The Schlieffen Plan

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The Schlieffen Plan
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• The aim of the Schlieffen Plan was to defeat
  France as quickly as possible, thus taking it out
  of the war. Then German forces could concentrate
  on Russia. The plan required a giant 'hammer
  stroke' into northern France through Belgium.

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What was supposed to happen

• The Schlieffen Plan was based on four
  assumptions
• 1. Russia would take at least six weeks to get
  its army ready for war.
• 2. France would be easily defeated in six weeks.
• 3. Belgium would not resist any German attack.
• 4. Britain would remain neutral and would not
  care if Belgium was attacked.

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What actually happened

• On 2 August 1914, the German army invaded
  Luxembourg and Belgium, in accordance with the
  Schlieffen Plan.
• However, the Belgium army did retaliate and
  Britain did see invading Belgium as a direct
  threat to their ally France. As such, Britain
  declared war on Germany on the 4th August 1914
  and immediately sent troops to assist Belgium and
  France.
• Russia mobilised in just 10 days and Germany was
  forced to withdraw troops from the Schlieffen
  Plan to defend her eastern border.
• Therefore France was not defeated in 6 weeks
  years of trench warfare resulted instead.

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References

• Bedson, Cathy. Et al Humanities Alive 4, 2nd
  Edition, John Wiley and Sons, Milton, 2010.
• Department of Employment Education and Training,
  Qld Government, The Schlieffen Plan 1914, ACARA
  Powerpoint, http//learningplace.eq.edu.au/cx/reso
  urces/items/5f4b9c47-c7fb-46c6-9b76-62408027c427/0
  /his_y09_ds3_ss_schlieffenplan.pptx
• The Schlieffen Plan in SchoolHistory.co.uk,
  http//www.schoolhistory.co.uk/gcselinks/wars/firs
  twwlinks/schlieffen_summary.html