen Plan. The French attacked in Lorraine but after a disaster

(200,000 men lost) Plan XVII was abandoned and the troops were moved to defend against

the German advance through Belgium.

Germany had problems with communications and intelligence. Von Kluck decided to movecloser to the 2nd Army and swing east of Paris. This exposed the Germans right flank to

attack from the BEF and the French 6th Army.

Why did the stalemate on the western front begin to develop?

Defence was stronger than offense (barbed wire, machine gun, heavy artillery). Each side began a series of manoeuvres to outflank the other. This is called the race to the

sea. The aim was to gain control of the French Channel ports.

The First Battle of Ypres brought the first phase of the war to an end. This battle ended on11 Nov. 1914. Casualties: British 56,000; French 50,000; German 130,000.

The Allies kept control of the Channel ports. A line of trenches stretched from the English Channel to the Swiss border. No longer a war of movement but a war of attrition. Warfare had entered upon a phase when defence had caught up with offence. Masses of men entrenched even in open ground behind entanglements of barbed wire, and

able to put up a defensive screen of rapid gunfire made possible by the machine gun, could

now hold out against cavalry and bayonet charges. They could be driven back only afterprolonged pounding by heavy siege howitzers.

Slight gains were made at immensely disproportionate costs. The productive capacities of the two sides were, until 1917, so equal that each could make

and transport to the front quantities of guns and supplies large enough to keep the two

forces locked in close battle.