THINK. PAIR. SHARE. If you were a German General, after looking at this map where is your biggest threat and what would you advise?

Some Rules 1 Skittle = 500,000 Troops Germany is highly organized. Their goal is to avoid a two-front war. Germany must move first Britain has not declared War yet (remember our discussion about “the Spark.” Belgium is neutral and under the protection of Great Britain. Germany = 11,000,000 Austria-Hungry = 7,800, 000 France = 8,410,000 Britain = 8,940,000 Russia = 12,000,000 Note: Italy took a “look and see” approach to the war. Though they were allies with Germany and Austria Hungary

Let’s Look at How it Really Went Down…

Europe in 1914 A r c h d u k e

Major Fronts of the Great War

The Schlieffen Plan: 1905 The plan was devised in 1905 by General von Schlieffen. Its aim was to make sure Germany did not fight a war on two fronts – against Russia and France at the same time. This would be achieved by first defeating France in six weeks and then taking on the Russians. Schlieffen gambled on Russia taking 12 weeks to mobilise her vast army.

The Plan in detail: I Schlieffen split the army in two: a Northern Army on the Belgian border and a Southern Army (SA) on the French border. The Northern Army (1.3m men) was ten times size of the Southern Army. It would attack first and the French would counter-attack, taking troops from around Paris (weakening its defences). Because the SA was so weak, the French would drive it back and chase after it.

The Plan in detail: II The plan required nerve to succeed: the SA had to be deliberately weak so it would retreat and get the French to follow The Northern Army had to advance rapidly – delay would be fatal.

The Plan in detail: III Once it had drawn enough of the French army after it, the SA would turn and make a stand against the French. Then the NA would trap the French from behind and crush the French army With Paris encircled, France would surrender.

The Plan in practice Schlieffen died in 1913 and von Moltke took charge of the army. He lacked Schlieffen’s nerve and feared that the weak Southern Army would driven back all the way into Germany. Therefore he changed the ratio between the NA and SA from 10:1 to 10:4 by reducing the size of the NA.

Why the Plan failed By changing the ratio, fewer French troops were drawn away from Paris. The weaker Northern Army was held up by unexpectedly strong resistance from Belgian and British forces (the BEF) The Germans were stopped by the French at the battle of the Marne in mid-September and forced back to the river Aisne. Von Moltke had also further weakened the NA by sending 130,000 troops to the Eastern Front because the Russians had mobilised in six weeks.

The End Von Moltke telegraphed Kaiser William: ‘Your Majesty, we have lost the war.’ This was true but it would take another 4 years before the Kaiser and Germany believed him. So much for the Schlieffen Plan