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. War never goes perfectly, and so the plan failed. A Combat History of the First World War, Oxford University Press, 2013.Hart, Peter. The Great War. This is due to the fact that the failure prolonged the . It was an ambitious plan designed to avoid Germany having to fight a two-front war against France and Russia. It is said that German advance troops could see the Eiffel Tower in the distance. He died in 1913, before WWI. Kluck believed it was a safe move as he knew of no significant concentrations of enemy troops near Paris. 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. But Germany said that if the Belgian government didnt let German troops go through its land, it would be an enemy. why did the schlieffen plan fail bbc bitesizeliver shih tzu puppies Germany had six weeks to defeat France before Russia attacked her. The Teaching Company, LLC. It is famous not for its cunning and careful calculation, but for its failure. Since its inception, the Russians had improved militarily, and he did not want to have them invade Germany while he fought France. Learn more. 2015. Schlieffen also stressed the need to keep the enemy reacting to German moves. to continue to Slides. The uniqueness of the Schlieffen Plan was that it ran counter to prevailing German military wisdom, which was principally derived from Carl von Clausewitzs seminal work On War (1832) and the strategic thought of the elder Helmuth von Moltke. The French advance east would make it easier for the Schlieffen Plan to envelop the French army when it hinged south after making its way through Belgium. It was designed for a war between France on one side and the German Empire, Austria-Hungary, and Italy on the other. There were troops around Paris, and they were about to punish him for not sticking to the plan. The Germans had to send troops to the east. Wirkung, Wahrnehmung, Analyse, Seehamer Verlag GmbH, 2000Leonhard, Jrn. BBC, n.d Web.). Shortcomings of the plan: Why didn't the Schlieffen Plan work? n n The plan relied upon rapid movement. The failure of the Schlieffen Plan Causes of WW1, First World War, Other History Topics. It does have some truth in it, but there is more to it than this statement says. Schlieffens plan was a sweeping, bold conception of how to achieve victory in a two-front war. They thought that Russia would be slower than Germany because they needed more time to gather their soldiers. Instead of doing this head-on against the heavily fortified French border, Germany would instead first invade neutral Belgium and the Netherlands and then attack France through their northern borders. When war broke out in 1914, his plan was adopted by another leader, Helmuth von Moltke. In the lead up to World War I, Europe increasingly became caught up in a series of entangling alliances. The Schlieffen Plan disregarded the political implications of what was regarded as essentially a technical solution to a military problem. Despite the difficulties the Schlieffen Plan actually looked as if it might succeed. Learn More: The Impact of World War INew World Disorder. The British forces moved forward and reached Mons. For the full article, see, https://www.britannica.com/summary/Schlieffen-Plan. A series of battles followed. While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. France had to be defeated - and this did not happen. A Complete History, Holt Paperbacks, 2004.Hart, Peter. Germany and their allies would invade France through Belgium, instead of directly attacking. 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. in Land Warfare (International Perspective) with honors and a graduate certificate in German Military Studies from the American Military University. 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. As Schlieffen retired from service in 1906, Helmuth von Moltke (the Younger) went on to replace him. the lack of communication between the soldiers and their leaders and, the leadership that the leader led them throughout the plan, the amount of assumptions that the Germans made . It was made for the army of the German Empire in 1905. In early August, the enemies clashed. Under the direction of Hans von Seeckt, commanders fashioned the doctrine that the Wehrmacht was to employ in World War Two. As 29 German divisions advanced through the Netherlands and Belgium in the north, 45 further divisions, including about 2,400 tanks in 7 divisions, burst through the Allied right flank and drove towards the English Channel. As well as the fact that Germany's army simply wasn't strong enough. If you enjoyed what you read and are a teacher or tutor needing resources for your students from kindergarten all the way up to high school senior (or even adults! Throughout the remainder of the war, German officers searched for a process by which the stalemate of the trenches could be broken. It is easy to argue that the failure of the Schlieffen plan was a failure of execution. The plan was to invade France and capture Paris before the Russians could mobilize. Its role was to advance deep into France and swing around Paris, surrounding the French capital and any forces based near it. 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. At dawn on 10 May, the Germans began an invasion of Belgium and the Netherlands. Please leave a comment below Cancel reply. They were aided in this by a heroic and legendary effort, which was celebrated ever afterward, as hundreds of taxicabs600 of them, to be precisebrought troops that had been stationed in Paris itself out to the battlefield, shuttling these men back and forth to get them to the places where they needed to be. On September 5, as the Germans continued their march south, Joffre struck. Unlike a generation later when Adolf Hitler and the Nazi high command actively sought to create a two-front war, Imperial Germany knew that a war with either Russia or France meant a war with both.. Q: What was the purpose of the Schlieffen Plan? Schlieffen thus turned a doctrinal debate (as chronicled by military historian Hans Delbruck) toward the strategies of annihilation (Vernichtungsstrategie) and attrition (Ermattungsstrategie). As most of the French army was stationed on the border with Germany, the Schlieffen Plan aimed for the quick defeat of France by invading it through neutral Belgium and moving rapidly on to capture Paris. Ironically, this is exactly what Germany was anticipating. And the ideas that shaped how Hitler's army fought were influenced by the fighting methods German soldiers had used since the 1870s. The First World War, Vintage, 2000.Hastings, Max. The original Schlieffen Plan was later changed by other military leaders. On 21 June 1940, early in the second year of World War Two, the French president, Marshall Philippe Ptain, sued for peace with Adolf Hitler's Third Reich. A huge German force would come swinging through northern France after invading Belgium and Holland, arcing around Paris to achieve decisive victory within a timetable of about six weeks. It seemed to some that this represented the triumph of military technology over old-style fortifications, a success, for the cult of the offensive. English and French troops had time to mobilize. This time, though, rather than invading France by way of North Belgium, Germany defied Frances expectations by invading instead from South Belgium. The first reason is that, in order to invade France, the German first and second armies were in Belgium needing to get to and conquer Fort Liege. Thus they would be able to end the war quickly since they would make it impossible for resources to reach any army or people on land. What assumptions were the Schlieffen plan based on? The German armies, in an alteration of the plan, did not come around Paris to encircle it but instead began their inward turn that had been projected for the Schlieffen Plan, further east. 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. Last updated 2011-03-30. Further summaries have been discovered over subsequent decades, opening new debates about Schlieffens true intentions and the implementation of his plan. It also assumed that Germany would defeat France in less than six weeks. Made by von Schlieffen, Germany b. The resistance of the Belgians and the BEF prevented this. Without checking with his superiors, Kluck swung his forces southeast. All of these reasons combined to make the Schlieffen plan fail. Thus between 10 May and 21 June 1940, the Wehrmacht had accomplished what the army of Kaiser Wilhelm II had not managed to do in four years of desperate fighting in World War One. Eventually, it led to Germanys downfall. 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. Moltke estimated six weeks for deployment, leading Germany to believe France could be defeated before the Russians fully mobilized. The Schlieffen plan was produced to get around the problem of international diplomacy. Kluck and Blow retreated in the face of the unexpected setback. However, in order to maximize German flexibility and preparedness, Schlieffen also devised an offensive strategy for a one-front war solely with France. Germanys strategy was to first deal with Russian forces in the east. With this doctrine, despite being outnumbered in tanks and combat aircraft, they were able to outfight the Allies at every turn in 1940, and cause the rapid and total collapse of Allied resistance. Not your computer? To read more on what we're all about, learn more about us here. The battles are remembered but not the schemes that led to them. A Short History, Penguin, 2008.Keegan, John. The plan was designed to calculate . You can find a selection of answers to the most frequently asked questions here: http://bit.ly/OOtrenches CAN I SHOW YOUR VIDEOS IN CLASS? Russia also supported the Balkan region, including Serbia. In a two front war the Schlieffen Plan called for a defensive first strategy, followed by strategic counterattacks. Some of the reasons this plan failed was because. They'd expected Belgium not to fight back and allow German control but Belgium did. One element that was lacking from the German army in 1914 was the ability to move long distances quickly. This doctrine integrated the operational-level ideas taught by Schlieffen with the tactical concepts developed during World War One. A small, neutral country. 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. German leaders called this plan Aufmarsch II West. war, France, Germany, Britain, Russia, Belgium, Schlieffen Plan. Von Moltke changed certain aspects of the plan. Russia would then be defeated in two weeks at most and with minimal losses to German troops. In 1914, German units inevitably outfought their opponents whenever they encountered each other on the battlefield. They all came together and supported WWI. Tell your teachers or professors about our channel and our videos. Plan XVII, which was launched on August 14, 1914, broke against German defenses in Lorraine and suffered enormous losses. Schlieffen later rewrote his plan, including an offensive against the neutral Dutch and restructuring the ratio of artillery and infantry. From the Lecture Series: World War IThe Great War, December 1, 2017 History, Military History, World History. He was willing to let them take back Alsace-Lorraine for a short time. This was the way German armies had taken during the Franco-Prussian war in the past. Why Did the Schlieffen Plan Fail? This was a crucial moment: it was an admission that the Schlieffen Plan had ultimately not succeeded and was the beginning of trench warfare. Though a seemingly logical idea, the Schlieffen plan failed tragically for the Germans. Stressing the cult of the offensive, Plan XVII tended to underestimate German reserves that could be deployed in the defense of these territories and, in a very real sense, played into the expectations of the Schlieffen Plan. He also decided to avoid invading the Netherlands, hoping to keep the British out of the war. If you have interesting historical questions, just post them and we will answer in our OUT OF THE TRENCHES videos. Rather than repeating the World War One Schlieffen Plan, the Germans in 1940 advanced with their main thrust through the Ardennes Forest, in order to smash the vulnerable flank of the Allies. To accomplish this, he advocated the use of the flexible command system pioneered by Helmuth von Moltke the Elder. Europe Goes To War, Knopf, 2013.Hirschfeld, Gerhard. Neither side wanted a naval war because whoever won would control trade routes. The plan. In addition, as the Germans marched through France, their advance slowed. This time, unlike the Allies, the Germans intended to fight the war offensively, and win quickly. 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. After von Schlieffen died, this plan was further worked on and altered by Helmuth von Moltke, his successor. Germany lost World War II. In 1914, the war began. Six weeks later, Europe found itself on the brink of the 20th centurys first world war. Nonetheless, Paris was to be defended. They did not believe the British would stand firm on their commitment to defend Belgium and they would not become bogged down in a continental European war. Germany went on the offensive against France, but with only 80% of their forces as the Russians tied up the other 20% on the eastern border. and in the process, capturing Paris. The Schlieffen plan made several assumptions: There would be minimal resistance from Belgium. He did not solve the political problem of violating neutrality, but he lessened it by declining to invade Holland. That last group was to block any French attempt to counterattack, and it could be detached and transported to the extreme right if necessary. Always outnumbered by its enemies, it would have to match quantity with quality. It is thus that he devised several different strategies in 1905 for various potential future conflicts. Were offering background knowledge, news, a glimpse behind the scenes and much more on: reddit: http://bit.ly/TheGreatSubRedditFacebook: http://bit.ly/WW1FBTwitter: http://bit.ly/WW1SeriesInstagram: http://bit.ly/ZpMYPL CAN I EMBED YOUR VIDEOS ON MY WEBSITE? The Schlieffen plan was a plan of attack for Germany, mobilization and war were the same thing. To meet the possibility of Germanys facing a war against France in the west and Russia in the east, Schlieffen proposed that, instead of aiming the first strike against Russia, Germany should aim a rapid, decisive blow with a large force at Frances flank through Belgium, then sweep around and crush the French armies against a smaller German force in the south. This is a transcript from the video series World War I: The Great War. Germany would attack France first by traveling through Belgium, and take Paris in about 3 weeks. Upon discovering that they were overextended and in peril of being simply overwhelmed by the German advance, both British and French forces moved back in a fast retreat, seeking a place to make a concerted stand. The Maginot Line: the Allies expected a protracted, defensive war Learn more about World War I: Destruction and Rebirth. This page has been archived and is no longer updated. The fate of the Schlieffen Plan proceeded a little more positively at first and seemed to be succeeding, but then it broke down in what afterward was called the Miracle of the Marne by French patriots, a truly remarkable moment of salvation and national mobilization to expel the German invader. How did the Schlieffen Plan support Kaiser Wilhelm's goals in the quote above? 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. The Schlieffen plan was also the only Germany's plan for war ("GCSE Bitesize: Extra Facts." BBC. The German general Schlieffen counted on two things. It called for 80% of German forces along the western border, and 20% on the eastern border. Even if Russia was ready, Germany would need six weeks to mobilize. As the German army moved through France and turned south they made it to within 20 miles of Paris, near the Marne River. In a general European war, Germany would face France in the west and Russia in the east, and would need to defeat France within six weeks before Russia mobilised her troops. Schlieffen Plan has been often considered as a demonstration of Field Marshal Helmuth von . What would have happened if the Schlieffen Plan had succeeded? 1. In 1906, General Schlieffen retired from the army. Schlieffen was very worried about Germanys position with Russia and France. Although the French army put up token resistance for several more weeks, their spirit was broken and the German advance south from Belgium was swift and decisive. History. Indy Neidell takes you on a journey into the past to show you what really happened and how it all could spiral into more than four years of dire war. Russia was also better at mobilizing its army and attacked East Prussia within 10 days, not six weeks as the Germans had thought beforehand. Schlieffen himself must take some of the blame for this confusion. If needed, Germany would also take part in a holding operation on the Russian/German border. 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. In truth, as events proved, they were completely unprepared to face Hitler's Wehrmacht. The poor communication that frontline commanders and army headquarters had in Berlin was not helping Moltke to control his campaign. Their weapons and strategies had moved on in 25 years, and they did not fall as easily as Schlieffen had anticipated. In pursuing that goal of total annihilation, Schlieffen also broke with Moltke, whose strategy sought to neutralize ones opponent. Our editors will review what youve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. this doctrine created aggressive and flexible leaders. Nearly two million soldiers fought. A 200-mile advance through Belgium and France, with fierce fighting along the way, had exhausted many German troops. Both fronts would initially begin on the defense, though unleash fierce counter attacks on first on the French. 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. By early September, they had reached the Marne River, some 20 miles from Paris. This failure had great significance as it largely impacted World War I. Belgium relied upon its concrete fortifications to hold up the Germans. What was the Schlieffen plan? First World War resources. However, the modern technology was merely used to enhance the capabilities that had already been provided, thanks to the army's strategic doctrine. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. It likely means that France would have invaded Germany, but at least they were busy with taking back their land. In World War I, the Schlieffen Plan was conceived by German general General Alfred von Schlieffen and involved a surprise attack on France. That would lead to a war on two fronts, dividing Germanys military resources. His most recent book, German Strategy and the Path to Verdun, published by Cambridge University Press in November 2004. Schlieffen anticipated fierce French resistance, and thus knew that success depended on the deployment of the entire Germany army against France. Schlieffen and his successor, Helmuth von Moltke the Younger, trained the German army well in what they termed Bewegungskrieg, or 'war of manoeuvre'. With these revisions and ultimately incorrect assumptions, the brilliant Schlieffen Plan was doomed to fail. THE GREAT WAR covers the events exactly 100 years ago: The story of World War I in realtime. The victorious Allies looked upon the Schlieffen Plan as the source of German aggression against neutral countries, and it became the basis of war guilt and reparations. This could have meant that the Western Front was limited to a 25-mile area of the Belfort Gap and not 200 miles of trench warfare. But if they had not, it might have been easier for Britain to just keep the German ships in the Baltic and defend France from naval attacks. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. 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. Required fields are marked * Comment * Name * The failure of the Schlieffen Plan ultimately forced Germany to fight a two-front war from which they could not overcome and did not have the colonies to support the war . This became a concern, the result of which was that the German armies moved closer together. ), check out our partner sites KidsKonnect, SchoolHistory, and HelpTeaching for hundreds of facts, worksheets, activities, quizzes, courses, and more! Germany also had better-trained troops. WHAT ARE YOUR SOURCES? Germany wanted to avoid this at all costs. The lack of manpower led to a weakened attack that stalled and caused the formation of a gap in the German lines that French forces exploited. There was another element entirely outside German control their enemies. However, German and Austro-Hungarian superguns swiftly smashed the forts around Namur and Lige. He said, We lost the war. Four years later, Moltkes prediction would be true. France did just that at the Marne River, east of Paris. Schlieffen foresaw the potential to fight a two-front war against both France and Russia, and also a one-front war against France while Russia remained neutral. Related Article Summaries Germany summary Article Summary strategy summary Article Summary Erich Ludendorff summary Article Summary The Schlieffen plan was made before World War I. The German Schlieffen Plan had prepared the nation for this exact moment and now was the time to implement it. That army should have landed on the western side of Paris so as to encircle the city. French forces were in full retreat. The Schlieffen plan was also the only Germany's plan for war ("GCSE Bitesize: Extra Facts." BBC. On August 7, the main citadel of Liege, a key strategic point that was supposed to hold up the German advance, was captured. The strategy had originally been developed in the 1890s by Count Alfred von Schlieffen. There are many ways of incorporating World War 1 and the themes of friendship, impact and reconciliation into your classes. Schlieffen Plan , Plan of attack used by the German armies at the outbreak of World War I. It imposed severe restrictions on the possibility of finding a diplomatic solution to the July Crisis, because of its narrow time-frame for the initial deployment of troops. Subscribe to our channel and dont miss our new episodes every Thursday. Seeing that Kluck had extended his forces and exposed his right flank, he saw a weakness to exploit. All rights reserved. Why was it that Britain and France were outfought at every turn? Or just share our videos on Facebook, Twitter, Reddit etc. It was a plan that nearly succeeded but its success could only be measured by being 100% successful. The Failure of the Schlieffen Plan The Failure of the Schlieffen Plan In 1914, Germany believed that they would go to war with Russia. After all, during the disastrous campaign in Belgium and France, it had seemed as if German tanks and aircraft were everywhere. Their solution was to fight Russia and France at the same time. The Schlieffen plan had failed to knock the French out of the war. This plan was designed by General Count Alfred von Schlieffen in December, 1905, with the aim of defeating France and Russia. The Schlieffen Plan called for Germany to take the offensive and attack France. Answer (1 of 8): Broadly speaking, the plan was too ambitious. It was essential for Germany to strike quickly . The Germans also downplayed the political ramifications of invading neutral Belgium. According to PBS, there were two main causes of the stalemate during WWI: the failed military tactics of The Schlieffen Plan, and the new war tactics required for trench warfare. He made the Schlieffen Plan in 1905. In 1839, Britain made a treaty with Belgium to keep them neutral. They moved through Belgium, then plunged into France. It had taken only a few short weeks for the Wehrmacht (the German army), under his control, to crush the army of the French Third Republic . Heavy German guns were brought up to demolish other forts. Once one ally was defeated, Germany would be able to combine its forces to defeat the other through massive troop concentration and rapid deployment.