The Schlieffen Plan & Deadlock on The Western Front Flashcards
1
Q
why was the Schlieffen Plan created
A
to avoid war on two fronts
2
Q
who
A
General Alfred von Schlieffen
3
Q
what was the Schlieffen plan
A
- Germany would attack France first by travelling through Belgium
- take Paris in about 3 weeks
- France would surrender once Paris was taken
- then Germany would attack Russia
4
Q
assumptions of the schlieffen plan
A
- belgium would be easy to move through - they would not put up a fight
- Paris would be easy to take
- Russia would not mobilise fast enough
5
Q
what happened after formation of the plan
A
- Germany declared war on Russia and France
6
Q
What did Russia do while the plan was underway
A
mobilised very quickly and attacked Germany - Germany had to pull troops out of France to defend against Russia
7
Q
What happened in Belgium
A
- BEF came - honouring the 1839 Treaty of London
- took the Germans weeks to move through
- Germans destroyed many Belgian towns and villages - killing innocent people
8
Q
stalemate
A
deadlock on the western front
9
Q
deadlock
A
- winter 1914-1915
- 400 mile trench system from Flanders coast to Switzerland
10
Q
trench system
A
sandbags and barbed wire
11
Q
aspects of trench life
A
- watch system
- lice
- rats
- mud
- damp
- wounds
- discipline and punishment
12
Q
new weapons of war
A
- tanks
- flamethrowers
- mines
- lightweight machine guns
