1. Opening Moves and the Schlieffen plan
THE FIRST WORLD WAR
Opening Moves and the Schlieffen plan

2. Why did Germany Needed a Plan?
Stuck in the Middle
Spells Vulnerability
In 1907 Russia joined Britain and France (Entente Cordial) to make the Triple Entente
But Russia was also allied to Serbia, Romania and Bulgaria.

3. The Schlieffen (Game) Plan
The Germans loved to play war games to pass time, especially Von Schlieffen
Count Alfred von Schlieffen

4. The Schlieffen Plan Handout
The Schlieffen Plan was based on the theory that Germany would be at war with France and Russia at the same time.
It did not prepare for many of the events that occurred in July and August 1914.
It was based on the belief that, if the country went to war, Germany would be faced with a war on two fronts with France on one side and Russia on the other.
The plan imagined a huge hammer-blow at Paris.
Using 90% of its army, Germany planned to swinging down through Belgium and northern France.
Its plan was to take out France in a quick, decisive campaign.
The plan assumed that France was weak and could be beaten quickly in just 6 weeks, and that Russia was much stronger, but would take longer to mobilise its army.
The plan began to go wrong on 30 July 1914, when Russia mobilised its army, but France did not. Germany was forced to invent a pretext (or excuse) to declare war on France on 3 August 1914.
Things got worse when Britain declared war on Germany on 4 August 1914 because, in a Treaty of 1839, Britain had promised to defend Belgium.
In the event, Russia took only 10 days to mobilise, and the German General was forced to send some troops to the eastern front, which weakened the main attack on Paris.
When the German army asked permission to go through Belgium on 2 August 1914, the Belgians refused, so the German army had to fight its way through Belgium.
This slowed it down and tired the soldiers.

6. In A Nutshell
Encircling on the right side in the West, a taunt on the left to draw the enemy in, and a standard defence in the East

7. Strategic Optimism The Schlieffen Plan
Counted on the slow mobilization of Russian forces due to lack of railways.
Predicted 39 days for the fall of Paris, and 42 days for the defeat of France.
But, underestimated the difficulties of supply and communication in forces so far advanced from command and supply lines
Didn’t allow for ‘rogue’ commanders (like Moltke & Kluck)
General Alfred Graf von Schlieffen

8. How do you think Britain should respond?

9. “Belgium is a nation, not a road”
King Albert I of Belgium denied permission and proceeds to destroy strategic roads and bridges
August 2, 1914 Germany declared war on France and marches into Luxemburg
August 4, 1914 Great Britain declared war on Germany for violating Belgian neutrality
Germany had already entered Belgium and begun night raids on its fortresses before asking permission to ‘pass through’

10. Alliances: The Domino Effect
July 28th, 1914: Austria declares was on Serbia
July 31, 1914: Russia announces full mobilization of its armed forces.
August 1, 1914: Germany, taking the ‘defensive’ on Russia’s mobilization as a defacto declaration of war, declares war on Russia.
August 3, 1914: Germany declares war on France.
August 4, 1914: Germany declares war on neutral Belgium and invades in a right flanking move designed to defeat France quickly. As a result of this invasion, Britain declares war on Germany.