what impact did the schlieffen plan have on ww1

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How did the von Schlieffen plan cause ww1?

In 1914, to activate the Schlieffen Plan required the German army to cross neutral Belgium for quick access to Paris. Done on August 3, this German move ultimately brought the British into World War I because Germany's actions violated the 1839 Treaty of London Britain had guaranteed to Belgium.

Who did the Schlieffen Plan Affect?

The Schlieffen Plan was a war plan to fight a quick and decisive war against two enemies, France and Russia. The plan gambled on slow Russian mobilization, with most of its forces concentrated on France. The goal was to defeat France with the majority of its armies and then turn to defeat Russia.

Why was the Schlieffen Plan important to Germany?

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. He proposed in 1905 that Germany's advantage over France and Russia—its likely opponents in a continental war—was that the two were separated.

What if the Schlieffen Plan worked?

If Schlieffen's plan worked as he hoped it would, the German armies would sweep in a wide arc to the west of Paris and be in a position to attack the three French armies in Alsace from the rear.

Was the Schlieffen Plan successful?

It was a plan that nearly succeeded but its success could only be measured by being 100% successful. France had to be defeated – and this did not happen. Schlieffen's speedy attack and expected defeat of France never occurred – it's failure did usher in the era of trench warfare that is so much linked to World War One.

When was the Schlieffen Plan used?

You can also download a hi-res copy as a pdf (4 mbs). The Schlieffen Plan drawn up in 1905 was the German army's answer to its central strategic problem: how to win a war on two fronts, against France in the west and Russia in the east.