Source Based Question on World War One: A model answer.

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Source Based Question on World War One:  A model answer

Answer:  Sources B, C, D and E  imply that German military planning made it impossible for Germany accept a peaceful solution.  On 2nd August 1914, the Schlieffen Plan was put into operation when the German Army invaded Belgium. The successful execution of Germany’s Schlieffen Plan was contingent on carrying out the plan meticulously according to its timetabling.  On the whole, the said sources imply that the inflexibility of the mobilization plans and preparations for war, more particularly the German Schlieffen Plan made it inevitable that the Austro-Serbian dispute would turn into a general European war.  Once priority was given to military factors the momentum towards war seemed irresistible.

Source C is the clearest of all the sources, explaining how the Schlieffen Plan involved “advance through Belgium” and “Everything depends on meticulous planning and surprise…”  The success of the Schlieffen depended on the Germans achieving victory over France before Russia could fully mobilize.  Germany was banking on using the excellent lateral railways that were being built to move masses of troops from a conquered France to the East, and then beat the Russians too.  This source sets out in blunt language, pointing out in no uncertain terms how the Liege fortress had to be “taken at once” just as soon as mobilization took place, although Helmuth von Moltke had cautioned in his speech that the Dutch territory should not be violated.   I would think that Source C is largely accurate, being was written by the Chief of the German General Staff himself who was responsible for the very execution of the Schleiffen Plan.  Hence I would say the source is the most useful in supporting the said hypothesis.  

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The argument of Source C is reinforced by Source E which is equally emphatic in stressing that the Schlieffen Plan made War inevitable due to its inflexibility.  It meant that Germany had no choice but to implement its Schlieffen Plan just as soon as “Russia even mobilised;”  Source E however also implies that it was German incursion into Belgian territory, i.e. the “transgression” of Belgian neutrality which caused “almost all of the Great Powers” to be involved in the First World War.  Source E is hence more comprehensive than Source C in explaining the main cause of the War.  From ...

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