The Schlieffen Plan Germany makes her move! In 1905, General Alfred von Schlieffen, from Germany, planned out an attack plan that was to be used if Germany ever had to fight both France and Russia.

Schlieffen knew that the Russian army was large, but that it was badly trained, poorly equipped, and scattered across a huge country. It would take time for Russia to mobilize and prepare for war. Schlieffen’s plan was to defeat the French while Russia was struggling to get their army in order.

Once France was defeated, Germany would turn and fight Russia. Since France had heavily fortified its boarders with Germany, Schlieffen decided that a “back door attack” would be best. His plan was that a small force would be sent straight across the French-German border to attract French troops.

A small force would be sent straight across the French-German border to attract French troops.

The German army would then retreat, pulling the French army into the mountains of Alsace-Lorraine. Meanwhile, a larger German force would be marching across neutral Belgium and into France. Once in France, the German army would swing west and then south to circle around Paris, They would move northward to capture Paris.

Although Schlieffen knew by invading Belgium other countries would get involved, he thought it would be worth the risk, if Germany could win quickly over France. However…

The Schlieffen plan FAILED! German troops failed to drive far enough South and secure all of France. They began their southward drive too early, which allowed British troops to get into France and help France fight the Germans.

All armies became bogged down, and trench warfare began.