THINK. PAIR. SHARE.

1. THINK. PAIR. SHARE. If you were a German General, after looking at this map where is your biggest threat and what would you advise?

2. Archduke

3. The Schlieffen Plan: 1905 • The plan was devised in 1905 by General von Schlieffen. • Its aim was to make sure Germany did not fight a war on two fronts – against Russia and France at the same time. • This would be achieved by first defeating France in six weeks and then taking on the Russians. • Schlieffen gambled on Russia taking 12 weeks to mobilise her vast army.

4. The Plan in detail: I • Schlieffen split the army in two: a Northern Army on the Belgian border and a Southern Army (SA) on the French border. • The Northern Army (1.3m men) was ten times size of the Southern Army. • The Southern Army would attack first and the French would counter-attack, taking troops from around Paris (weakening its defences). • Because the SA was so weak, the French would drive it back and chase after it.

5. The Plan in detail: II • The plan required nerve to succeed: the SA had to be deliberately weak so it would retreat and get the French to follow • The Russians had to take at least 12 weeks to mobilise • The Northern Army had to advance rapidly – delay would be fatal.

6. The Plan in detail: III • Once it had retreated far enough and had drawn enough of the French army after it, the SA would turn and make a stand against the French. • Then the NA would trap the French from behind and crush it like a nut between a ‘hammer and an anvil’. • With Paris encircled, France would surrender.

7. The Plan in practice • Schlieffen died in 1913 and von Moltke took charge of the army. • He lacked Schlieffen’s nerve and feared that the weak Southern Army would driven back all the way into Germany. • Therefore he changed the ratio between the NA and SA from 10:1 to 10:4 by reducing the size of the NA.

8. Why the Plan failed • By changing the ratio, the stronger Southern Army drove the French back. This meant fewer French troops were drawn away from Paris. • The weaker Northern Army was held up by unexpectedly strong resistance from Belgian and British forces (the BEF) • The Germans were stopped by the French at the battle of the Marne in mid-September and forced back to the river Aisne. • Von Moltke had also further weakened the NA by sending 130,000 troops to the Eastern Front because the Russians had mobilised in six weeks.

9. The End • Von Moltke telegraphed Kaiser William: ‘Your Majesty, we have lost the war.’ • This was true but it would take another 4 years before the Kaiser and Germany believed him. So much for the Schlieffen Plan

10. In 1914 the Schlieffen plan was put into operation and the German army invaded Luxembourg and Belgium. But they were held up by the Belgium army and the arrival of the British army (British Expeditionary Force). Russia was also quick to mobilise taking just 10 days. Look at the assumptions made in the Schlieffen Plan below and complete the table by adding the realities. Add the missing words: The …………………….. plan had not succeeded in bringing a quick victory, but the ………………… army was not beaten and the digging of trenches marked the beginning of many years of ………… warfare. The plan led to Great Britain declaring war on Germany, as they had an agreement with ……………….. . • Missing words: • Belgium • Schlieffen • Trench • German