The Schlieffen PlanThe Schlieffen PlanThe Schlieffen PlanThe Schlieffen Plan

The German Plan to Win the The German Plan to Win the WarWar

The German Plan to Win the The German Plan to Win the WarWar

As early as 1890, German High Command had thought about what Germany would do if she was at war with France and Russia

German General Alfred Von Schlieffen worked on this problem and devised the Schlieffen Plan

As early as 1890, German High Command had thought about what Germany would do if she was at war with France and Russia

German General Alfred Von Schlieffen worked on this problem and devised the Schlieffen Plan

The plan called for a swift and decisive attack upon France

Schlieffen calculated that this offensive would not take more than 6 weeks

The plan called for a swift and decisive attack upon France

Schlieffen calculated that this offensive would not take more than 6 weeks

Once France had fallen, they would focus on Russia

Russia’s troops were not well trained nor disciplined

Schlieffen calculated that it would take the Russians weeks or months to mobilize

Also, Russia’s armies would have to cover great distances on poor roads and railways

Once France had fallen, they would focus on Russia

Russia’s troops were not well trained nor disciplined

Schlieffen calculated that it would take the Russians weeks or months to mobilize

Also, Russia’s armies would have to cover great distances on poor roads and railways

German troops would make a wide sweep through Belgium, fanning out as they entered France

Most troops would sweep behind Paris in a great arc coming up behind the French armies, which Schlieffen calculated would be close to the French-German border

German troops would make a wide sweep through Belgium, fanning out as they entered France

Most troops would sweep behind Paris in a great arc coming up behind the French armies, which Schlieffen calculated would be close to the French-German border

The PlanThe PlanThe PlanThe Plan

The RisksThe RisksThe RisksThe Risks

Violation of Belgian neutrality

Britain had signed a treaty guaranteeing the protection of Belgian neutrality

Germany assumed that Belgium would not resist any attack and that Britain would remain neutral

Violation of Belgian neutrality

Britain had signed a treaty guaranteeing the protection of Belgian neutrality

Germany assumed that Belgium would not resist any attack and that Britain would remain neutral

The RealityThe RealityThe RealityThe Reality

August 2, 1914, German army invades Belgium and Luxembourg according to the plan

The Belgians fought back, slowing the German advance by a couple of days

August 2, 1914, German army invades Belgium and Luxembourg according to the plan

The Belgians fought back, slowing the German advance by a couple of days

The RealityThe RealityThe RealityThe Reality

Russia mobilized in just 10 days and Germany was forced to withdraw troops from the Schlieffen Plan to defend its eastern border

Germany did not advance to Paris, instead attacking east of the capital; they were met by the French army there and defeated at the Battle of the Marne

Russia mobilized in just 10 days and Germany was forced to withdraw troops from the Schlieffen Plan to defend its eastern border

Germany did not advance to Paris, instead attacking east of the capital; they were met by the French army there and defeated at the Battle of the Marne

The RealityThe RealityThe RealityThe Reality

The Germans were forced to retreat at the Aisne River, where they dug in, leading to four years of trench warfare

The Germans were forced to retreat at the Aisne River, where they dug in, leading to four years of trench warfare

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