On August 2nd, 1914, Germany’s military began moving troops through neutral Belgium in an indirect attempt to weaken the French Army. Ultimately the plan, first penned in 1905 by German Field Marshall Alfred Von Schlieffen, involved a swift invasion of France, complete debilitation of its military, followed by a defensive operation on the Empire’s lengthy shared border with Russia. Although the assassination of Austro-Hungarian archduke Franz Ferdinand did not occur, for nearly 9 years after the formation of the plan, tensions had been rising within continental Europe for the past two decades. Tensions were especially heavy along the western coast of the continent, where land disputes over the Alsace-Lorraine territories had strained relationships
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When the plan was finally implemented in August of 1914, this much was true… the French men greatly outnumbered the Germans at many points during the campaign. Also, in the events of either delay in France, or quick mobilization of Russia, Germany intended on their eastern ally, Austria-Hungary, to help defend the border against Russian advances until victory was won in ine west. Furthermore, when the plan was originally circulated, it was proposed that German troops travel through the neighboring countries of Holland, Belgium, and Luxembourg. When the plan was actually carried out nearly 9 years later, troops were sent only through Belgium and Luxembourg, because Holland had pledged both pledged neutrality, as well as denied Germany access through its border with France; because violating these terms of neutrality would likely draw attention to the plan and draw other countries in, this change in strategy was considered vital to the modified plan’s success. Furthermore, before the formation of the Triple Entente, Russia had been joined with Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Italy, through a ‘Reinsurance Treaty’ (1877). Before lapsing three years …show more content…
For example, Britain declared war on Germany on August 4th, 1914. They did so as a direct result of the German army occupying Belgium, regardless of the refused request for use of their country into France. Even if Belgium had allowed Germany through, Britain was still an ally of the French, who likely would have joined the war defensively, heedless of the actions of the Belgians. Furthermore, since many of the tensions which prompted the creation of the Schlieffen plan occurred west of Germany, the plan was intended for a mobilized French army before a prepared Russian militia, not the other way around; when Serbia radicals assassinated the heir to the throne of the Austro-Hungarian Empire in 1914, tensions reached a critical level east of Germany, not on the western side as anticipated. The result was a mobilized Russian army with no French connection, although the plan was intended for use on a French-originated conflict. By extension, Germany’s strategy still required a western Entente invasion, even though Russian troops had a head start on an already unrealistically slim timeframe. Furthermore, each stage of the Schlieffen plan required success in the stages prior; there was no reversal or alternate options if the plan failed. Lastly, perhaps the greatest flaw to this military strategy was the
When the plan was finally implemented in August of 1914, this much was true… the French men greatly outnumbered the Germans at many points during the campaign. Also, in the events of either delay in France, or quick mobilization of Russia, Germany intended on their eastern ally, Austria-Hungary, to help defend the border against Russian advances until victory was won in ine west. Furthermore, when the plan was originally circulated, it was proposed that German troops travel through the neighboring countries of Holland, Belgium, and Luxembourg. When the plan was actually carried out nearly 9 years later, troops were sent only through Belgium and Luxembourg, because Holland had pledged both pledged neutrality, as well as denied Germany access through its border with France; because violating these terms of neutrality would likely draw attention to the plan and draw other countries in, this change in strategy was considered vital to the modified plan’s success. Furthermore, before the formation of the Triple Entente, Russia had been joined with Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Italy, through a ‘Reinsurance Treaty’ (1877). Before lapsing three years …show more content…
For example, Britain declared war on Germany on August 4th, 1914. They did so as a direct result of the German army occupying Belgium, regardless of the refused request for use of their country into France. Even if Belgium had allowed Germany through, Britain was still an ally of the French, who likely would have joined the war defensively, heedless of the actions of the Belgians. Furthermore, since many of the tensions which prompted the creation of the Schlieffen plan occurred west of Germany, the plan was intended for a mobilized French army before a prepared Russian militia, not the other way around; when Serbia radicals assassinated the heir to the throne of the Austro-Hungarian Empire in 1914, tensions reached a critical level east of Germany, not on the western side as anticipated. The result was a mobilized Russian army with no French connection, although the plan was intended for use on a French-originated conflict. By extension, Germany’s strategy still required a western Entente invasion, even though Russian troops had a head start on an already unrealistically slim timeframe. Furthermore, each stage of the Schlieffen plan required success in the stages prior; there was no reversal or alternate options if the plan failed. Lastly, perhaps the greatest flaw to this military strategy was the