Explain how the Schlieffen plan was meant to work. How did it end up in stalemate?

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Suk Hothi S11 History GCSE coursework 9.2.2 The First World War Assignment 1

        a)        Explain how the Schlieffen plan was meant to work

The Schlieffen plan was originally designed by Alfred Von Schlieffen (hence the name of the plan) in December 1905, who was German army chief of staff at the time. The main purpose of the Schlieffen plan was to avoid a war on two fonts for Germany. Schlieffen believed that if Germany could defeat France quickly before Russia mobilised, the main force of his army could be sent to the eastern front. It was essential that the attack would be quick and decisive.

Alfred Von Schlieffen planned to invade France through Belgium, and then the proposed defeat of France was estimated 6 weeks. The amount of soldiers to attack the French from the north, and in the south through Alsace Loraine was originally a ratio of 10:1. However these original plans didn’t come to affect either for reasons that the German army were not sufficient in keeping to the original plan, Belgium put up more resistance in opposing Germany than had been expected, The replacement of Alfred Von Schlieffen: Von Molke (this happened in 1905), changed the schlieffen plan with great consequence.

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I will now go on to explain in great detail how the Schlieffen Plan changed in contrast to how it was supposed to work. Germany expected that after Belgium had been invaded, they could go on through northern France. Germany thought they would go unopposed by Britain, but Britain had signed the treaty of London 91859) which stated that Britain would support Belgium if they were attacked. Schlieffen’s other reasons for invading France from the north was that is where the industry was (raw materials and resources) , therefore France would defend their territory half heartedly as they would ...

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