How the Von Schlieffen plan was supposed to work

1. France wanted Alsace-Lorraine back.
2. Keep a small german army there(Southern army) to lure the main French attack there.
3. He kept 90% in the north (northern army). When the French attacked this army would sweep through France, capture Paris then rush back to defeat the russians.

But Germany needed three big things:

1. He needed 90% of the army in the north.
2. The soldiers had to march 35Km per day with little food and ammo.
3. Russia had to take 3 months to get ready for war.

In 1913 Schlieffen died and Moltke took over.

Moltke attacked 4th August 1914 and the Schlieffen plan failed because:

1. Moltke got worried and sent too many troops to the southern army in Alsace-Lorraine.
2. Russia took only 6 weeks to get ready not 12 so Moltke sent 100’000 men to Russia so his northern army was only 60% not 90%.
3. The German army didn’t supply enough food or water or ammo who got tired.
4. The BEF was sent to fight the Germans, they were only 75’000 but slowed the German army at Mons (23rd August 1914) this gave France extra time to get ready.
5. Marne (5-10th  September 1914) the french and british stopped the germans and drove them back just 60 Km from Paris.

After this the Stalemate occurred and made the war last another 4 years.