It seemed to some that this represented the triumph of military technology over old-style fortifications, a success, for the cult of the offensive. The battle was in France, 30 miles from Paris. German general General Alfred von Schlieffen, The plan failed because it wasnt realistic, both Russia and France wanted to battle Germany, they employed a similar (though not identical) version in WWII, The Impact of World War INew World Disorder, The Great Powers of World War IGermanys Revolution, War, Nutritionism, and the Great Depression, The Great Powers of World War I Germanys Revolution, The Assassination ofArchduke Franz Ferdinand: Europe on the Brink of World War I. Select three reasons for this. It seemed clear to him, given the Alliances, that one day Germany would be at war with both Russia and its ally France. In the process of the German advance, as the Schlieffen Plan continued to move through the stages of its prospective sections, it was discovered that a gap had opened up between the advancing German armies, between the First Army under General von Kluck and the Second Army under General von Blow. Enzyklopdie Erster Weltkrieg, Schningh Paderborn, 2004Michalka, Wolfgang. Conclusion This caused the plan to fail because the army was now stuck in a battle of trench warfare and this bogged down their advance and meant that other countries including Rusia had more time to prepare. Featuring: The unique archive material of British Path. If you are a teacher and have questions about our show, you can get in contact with us on one of our social media presences. A Combat History of the First World War, Oxford University Press, 2013.Hart, Peter. The Russian blow would first fall upon the very weak Hapsburgs with the French standing mobilized on the German border. There were a number of shortcomings associated with the plan. In truth, as events proved, they were completely unprepared to face Hitler's Wehrmacht. Moltke implemented some changes to the plan and was the leader in charge to execute the plan at the outset of WWI. The French plan, endorsed by commander Joseph Joffre, called for an all-out attack into Germany to regain the lost territories of Alsace-Lorraine, avenging the humiliating defeat of 1871, and redeeming French honor. First, they underestimated how quickly the Russians could deploy their troops. In-text: (BBC - Standard Grade Bitesize History - The Schlieffen Plan : Revision, Page 3, 2015) Your Bibliography: Bbc.co.uk. English. Below is the article summary. Simply put, Germanys geopolitical challenge was the possibility of war on two fronts simultaneously. To read more on what we're all about, learn more about us here. During the march south through France a hole formed between the main German forces. Thus, in order to win, Schlieffen knew the German army would have to defeat its opponents quickly and decisively. After Schlieffens retirement as Chief of Staff in 1906, it was updated by his successor, Field Marshal Helmuth von Moltke. The Germans also downplayed the political ramifications of invading neutral Belgium. A Short History, Penguin, 2008.Keegan, John. His treatise, Cannae, was translated into English for military students to read at Fort Leavenworth. Blitzkrieg seemed to be based around the pervasive use of new technology. Every day they stalled the German advance was a day in which the Schlieffen plan fell behind. As German armies approached Paris, the French government packed up and fled to Bordeaux. Required fields are marked *. At the center of Europe, it might find itself forced to fight against both France in the west and Russia in the east. The plan used at the beginning of World War I had been modified by Helmuth von Moltke, who reduced the size of the attacking army and was blamed for Germanys failure to win a quick victory. Schlieffen envisioned the attack would take no more than 6 weeks, as the capture of Paris and encirclement of the French army would lead France to seek peace. Russia was also better at mobilizing its army and attacked East Prussia within 10 days, not six weeks as the Germans had thought beforehand. Required fields are marked * Comment * Name * Von Moltke made changes to the plan. This was the opportunity the allies had been waiting for. History. This view that the Germans used technology, namely the tank and the dive-bomber, to create a new and unique form of warfare has often dominated understanding of how the Germans fought in World War Two. https://www.britannica.com/event/Schlieffen-Plan, Spartacus Educational - Biography of Schlieffen Plan, Russia had just been defeated by the Japanese. The Schlieffen plan failed because Germans underestimated Russia and the plan depended on rapid deployment, which was resisted by Belgium. The plan failed because it wasnt realistic, requiring a flawless unfolding of events which never occurs in wartime. They were to buy time for the Belgians, so they could receive support from the French and British, who despite Moltkes hopes joined in the war. Kluck agreed. While the French, Belgians, and British were not doing well, they were not doing as badly as predicted in the original plan. It was crafted by the German General Staff over a decade beyond Schleiffen's original formulation. All rights reserved. France couldnt win because it didnt have a plan with Russia. It was a plan that nearly succeeded but its success could only be measured by being 100% successful. BBC 2014 The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. In practice, however, both plans broke down in disaster. The plan was heavily modified by Schlieffens successor, Helmuth von Moltke, prior to and during its implementation in World War I. Moltkes changes, which included a reduction in the size of the attacking army, were blamed for Germanys failure to win a quick victory. Schlieffen thus turned a doctrinal debate (as chronicled by military historian Hans Delbruck) toward the strategies of annihilation (Vernichtungsstrategie) and attrition (Ermattungsstrategie). Why Did the Schlieffen Plan Fail? The Schlieffen Plan seemed to be working. The Schlieffen Plan was a German war strategy theorised by Alfred von Schlieffen and enacted in 1914 by Helmuth von Moltke. The taxicabs and their forces were not the sole decisive element, but it gives a sense of the heroism that was involved in this mobilization to expel the invader. The plan. Nearly every country nowadays will plan for future conflicts. The Failure of the Schlieffen Plan The Failure of the Schlieffen Plan In 1914, Germany believed that they would go to war with Russia. Schlieffen was convinced that a modern enemy force could be defeated in the same way, and the execution of a massive flank attack became the main focus of his plan. It however had a couple of weaknesses, especially due to Von Moltke's modifications which doomed it to failure. this doctrine created aggressive and flexible leaders. But it was still the same idea: General Schlieffen decided that, even if the French attacked somewhere else in France, he would focus on the right-wing of the German army. The Schlieffen Plan was the German grand strategy to fight, and win, a two front war against France and Russia. Why did the Schlieffen Plan fail? The plans call for speed was all very well, but outside their own borders, the Germans could not rely on control of a railway system to advance their forces. There were troops around Paris, and they were about to punish him for not sticking to the plan. Moltke talked to Kaiser Wilhelm II after German forces were defeated. Interested in reaching out? That began a political firestorm within the German Confederation, causing later ministers of war to be more cautious about manpower proposals. With Germany's defeat in 1918, the German military blamed the Schlieffen Plan as flawed and the cause of their defeat. The experience of World War One had convinced German leaders that these ideas needed to be applied not only at top operational level, but also at the tactical level - by combined-arms teams capable of independent fire and manoeuvre. The German advance, however, had been slowed, with the Schlieffen Plan running behind schedule at crucial moments. So he only needed a small defensive force toward Russia while Germany was fighting France. Answer (1 of 8): Broadly speaking, the plan was too ambitious. The Schlieffen Plan was designed by Germany's Field Marshal Alfred von Schlieffen in 1905-06 as a deployment plan against the alliance that surrounded it. Watch it now, on Wondrium. Due to the Schlieffen Plan, a war against Russia in the east forced the Germans to immediately make war against France in the west. The typical invasion route into France was through the Burgundian Gate. His most recent book, German Strategy and the Path to Verdun, published by Cambridge University Press in November 2004. The Schlieffen plan made several assumptions: There would be minimal resistance from Belgium. They had promised to protect Belgium from enemies back in 1839. Alfred von Schlieffen was born in Berlin. Robert T Foley is a specialist on the development of German strategy in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, and lecturer in Defence Studies at King's College London and the Joint Services Command and Staff College. He died in 1913, before WWI. Germany also had better-trained troops. Schlieffen also stressed the need to keep the enemy reacting to German moves. The result strategically was that the German armies had left their flanks exposed to Paris itself, not expecting that Paris would be the site of considerable resistance or military peril. But it turned out to be an ugly way of wearing everyone down during World War I. Alfred von Schlieffen was the Chief of the Imperial German army between 1891 and 1906. He was sure that if Germany were to fight a war against Russia and France at the same time, it would not be able to win. Guderain recognised the importance of tanks Military plans are seldom famous in themselves. With Italian neutrality, neither had a chance to work, Your email address will not be published. Plan XVII, which was launched on August 14, 1914, broke against German defenses in Lorraine and suffered enormous losses. Germany faced a war on two fronts. Having defeated France, Germany would then be able to concentrate her efforts on defeating the Russians in the east rather then having to fight on two fronts at once. They were destroyed on April 14, 1945, during a British bomber attack, and only studies of the two plans survived. The objective of the alliance was to encourage co-operation against the perceived threat of Germany. When Austria-Hungary opened the conflict with an attack on the Serbian capital of Belgrade, the first domino fell, and Europe went to war. The Schlieffen Plan was a strategic plan made by Count Alfred von Schlieffen, who worked for the German navy. The second reason is the Russian army getting mobilized quickly. currency, the tale of Schlieffen's sevenfold preponderant right wing rests on a plain mis understanding of the Schlieffen plan. Six weeks later, Europe found itself on the brink of the 20th centurys first world war. Email or phone. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). He fought in wars against other countries like Austria-Prussia and France. Moltke watered down the plan. Six days of battles followed, known collectively as the Battle of the Marne. The BEF was sent to join the line of French troops defending the border with Belgium. Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. Updates? to continue to Slides. Germany and their allies would invade France through Belgium, instead of directly attacking. It was called the Schlieffen Plan. Once again, Germany planned a surprise attack on France. Germany began its execution of the modified Schlieffen Plan on August 4, 1914 with the invasion of neutral Belgium. She feared an attack fir many reasons and so the Schlieffen plan was born. This was The German advance had been hampered by fiercer Belgian resistance than had been anticipatedas well as by the destruction of railroads and other strategic assets by the Belgians or the Frenchand was also slowed by German anxieties by the fear of snipers. In the first days of World War I, many Germans felt like they bonded with each other. The Schlieffen Plan failed for several reasons including a lack of manpower, underestimation of the speed of Russian troop deployments, and the belief that Britain would not defend neutral Belgium. This doctrine stressed speed of manoeuvre and attacking the enemy where he was weakest, and usually this meant attacking the flanks. The Allied armies, completely unprepared for the rapid, mobile operations of the Germans, had simply been out-fought at every turn. All of these reasons combined to make the Schlieffen plan fail. Innovators such as Heinz Guderian and Erich von Manstein recognised that the protection given by tanks increased the ability of the German army to manoeuvre in the face of enemy artillery, and that this enhanced speed and mobility. The Upper Rhine to the Swiss border and the Lower Alsace were to be defended by Landwehr brigades. Instead, Germany went on the offensive on the Western Front, despite not having the manpower. Failure forced Germany to settle into a brutal war of attrition that dramatically lowered their probability of victory in World War I. It took little account of Allied counter-moves. Multiple mysteries in the disappearance of pilot Amelia Earhart and finally a possible answer. Despite having fewer troops than in the original plan and less space through which to advance, the Germans at first seemed to be succeeding in their plan. To avoid that situation, Schlieffen planned to attack France first, while Russia was still mobilizing. In the city, trenches were being dug and barricades built on the approach roads leading into the city. It was essential for Germany to strike quickly . What was the Schlieffen Plan BBC - History - The Western Front, 1914 - 1918 Animation n n n Count Alfred von Schlieffen drew up the Schlieffen Plan in 1905 when he was German Chief of Staff. In a two front war the Schlieffen Plan called for a defensive first strategy, followed by strategic counterattacks. Sign in. One whole army that is usually counted as a part of the right-wing attack through Belgium operates in fact as a part of the left wing in Alsace-Lorraine. Neither side would back down; so they 'dug in.' Click on the link below to view the chapter 1 - Trench warfare. Then General Alexander von Kluck, commander of the German First Army, made a critical error. The Schlieffen Plan disregarded the political implications of what was regarded as essentially a technical solution to a military problem. Why did the Schlieffen Plan fail? II: Germany's Initial Conquests in Europe by German Research Institute for Military History (Clarendon Press, 1991), Storm of Steel: The Development of Armor Doctrine in Germany and the Soviet Union, 1919- 1939 by Mary B Habeck (Cornell University Press, 2003). Next His plan was revised at the outbreak of World War I. The swift turnarounds of victory and defeat, typical of the early battles of movement, were over. It comes close to total victory at Mons and Charleroi where the BEF and French 5th Armies barely escape destruction. BBC - Standard Grade Bitesize History - The Schlieffen Plan : Revision, Page 3 . If this happened then Germany assumed France would also attack them as she was a friend of Russia. However, if considered from the perspective of tactical competence, the plan can be considered as successful. Tell your teachers or professors about our channel and our videos. Ironically, this is exactly what Germany was anticipating. It was only defeated by the Battle of the Marne. The resistance of the Belgians and the BEF prevented this. Schlieffen himself estimated that Germany needed 48.5 corps to succeed in an offensive attack, yet Molke only deployed 34 corps, 6 of which he held back to defend Alsace and Lorraine. \" HOW CAN I SUPPORT YOUR CHANNEL?You can support us by sharing our videos with your friends and spreading the word about our work.You can also support us financially on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/thegreatwarPatreon is a platform for creators like us, that enables us to get monthly financial support from the community in exchange for cool perks. They advanced a hundred miles in France. Thus, by decentralising command and by increasing the firepower of the infantry, they created a large number of platoon-sized units capable of independent action on the battlefield. One day later, Germany invaded Belgium because of the Schlieffen Plan. To accomplish this, he advocated the use of the. In 1897, Schlieffen developed a tactical plan that - acknowledging the German army's limited offensive power and capacity for strategic maneuvers - basically amounted to using brute force to advance beyond the French defenses on the Franco-German border. The Belgium people fought against the Germans, slowing them down. He served as chief of staff from 1891 to 1905 and excelled precisely at careful preparation and thinking in abstract terms about the military challenge that Germanys geopolitical position represented. Check out these resources that help develop your pupils' understanding of what happened during the Great War and the impact it had. WHAT ARE YOUR SOURCES? The plan was devised and wargamed in 1905 by then-Chief of the General Staff of the German Army, Alfred von Schlieffen. He was in a good position to dictate such terms. Moltke believed that Russia would slowly mobilize for war, and if they defeated France in 6 weeks, Germany could then later deal with the Russian juggernaut. Schlieffen Plan , Plan of attack used by the German armies at the outbreak of World War I. Even if Russia was ready, Germany would need six weeks to mobilize. If needed, Germany would also take part in a holding operation on the Russian/German border. In 1839, Britain made a treaty with Belgium to keep them neutral. Schlieffen's speedy attack and expected defeat of France never occurred - it's failure did usher in the era of trench warfare that is so much linked to World War One. The poor communication that frontline commanders and army headquarters had in Berlin was not helping Moltke to control his campaign. Raymond Limbach is an independent historian who has an M.A. It likely means that France would have invaded Germany, but at least they were busy with taking back their land. Repelled by the waste and indecisiveness of trench warfare, they returned to the ideas of Schlieffen, and in 1921 the army published its new doctrine, Command and Combat with Combined Arms. It called for 80% of German forces along the western border, and 20% on the eastern border. Der Erste Weltkrieg. The Schlieffen Plan was initially perceived as flawless and strategic, and its purpose was to gain victory quickly for Germany. This doctrine integrated the operational-level ideas taught by Schlieffen with the tactical concepts developed during World War One. Each plan called for a different overall strategy, including allocation of manpower and tactics. The Schlieffen plan was produced to get around the problem of international diplomacy. As the German army moved through France and turned south they made it to within 20 miles of Paris, near the Marne River. Aufmarsch II West was intended to be the main German strategy in a two front war with France and Russia. Schlieffen insisted on an immediate attack on France in 1905 as a preventive war, arguing that Russia had just been defeated by the Japanese and France was involved in a crisis in Morocco. The biggest problems in World War One, however, were at the lower, tactical level. The Germans retreated back, settled in, and dug deep trenches in preparation for a long war of attrition. What would have happened if the Schlieffen Plan had succeeded? This plan was to attack France (while Russia mobilized its army) and then attack Russia. He was born on February 28th, 1833. War never goes perfectly, and so the plan failed. Germany went to war with the plan of Helmuth von Moltke. Move and position individuals in accordance with their plan of care El Plan de Santa Barbara This essay was written by a fellow student. It is thus that he devised several different strategies in 1905 for various potential future conflicts.