Years before World War 1 began Germany had been working on a plan designed to allow them to wage a successful two-front war. The plan or blueprint is know as The Schlieffen Plan. It was named after General Count Alfred von Schlieffen. The plan was first started in 1897, and it took nine years to finalize. A two-front war is when the fighting takes place on two geographically separate fronts. Based on the theory that Germany would be at war with France and Russia at the same time. The Schlieffen Plan was Germany's only plan for war.
There were many assumptions made in the Schlieffen plan. France was thought to be Germany’s most dangerous opponent. Russia was not as advanced as France in many areas, and Schlieffen believed that Russia would take six weeks to mobilise their forces. So France would be fought and defeated first. The plan would allow Germany six weeks to defeat France. Schlieffen believed that a massive and successful surprise attack against France would be enough. They would then transfer soldiers and take on the Russians. There are three main weaknesses of the plan. The first was that the actions of Russia determined when Germany would have to start their attack on France even if they were ready or not. The second was that it assumed that Russia would need six weeks to mobilise. And thirdly it assumed that Germany would defeat France in less than six weeks. Some German historians blame these mistakes on Helmuth von Moltke, because of the changes he made to plan.
The Schlieffen Plan did not prepare the Germans for many of the events that occurred in July and August 1914. Russia took only ten days to mobilise, and Moltke was forced to send some troops to Russia which weakened the main attack on Paris. When the German army asked permission to go through Belgium the Belgians refused. This forced the German army had to fight its way through Belgium. Which slowed them down and greatly tired the soldiers. Britain had a treaty with Belgium and went to War with them against the Germans. The German army was defeated at the battle of the Marne on 6-10 September 1914.
There were many assumptions made in the Schlieffen plan. France was thought to be Germany’s most dangerous opponent. Russia was not as advanced as France in many areas, and Schlieffen believed that Russia would take six weeks to mobilise their forces. So France would be fought and defeated first. The plan would allow Germany six weeks to defeat France. Schlieffen believed that a massive and successful surprise attack against France would be enough. They would then transfer soldiers and take on the Russians. There are three main weaknesses of the plan. The first was that the actions of Russia determined when Germany would have to start their attack on France even if they were ready or not. The second was that it assumed that Russia would need six weeks to mobilise. And thirdly it assumed that Germany would defeat France in less than six weeks. Some German historians blame these mistakes on Helmuth von Moltke, because of the changes he made to plan.
The Schlieffen Plan did not prepare the Germans for many of the events that occurred in July and August 1914. Russia took only ten days to mobilise, and Moltke was forced to send some troops to Russia which weakened the main attack on Paris. When the German army asked permission to go through Belgium the Belgians refused. This forced the German army had to fight its way through Belgium. Which slowed them down and greatly tired the soldiers. Britain had a treaty with Belgium and went to War with them against the Germans. The German army was defeated at the battle of the Marne on 6-10 September 1914.