WW1-Schlieffin plan Flashcards
What was the Schlieffen Plan?
The Schlieffen Plan was an operational plan used by the Germans to take over France and Belgium and carried out in August 1914.
Who was the plan named after?
It was devised by and named after German Field Marshal Count Alfred von Schlieffen, who served as Chief of the Imperial German General Staff from 1891 to 1905.
why was the Plan made?
In his last year as chief, he developed a plan to ensure Germany could fight and win a major war in continental Europe. This plan was quite ambitious, as Germany was surrounded by powerful nations considered potential enemies.
In fact, Germany believed that Russia was eventually going to attack, as the Russian war machine surpassed anything the Germans could muster at the time. Russia’s principal ally in the west, France, would make this an impossible war to win, squeezing Germany in on both sides.
What did Germany demand form Belgium?
That the forces of Kaiser Wilhelm II be allowed safe passage through Belgium on the way to attack France. Not ready to violate his nation’s proud independence and neutrality that was guaranteed by the Treaty of London of 1839, King Albert I of Belgium replied the next day to the Kaiser: I rule a nation, not a road.
What inspired the plan?
Battle of a Cannes (Hannibal vs Raman forces)
What was the proposed advantage for Germany?
He proposed in 1905 that Germany’s advantage over France and Russia—its likely opponents in a continental war—was that the two were separated. Germany, therefore, could eliminate one while the other was kept in check. Once one ally was defeated, Germany would be able to combine its forces to defeat the other through massive troop concentration and rapid deployment.
What was the ratio of manpower supposed to be?
The manpower ratio was 7:1 from right-wing to left. That massive force was to break through at the Metz-Diedenhofen area and sweep all French forces before it, swinging like a door that had its hinge in the Alsace region. Schlieffen worked out a detailed timetable that took into account possible French responses to German actions, with particular attention paid to the lightly defended Franco-German border
How long did Germany think they could beat France in?
Within 6 weeks
What was the main idea of the plan?
A Plan to avoid a war on two fronts
What were some reasons for the plan’s failure?
The plan was outdated-meaning France had more advanced weapons now
They went east of Paris instead of west-too many troops around France
The battle of Marne
What was the battle of Marne?
Marshal Joseph Joffre, the French Commander in Chief, had been assembling a new army near Paris. Seeing that Kluck had extended his forces and exposed his right flank, he saw a weakness to exploit.
On September 5, as the Germans continued their march south, Joffre struck.
Franco-British forces crashed into the side of Kluck’s army. Six days of battles followed, known collectively as the Battle of the Marne. Nearly two million soldiers fought.
