The Schlieffen PlanGermany’s Plan for a Quick Victory

The German Dilemma Treaty between

France, Britain and Russia

Germany was between them

Worried about attacks

Who was von Schlieffen? German Army Chief of

Staff in 1905 Saw the need for a

plan to deal with enemies on two opposite borders

Began to circulate his plan in December, 1905

A Quick Victory Schlieffen believed that the key to victory was in a

quick defeat of France Destroy the French Army before the Russians

could mobilize. Schlieffen thought the Russians would need six

weeks to put their army together If the French were quickly defeated, the British

and Russians would not get involved.

The Original Plan The attack would go

through Holland, Belgium and Luxembourg

Avoid the French fortifications on the German-French border

90% of German forces attack France

Schlieffen’s Replacement Helmuth von Moltke Replaced Schlieffen

as Chief of Staff in 1906

Made changes to plan

Von Moltke’s Plan No invasion of Holland Invade through

Flanders 34 divisions invade

Belgium 8 divisions should be

kept back in case of Russian attacks

The German Onslaught August 2, 1914 Germans invade Luxembourg and Belgium Belgian army stalls the Germans Russia advances into East Prussia The British Expeditionary force lands

quickly into France and Belgium

The Result The early stalemate meant there would be

no quick victory for either side Both sides began to build trenches.