Germany in war and revolution 1914-1919

Question 1

The breakdown of the Schlieffen Plan

Answer 1

The plan had been changed - did not go through Holland to avoid a war with them and some forces were moved south to Alsace-Lorraine.

Question 2

Schlieffen plan - what were the implications of Germany’s inability to gain the quick victory?

Answer 2

By November 1914, Germany was confronted with a war on two fronts for which it was not prepared for militarily or economically , if Germany was to win the war they would have to develop a new strategy.

Question 3

The failure of alternative strategies

Answer 3

Germany struggled to come up with an alternative strategy to overcome the political stalemate. Time was against Germany - the allies had already gained the maritime advantage by seizing German colonies, and more significantly, Britain had imposed a naval blockade which hindered the German ability to import food

Question 4

Unrestricted submarine warfare

Answer 4

Tirpitz wanted unrestricted submarine warfare - there were doubts over the morality of this as well as the effectiveness, this could also violate neutral USA. It was short lived following the sinking of Lusitania. In Feb 1916 the policy was readopted and then dropped due to the USA.

Question 5

Attrition

Answer 5

Falkenhayn believed the war could be won in the western front and so launched a massive attack on Verdun. Germany failed with huge casualties led to Hindenburg and Ludendorff replacing him. During 1915-1916 Germany had been unable to break deadlock and as victory failed to materialise, the economic pressures of conflict grew more intense.

Question 6

Submarine warfare and the entry of the USA

Answer 6

Lack of progress and no new strategy led the Germans to reintroduce unrestricted submarine warfare. In 1917 a new submarine campaign was launched, Britain did lose huge losses - convoy system limited these losses however. By 1918 Germany was losing the submarine war and USA entered.

Question 7

Why was USA entering the war bad for Germany?

Answer 7

The military situation was now stacked against Germany. The resources of the world’s greatest economic power were mobilised in the interest of the allies while the economic strains on Germany and central powers continued to increase.

Question 8

The final German offensive

Answer 8

The events of Brest-Litovsk provided a window of opportunity for Germany. It boosted morale and freed Germany from a two-front war. There new attack on the west