Why Germany attacted Belgium first before attacking France in the World War One?

Question

Germany attacted Belgium when she declared war on France in First World War,
Why she needed to attact Belgium first? What was the purpose for attacking Begium first?

Answer 1

Because that is what the Schlieffen Plan provided for. And if you look at a map you will see that the most direct route from Northern Germany towards Paris is through Belgium. The plan, as amended by Moltke, did not foresee the small Belgium Army being any problem. There was an attack in the south, however, towards the R. Aisne, although the plan foresaw this as only defensive. Bear in mind the terrain - flat across the Flanders Plain, more mountainous on the southern border with the Vosges Mountains etc.

Answer 2

The border between Germany and France was severe defended (Maginot line) So Germany asked passage trough Belgium but the Belgians refused.It resulted in the declaration of war between Belgium and Germany.

Answer 3

The Von Schlieffen plan foresaw to enter (neutral) Belgium with the bulk of the army.
Why ?
Its shorter to Paris, better transport lines (Belgium had one of the most extensif and modern railroad systems at that time).
The bulk of the German Army was to enter Belgium and take the bulk of the French army at the flank while they were fighting at the German-French frontier. They would be surrounded and had to surrender like in 1870 at Sedan.
They thought that the Belgians could be sold and that they would be too affraid to fight.
Time was important because the Russians would after some time at the Eastern front.

Two things that the Germans did not take into account :
The little Belgian Army did fight (Liége, Namur, Antwerp, Yser,...) against all odds and, most import, they did destroy railroad bridges, roads, rails so that the German army lost valuable time.
At that time honour was more important than the risk of loosing everything. So the Belgians could not let invade their country while they were supposed to be neutral.

Secondly, it brought the British to declare War to the Germans. (GB was a garant for the neutrality of Belgium and was obliged to help Belgium in case of war). The British were supposed to declare war also because of the Entente Cordiale but it was more motivating to fight for an honest cause. Poor little Belgium that was defending itself against the monstrous Germans was more motivating than to fight together with the old enemy France.

To Paul :
thought there where a lot of fortresses (f.e. Verdun), the Maginot line didn't exist (this was build mostly in the early '30s)

Answer 4

To gain a military tactical advantage. The French were preparing for an attack across their own frontiers. By passing their forces through Belgium the German army was able to threaten the French rear, and thus forced the French to retreat- giving up swathes of French territory much of which was not recovered until the Germans called for a truce in 1918. That Belgium had no quarrel with Germany was irrelevant to the German war-lords.

Answer 5

France had built a defensive wall on the border with Germany but not with Belgium so it was easier to go through Belgium

Answer 6

If they had just attcked France and left Belgium they would have been at risk from being attacked from the side. The needed to control land from the sea in Belgium and across.

Answer 7

The Magnot line was built only after WW1. German attacked Beligum first in both wars since it alwasys stand in the way and they need to secure their flank.

Answer 8

As a feint to entice the BEF and Best of the French Divisions to walk into the 'trap', the 'trap' created by their main thrust thru the Ardenne Forest....oops, wrong war, but basically the same idea...

Answer 9

they needed the room to deploy their Von schieffer plan Rik has said it all already

Answer 10

because belguim had a better supply route and if they attacked france the same thing would happen like wut hapened in WWII on DDay and france would have them boxed in