1. The Schlieffen Plan Canadian History 1201

2. Strategies of War At the outset of the war in August 1914, all participants anticipated a short, quick war. “The boys will be home for Christmas.” German plan for a rapid victory revolved around a successful implementation of the SCHLIEFFEN PLAN Figure 3.1.e on page 66 This was a scheme which if successful would allow Germany to avoid having to fight on both Western and Eastern fronts at the same time

3. The Schlieffen Plan, the German offensive named after the general who devised it (Count Alfred von Schlieffen), called for a quick attack on France while Austria-Hungary moved against Serbia. Germany would avoid the main line of French defense and attack from the north (through the neutral country of Belgium). Strategies of War

4. The plan called for a massive (55 Division) invasion of Northern and Western France through neutral Belgium. The goal of this maneuver was to cut off the French army and frontier defences thus ensuring a German victory. After the defeat of French forces the German army would be shipped to the Eastern front to fight Russia. Strategies of War

6. It was believed Russia’s soldiers were poorly trained, ill-equipped, had a slow response time, and mobilization was slow enough to prevent them from putting up a strong resistance. SO….. DID IT WORK?!?!?! Strategies of War

7. NO!! THE SCHLIEFFEN PLAN FAILEDTHE SCHLIEFFEN PLAN FAILED Germany’s inability to execute a quick victory on the Western Front led to a seesaw struggle along the battle lines in France. Strategies of War

8. 1.As soon as Germany invaded Belgium, Britain moved into Belgium to defend it as part of a longstanding agreement. The combined British and French forces were sufficient to prevent Germany from advancing. Both sides would prepare for a long war of attrition (gradual wearing down of the enemy). TRENCH WARFARE had begun 2.Austrian troops found greater than anticipated resistance in Serbia. It would be 1915 before Serbia would fall, when Bulgaria joined the war on the side of the Triple Alliance. An unexpected Russian attack on Austria-Hungary’s eastern border also complicated things. Why did the Schlieffen Plan fail?