Germany had six weeks to defeat France before Russia attacked her. This is due to the fact that the failure prolonged the . Fighting in late August caused General Karl von Blow, commander of the Second Army, serious problems. Even if Britain did defend Belgium, the Kaiser believed that there was no need to fear the British Expeditionary Force, which he called a 'contemptible little army'. He joined the army when he turned 18 years old. The plan was to invade France and capture Paris before the Russians could mobilize. It took little account of Allied counter-moves. Instead of doing this head-on against the heavily fortified French border, Germany would instead first invade neutral Belgium and the Netherlands and then attack France through their northern borders. So he only needed a small defensive force toward Russia while Germany was fighting France. Above all else, this doctrine created aggressive and flexible leaders. Germany went to war with the plan of Helmuth von Moltke. They advanced a hundred miles in France. What would have happened if the Schlieffen Plan had succeeded? Subscribe to our channel and dont miss our new episodes every Thursday. At precisely the same time the Schlieffen Plan was put into action, its opposite, the Frenchs Plan XVII, was enacted. Six weeks later, Europe found itself on the brink of the 20th centurys first world war. Six days of battles followed, known collectively as the Battle of the Marne. As Schlieffen retired from service in 1906, Helmuth von Moltke (the Younger) went on to replace him. While the Allies suffered as heavily as the Germans, they gained a strategic victory. Learn more. He thought that war was inevitable. What was Belgium? Schlieffen favored the use of a strong defense, followed by a devastating counter-offensive to defeat Germanys enemies. Russia mobilized its troops quicker than expected. Rebuffed, Schlieffen responded with belligerence, and he was dismissed. He reduced German forces that would attack France and invaded through Belgium instead of the Netherlands during the initial offensive. Simply put, Germanys geopolitical challenge was the possibility of war on two fronts simultaneously. Read more. While the French, Belgians, and British were not doing well, they were not doing as badly as predicted in the original plan. The victorious Allies looked upon the Schlieffen Plan as the source of German aggression against neutral countries, and it became the basis of war guilt and reparations. Every day they stalled the German advance was a day in which the Schlieffen plan fell behind. They all came together and supported WWI. Catastrophe 1914. Schlieffens plan was a sweeping, bold conception of how to achieve victory in a two-front war. Further summaries have been discovered over subsequent decades, opening new debates about Schlieffens true intentions and the implementation of his plan. Germany could place their military might on one frontier, and then move it to another one. Last updated 2011-03-30. Enzyklopdie Erster Weltkrieg, Schningh Paderborn, 2004Michalka, Wolfgang. That lead to the turning point in this war because they could not fight on the sea anymore. Great Britain subsequently declared war on Germany for violating Belgiums neutrality. Throughout the remainder of the war, German officers searched for a process by which the stalemate of the trenches could be broken. This was a crucial moment: it was an admission that the Schlieffen Plan had ultimately not succeeded and was the beginning of trench warfare. The French followed their own strategy, Plan XVII, with support from the British. German general General Alfred von Schlieffen, The plan failed because it wasnt realistic, both Russia and France wanted to battle Germany, they employed a similar (though not identical) version in WWII, The Impact of World War INew World Disorder, The Great Powers of World War IGermanys Revolution, War, Nutritionism, and the Great Depression, The Great Powers of World War I Germanys Revolution, The Assassination ofArchduke Franz Ferdinand: Europe on the Brink of World War I. The Germans also downplayed the political ramifications of invading neutral Belgium. Please feel free to fill out our Contact Form. Developed long before the war itself, the German Schlieffen Plan was part of an extensive military preparation. He proposed in 1905 that Germanys advantage over France and Russiaits likely opponents in a continental warwas that the two were separated. Instead, Germany went on the offensive on the Western Front, despite not having the manpower. European leaders largely credited the dominant German victory in the war due to their wargaming plans and other nations adopted the practice so as to keep pace in the arms race. The Schlieffen Plan changed a little as the European tension increased. [], On June 28, 1914, the heir to the Habsburg throne, Archduke Franz Ferdinand, and his wife were both assassinated in the capital of Bosnia, Sarajevo. This assumption proved to be false, as Britain joined the war just days after the German invasion of Belgium. 1. If successful, Germany would move troops from the French front to the Russian front within a weeks time using modernized railways (trains). The failure of the Schlieffen Plan also resulted from several incorrect assumptions that hampered the attack. Why did the Schlieffen Plan fail? Belgium refused to let Germany pass through their land without fighting. Check out these resources that help develop your pupils' understanding of what happened during the Great War and the impact it had. The resistance of the Belgians and the BEF prevented this. Stressing the cult of the offensive, Plan XVII tended to underestimate German reserves that could be deployed in the defense of these territories and, in a very real sense, played into the expectations of the Schlieffen Plan. Q: What was the purpose of the Schlieffen Plan? And as military technology, including that of tanks, motor vehicles, aircraft and radios, was developed during the 1920s and 30s, so it was grafted onto this doctrinal framework. Schlieffen set about creating a doctrine that would allow the outnumbered German army to outfight its opponents. The British Expeditionary Force (BEF), mobilized quickly and was thrown into battle in northern France. The objective of the alliance was to encourage co-operation against the perceived threat of Germany. It meant sending the entire flanking force through Belgium, a greater logistical challenge. The plan used at the beginning of World War I had been modified by Helmuth von Moltke, who reduced the size of the attacking army and was blamed for Germanys failure to win a quick victory. Then Russia was quicker to respond than the Germans thought. The German advance had been hampered by fiercer Belgian resistance than had been anticipatedas well as by the destruction of railroads and other strategic assets by the Belgians or the Frenchand was also slowed by German anxieties by the fear of snipers. In the city, trenches were being dug and barricades built on the approach roads leading into the city. HAAD Certified Dentists in Abu Dhabi. On August 4, 1914, German troops invaded Belgium. and in the process, capturing Paris. Germany went to war with Russia on August 1st, 1914. Our editors will review what youve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. And in 1940, influenced by this experience, the British and French leaders of World War Two were still expecting to fight a war in which the defensive would dominate. Germany faced a war on two fronts. Were happy if we can contribute with our videos. The slowing advance allowed France time to regroup and organize a defensive stand. It didnt work because Russian troops attacked Germany while German troops were busy invading France. The Schlieffen Plan - Why Britain Joined WW1 - GCSE HistoryThe Schlieffen Plan was the whole reason why Britain joined WW1. Although the two armies had more than 3,500 tanks between them, these were largely cast in a supporting role. Due to the Schlieffen Plan, a war against Russia in the east forced the Germans to immediately make war against France in the west. A 200-mile advance through Belgium and France, with fierce fighting along the way, had exhausted many German troops. Russia would take six weeks to mobilise their army. The Schlieffen plan failed mainly because the Belgians put up a fight, the Russians mobilised quicker than expected, and the plan was changed. But it turned out to be an ugly way of wearing everyone down during World War I. The Schlieffen Plan was used by Germany in WWI, but they employed a similar (though not identical) version in WWII. It seemed to some that this represented the triumph of military technology over old-style fortifications, a success, for the cult of the offensive. The man who crafted it was the German general chief of staff, General Alfred von Schlieffen. Made by von Schlieffen, Germany b. By 21 May, this thrust had reached the Channel and encircled 35 Allied divisions, including the BEF. Why did the Schlieffen Plan fail? Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). While the Allies relied upon tanks to break through the stalemate of the trenches in 1918, the Germans used a largely infantry force empowered by a sound tactical doctrine. Although the French army put up token resistance for several more weeks, their spirit was broken and the German advance south from Belgium was swift and decisive. As things were then, the German army was unable to defeat its enemies decisively in the war's early battles, and reluctantly settled into trench warfare in late 1914. The events in May and June 1940 proved that this outdated vision of war could not have been further from reality. During the march south through France a hole formed between the main German forces. The Schlieffen Plan disregarded the political implications of what was regarded as essentially a technical solution to a military problem. Russia also supported the Balkan region, including Serbia. The French plan, endorsed by commander Joseph Joffre, called for an all-out attack into Germany to regain the lost territories of Alsace-Lorraine, avenging the humiliating defeat of 1871, and redeeming French honor. The Schlieffen Plan, devised by Germany, was intended to force France into submission and then invade Russia. Once in French territory, the German attackers would then pivot south in a hinge-like movement, enveloping the French army. He was younger and his plan was different than Schlieffens. Helmut von Moltke adapted the original plan by Alfred von Schlieffen and ultimately failed when the Germans were beaten at the Battle of the Marne. Schlieffen himself must take some of the blame for this confusion. Once one ally was defeated, Germany would be able to combine its forces to defeat the other through massive troop concentration and rapid deployment. He made the Schlieffen Plan in 1905. Schlieffen also stressed the need to keep the enemy reacting to German moves. English and French troops had time to mobilize. units had the freedom to fight as they thought best After their defeat in 1918, German military intellectuals began reshaping the army. The combination of the execution of the wrong strategy and a series of key incorrect assumptions is why the Schlieffen Plan failed. The Schlieffen plan was also the only Germany's plan for war ("GCSE Bitesize: Extra Facts." BBC. In the Battles of the Frontiers, the Germans send their opponents reeling again and again. He is posting links, facts and backstage material on our social media channels. All rights reserved. France and Russia could then launch simultaneous offensives that Germany would have little chance of defeating. But if they had not, it might have been easier for Britain to just keep the German ships in the Baltic and defend France from naval attacks. Rather than repeating the World War One Schlieffen Plan, the Germans in 1940 advanced with their main thrust through the Ardennes Forest, in order to smash the vulnerable flank of the Allies. In World War I, both Russia and France wanted to battle Germany. He thought that the war in the West would be quick, and he also thought that Russia would take a long time to mobilize. He also decided to avoid invading the Netherlands, hoping to keep the British out of the war. this doctrine created aggressive and flexible leaders. In World War I, the Schlieffen Plan was conceived by German general General Alfred von Schlieffen and involved a surprise attack on France. From the operational ideas of Schlieffen they placed the emphasis on speed, flank attacks, encirclements and decisive battle. The Schlieffen Plan was put into action by Von Moltke on August 2, 1914. To avoid that situation, Schlieffen planned to attack France first, while Russia was still mobilizing. The British lost more ships but the Germans were left with nothing. His plan was revised at the outbreak of World War I. The Germans relied on trains to quickly transport their troops but many train lines were destroyed. Andrew Knighton is one of the authors writing for WAR HISTORY ONLINE. Despite having fewer troops than in the original plan and less space through which to advance, the Germans at first seemed to be succeeding in their plan. Schlieffen had great respect for the powers of France and Russia and knew Germany stood little chance in an all-out simultaneous two front war against both. Corrections? In short, the offensive strategy now known as the Schlieffen Plan was only meant for a one front war, with Russia remaining neutral. This plan, named Aufmarsch I West, is what is now known as the Schlieffen Plan of WWI. Germany went on the offensive against France, but with only 80% of their forces as the Russians tied up the other 20% on the eastern border. German Emperor William II and his chancellor, Bernhard von Blow, believed that Great Britains alliance with Japan would lead to an encirclement of Germany and were cautious of such an attack. This was the opportunity the allies had been waiting for. It was a plan for Germany to avoid fighting at its eastern and western fronts at the same time. It was only defeated by the Battle of the Marne. Of course! currency, the tale of Schlieffen's sevenfold preponderant right wing rests on a plain mis understanding of the Schlieffen plan. German leaders called this plan Aufmarsch II West. BBC, n.d Web.). Check out our timeline of the history of the United States for a great place to start and navigate through American history! Sign in. He was sure that if Germany were to fight a war against Russia and France at the same time, it would not be able to win. Germany and their allies would invade France through Belgium, instead of directly attacking. On 21 June 1940, early in the second year of World War Two, the French president, Marshall Philippe Ptain, sued for peace with Adolf Hitler's Third Reich. A series of battles followed. It was hoped that Paris itself would be surroundedFrench armies and French leadershipand that this would represent a military masterpiece, a battle of annihilation. Get a Britannica Premium subscription and gain access to exclusive content. Schlieffen later rewrote his plan, including an offensive against the neutral Dutch and restructuring the ratio of artillery and infantry. Within 10 days the Russians had invaded Germany, which meant that the Germans had to switch troops away from western Europe to hold up the Russian invasion. Next After von Schlieffen died, this plan was further worked on and altered by Helmuth von Moltke, his successor. There were a number of shortcomings associated with the plan. Nonetheless, Paris was to be defended. Russia would then be defeated in two weeks at most and with minimal losses to German troops. Germany wanted to avoid this at all costs. In 1839, Britain made a treaty with Belgium to keep them neutral. The Germans did not believe that Britain would go to war over their 1839 treaty with Belgium, which they described as a 'scrap of paper'. The experience of World War One had convinced German leaders that these ideas needed to be applied not only at top operational level, but also at the tactical level - by combined-arms teams capable of independent fire and manoeuvre. Life in the Trenches After the initial invasion of France by the Germans, the Allied troops pushed the German troops back to a stalemate position. History. The Schlieffen Plan was a German war strategy theorised by Alfred von Schlieffen and enacted in 1914 by Helmuth von Moltke. There were troops around Paris, and they were about to punish him for not sticking to the plan. His adjustment left more German forces in the east. He also took troops away from the vast movement that was projected for the invasion of northern France; he instead drew off some of those troops to the Eastern Front and others for the defense of the territory of Lorraine to the south. Kluck and Blow retreated in the face of the unexpected setback. While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. The Schlieffen plan had failed to knock the French out of the war. A Complete History, Holt Paperbacks, 2004.Hart, Peter. It is said that German advance troops could see the Eiffel Tower in the distance. Soon this resistance was quelled. The British Navy was also checking on ships to see if there was food for Germany. In a general European war, Germany would face France in the west and Russia in the east, and would need to defeat France within six weeks before Russia mobilised her troops. the lack of communication between the soldiers and their leaders and, the leadership that the leader led them throughout the plan, the amount of assumptions that the Germans made . France had to be defeated - and this did not happen. By early September, they had reached the Marne River, some 20 miles from Paris. While you will be able to view the content of this page in your current browser, you will not be able to get the full visual experience. This was not the first time Germans had tried to fight in a war on two fronts. English. II: Germany's Initial Conquests in Europe by German Research Institute for Military History (Clarendon Press, 1991), Storm of Steel: The Development of Armor Doctrine in Germany and the Soviet Union, 1919- 1939 by Mary B Habeck (Cornell University Press, 2003). After all, during the disastrous campaign in Belgium and France, it had seemed as if German tanks and aircraft were everywhere. The battles are remembered but not the schemes that led to them. German troops rushed through Belgium and Luxembourg into France. Count Alfred von Schlieffen died on January 4th, 1913. That last group was to block any French attempt to counterattack, and it could be detached and transported to the extreme right if necessary. However, the modern technology was merely used to enhance the capabilities that had already been provided, thanks to the army's strategic doctrine. The Allies believed that 'blitzkrieg' was dependent on new technology, such as tanks and dive-bombers The Schlieffen plan was also the only Germany's plan for war ("GCSE Bitesize: Extra Facts." BBC. In the process of the German advance, as the Schlieffen Plan continued to move through the stages of its prospective sections, it was discovered that a gap had opened up between the advancing German armies, between the First Army under General von Kluck and the Second Army under General von Blow. Schlieffen wished to emulate Hannibal by provoking an Entscheidungsschlacht (decisive battle), using a massive force, in a single act, to bring a swift and conclusive victory. Find out on AlternateHistoryHub: http://bit.ly/1VJ9T0UThe Schlieffen Plan was the blueprint fo. Accordingly, convinced that they were facing a repeat of the German strategy of 1914, Allied commanders moved the bulk of their forces from the Franco-Belgian border into defensive positions within Belgium to await the continuation of the German attack. \" HOW CAN I SUPPORT YOUR CHANNEL?You can support us by sharing our videos with your friends and spreading the word about our work.You can also support us financially on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/thegreatwarPatreon is a platform for creators like us, that enables us to get monthly financial support from the community in exchange for cool perks. This forced the Germans to close the gap, though this meant that the western most army did not go far enough west. Germanys strategy was to first deal with Russian forces in the east. It seemed clear to him, given the Alliances, that one day Germany would be at war with both Russia and its ally France. It was an ambitious plan designed to avoid Germany having to fight a two-front war against France and Russia. The victorious Allies looked upon the Schlieffen Plan as the source of German aggression against neutral countries, and it became the basis of war guilt and reparations. Why did the Schlieffen Plan fail? He was wrong. Should one nation go to war, it could drag virtually the entire continent along with it. blitzkrieg was not a brand-new way of waging war. In-text: (BBC - Standard Grade Bitesize History - The Schlieffen Plan : Revision, Page 3, 2015) Your Bibliography: Bbc.co.uk. The Failure of the Schlieffen Plan The Failure of the Schlieffen Plan In 1914, Germany believed that they would go to war with Russia. As well as the fact that Germany's army simply wasn't strong enough. The Schlieffen Plan The most influential plan was that of Germany - the Schlieffen Plan - drawn up in 1905 by General Alfred von Schlieffen. The plans weaknesseswere already beginning to show, although the German commanders chose not to see them. Europe Goes To War, Knopf, 2013.Hirschfeld, Gerhard. Instead, they ended up east of the city, exposing their right flank to the Parisian defenders themselves. If needed, Germany would also take part in a holding operation on the Russian/German border. At the same time, another factor came into play that had not been expected quite so soon. https://www.military.com/history/world-war-i-schlieffen-plan.html, https://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/world-war-one/causes-of-world-war-one/the-schlieffen-plan/, https://www.open.edu/openlearn/history-the-arts/history/world-history/the-schlieffen-plan. Importantly, despite the obviousness of a two-front war against both Russia and France, Molke decided to implement both Aufmarsch I West and Aufmarsch II West. Moltke talked to Kaiser Wilhelm II after German forces were defeated. Schlieffen's ideas were largely aimed at operational-level leaders, that is, the commanders of Germany's divisions and army corps. Copyright 2023 History in Charts | Powered by Astra WordPress Theme. Thus, unlike the Allied armies, the German army in 1940 had an offensive doctrine that emphasised speed of decision-making, speed of manoeuvre and decentralised action. In reality, the way in which the Wehrmacht fought, their 'doctrine' in today's parlance, was based more upon ideas than technology. The Schlieffen Plan failed due to French resistance at the First Battle of the Marne on the Western Front and the European powers participated in four years of trench warfare. Germany, therefore, could eliminate one while the other was kept in check. n n The plan relied upon rapid movement. Schlieffen was an ardent student of military history, and his strategic plan was inspired by the Battle of Cannae (216 bce), a pivotal engagement during the Second Punic War.