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The Schlieffen Plan. The German Plan to Win the War. As early as 1890, German High Command had thought about what Germany would do if she was at war with France and Russia German General Alfred Von Schlieffen worked on this problem and devised the Schlieffen Plan. - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
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The Schlieffen PlanThe Schlieffen PlanThe Schlieffen PlanThe Schlieffen Plan
The German Plan to Win the The German Plan to Win the WarWar
The German Plan to Win the The German Plan to Win the WarWar
As early as 1890, German High Command had thought about what Germany would do if she was at war with France and Russia
German General Alfred Von Schlieffen worked on this problem and devised the Schlieffen Plan
As early as 1890, German High Command had thought about what Germany would do if she was at war with France and Russia
German General Alfred Von Schlieffen worked on this problem and devised the Schlieffen Plan
The plan called for a swift and decisive attack upon France
Schlieffen calculated that this offensive would not take more than 6 weeks
The plan called for a swift and decisive attack upon France
Schlieffen calculated that this offensive would not take more than 6 weeks
Once France had fallen, they would focus on Russia
Russia’s troops were not well trained nor disciplined
Schlieffen calculated that it would take the Russians weeks or months to mobilize
Also, Russia’s armies would have to cover great distances on poor roads and railways
Once France had fallen, they would focus on Russia
Russia’s troops were not well trained nor disciplined
Schlieffen calculated that it would take the Russians weeks or months to mobilize
Also, Russia’s armies would have to cover great distances on poor roads and railways
German troops would make a wide sweep through Belgium, fanning out as they entered France
Most troops would sweep behind Paris in a great arc coming up behind the French armies, which Schlieffen calculated would be close to the French-German border
German troops would make a wide sweep through Belgium, fanning out as they entered France
Most troops would sweep behind Paris in a great arc coming up behind the French armies, which Schlieffen calculated would be close to the French-German border
The PlanThe PlanThe PlanThe Plan
The RisksThe RisksThe RisksThe Risks
Violation of Belgian neutrality
Britain had signed a treaty guaranteeing the protection of Belgian neutrality
Germany assumed that Belgium would not resist any attack and that Britain would remain neutral
Violation of Belgian neutrality
Britain had signed a treaty guaranteeing the protection of Belgian neutrality
Germany assumed that Belgium would not resist any attack and that Britain would remain neutral
The RealityThe RealityThe RealityThe Reality
August 2, 1914, German army invades Belgium and Luxembourg according to the plan
The Belgians fought back, slowing the German advance by a couple of days
August 2, 1914, German army invades Belgium and Luxembourg according to the plan
The Belgians fought back, slowing the German advance by a couple of days
The RealityThe RealityThe RealityThe Reality
Russia mobilized in just 10 days and Germany was forced to withdraw troops from the Schlieffen Plan to defend its eastern border
Germany did not advance to Paris, instead attacking east of the capital; they were met by the French army there and defeated at the Battle of the Marne
Russia mobilized in just 10 days and Germany was forced to withdraw troops from the Schlieffen Plan to defend its eastern border
Germany did not advance to Paris, instead attacking east of the capital; they were met by the French army there and defeated at the Battle of the Marne
The RealityThe RealityThe RealityThe Reality
The Germans were forced to retreat at the Aisne River, where they dug in, leading to four years of trench warfare
The Germans were forced to retreat at the Aisne River, where they dug in, leading to four years of trench warfare
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