The Schlieffen Plan - wetmore.weebly.com€¦ · The Schlieffen Plan •General Arthur von...
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The Schlieffen Plan • General Arthur von Schlieffen of Germany
devised this strategy to conquer Western Europe quickly.
• Wanted to prevent fighting a war on two fronts • Wanted to capture Belgium, then within a few
weeks, Paris. Following this they could focus on dealing with Russia
• August: The Germans steamroll through Belgium • September: Germans have invaded Northern
France and arrive at a stalemate with Allied Forces
• Around the Marne River, both sides dig in.
British soldiers with Vickers machine gun on the Western Front. Photo: Imperial War Museums
French soldiers on the Western Front. 1916. Photo: Imperial War
Aerial view of trench networks in Northern France. 1917. Photo: Imperial War Museums.
Trench Warfare
• The Western Front developed more than 300 miles of trenches
• Became a war of attrition – wear down your opponent
• Industry at home, resupply and fresh troops are key
• Many soldiers were killed, but often very little territory was gained or lost
British soldier in a captured German trench. Battle of the Somme. 1916. Photo: Imperial War Museums
German sniper in a trench. 1917. Photo: Imperial War Museums.
French bayonet charge. 1916. Photo: "The Story of the Great War, Volume III", Francis Joseph Reynolds et al.
Austrians executing Serbs
Life in the Trenches
• Cold and wet
• Hard to sleep
• “Shell Shock”
• “Trenchfoot” led to gangrene
• Body Lice
• Dead bodies, rats and maggots