Describe the Schlieffen plan?

Question

in your own words

Answer 1

Is this for a school project? I worry, when I see questions like this, it sounds like a History Essay.

I don't want to give away free answers to projects...

Answer 2

Named after Alfred von Schlieffen the German Chief of Staff in the early 1900s. France, Britain and Russia had just signed the "Entente Cordiale" and Germany fearing an invasion, or an attack from three sides formulated a plan which would take out France. The theory being if France, Germany's nearest neighbour, was eliminated from a war then the other two nations would find it harder to mount an effective attack, more so as they were geographically separated. Schlieffen's plan involved using 90% of Germany's armed forces to attack France. Fearing the French forts on the border with Germany, Schlieffen suggested an attack through Holland, Belgium and Luxembourg into northern France. The rest of the German Army would be sent to defensive positions in the east to stop the expected Russian advance. Once France was forced to surrender the plan was to transfer the troops to the East and attack Russia. The assumption was that the Russian war machine would be slow to mobilise and that gave Germany time to defeat France before taking on Russia. When Helmuth von Moltke replaced Alfred von Schlieffen as German Army Chief of Staff in 1906, he modified the plan by proposing that Holland was not invaded. The main route would now be through the flat plains of Flanders in Belgium. Moltke argued that Belgium's small army would be unable to stop German forces from quickly entering France. Moltke suggested that 34 divisions should invade Belgium whereas 8 divisions would be enough to stop Russia advancing in the east. On 2nd August 1914, the Schlieffen Plan was put into operation when the German Army invaded Luxembourg and Belgium. However, the Germans were held up by the Belgian Army and were shocked by the Russian Army's mobilisation and rapid advance into East Prussia. The Germans were also surprised by how quickly the British Expeditionary Force reached France and Belgium.

Answer 3

Oh my god, I can't believe I actually know what you're talking about!!!
I shouldn't really help you with you're work but I'm so chuffed I know the answer I'm going to say something.

Erm... The Schlieffen plan was created by Alfred Von Schlieffen (obviously) I forget the date - 19something!
The whole point of the plan was to make sure that France would be defeated as quickly as possible. There making it so that the other countries (Ressia, England) would have one fewer ally, making it easier to fight them. Or making them give up fighting or something like that.

The plan involved using a large percentage of the German troops to make a circuitous attack through Belgium and I think Holland. And their aim was Paris to force the French into a quick surrender.

It didn't succeed because the forces were unable to get to Paris through the allied armies.

That's all I know really. I feel so clever!!

Answer 4

Alfred von Schlieffen, German Army Chief of Staff, was given instructions to devise a strategy that would be able to counter a joint attack. In December, 1905, he began circulating what later became known as the Schlieffen Plan. Schlieffen argued that if war took place it was vital that France was speedily defeated. If this happened, Britain and Russia would be unwilling to carry on fighting. Schlieffen calculated that it would take Russia six weeks to organize its large army for an attack on Germany. Therefore, it was vitally important to force France to surrender before Russia was ready to use all its forces.

Schlieffen's plan involved using 90% of Germany's armed forces to attack France. Fearing the French forts on the border with Germany, Schlieffen suggested a scythe-like attack through Holland, Belgium and Luxembourg. The rest of the German Army would be sent to defensive positions in the east to stop the expected Russian advance.

When Helmuth von Moltke replaced Alfred von Schlieffen as German Army Chief of Staff in 1906, he modified the plan by proposing that Holland was not invaded. The main route would now be through the flat plains of Flanders. Moltke argued that Belgium's small army would be unable to stop German forces from quickly entering France. Moltke suggested that 34 divisions should invade Belgium whereas 8 divisions would be enough to stop Russia advancing in the east.