How Important was the Role of the BEF in the Failure of the Schlieffen Plan?

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26th September 2003                                                                Ewan Miller Y2

How Important was the Role of the BEF in the Failure of the Schlieffen Plan?

Introduction:

The Role of the British Expeditionary Force (the B.E.F.) was an in important contributing factor to the failure of the Schlieffen Plan, but not the only one. The French’s Plan XIV, the out of date Schlieffen plan itself, and the role of the Belgian army all were contributing factors that together resulted in the failure of Germany’s Schlieffen Plan.

The Background:

Germany had anticipated war for a long time, and in 1905 the German Chief of Staff, Alfred von Schlieffen devised a short, decisive plan to win it. The biggest problem with Germany’s location was that it was in between France and Germany. In a European war, the Germans knew they could not, and so would have to avoid, dividing their forces and fighting a war on two fronts.

        Consequently, von Schlieffen’s plan counted on Russia’s inability to mobilise - he estimated it would take them 6 weeks to do so. Thus, to avoid a war on two fronts, the Schlieffen Plan meant 90% of the German army would cross rapidly through neutral Belgium, and like a scythe advance through northern France past the French army and fortifications on the French/German border, and take Paris and the French army from behind.

        After France’s defeat, the German army could march back through Germany to fight Russia. With France gone, von Schlieffen thought the Russians would be both terrified and their morale would be down, and that Russia would be easily crushed.

        Unfortunately for the Germans, what actually happened was quite different. Many factors von Schlieffen had counted on did not go as he had planned, for example the British Expeditionary Force. Also, in the 9 years since the Schlieffen plan was developed, countries had begun to change. If the Schlieffen plan had all gone to plan, the German advance and victory would have been swift, decisive and inevitable. But it didn’t, and that was when the First World War was started.

        The French knew about the Schlieffen plan, and even made a plan to counter it. They planned to directly assault Alsace-Lorraine on the French/German border which Germany had captured in a war between France and Germany in 1870.

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        The British were confident that their Navy would defend them from attack, however they thought about sending the BEF into a flexible and strategic position on the left of the French army.

        All three sides expected a short war with a few decisive battles that would be over by Christmas. How wrong they all were…

The Battle of Mons

Germany at once put into action the Schlieffen plan, marching though Belgium. They expected a quick advancement through to France. In the meantime, the BEF was preparing to travel to Belgium and halt the German advancement, and the French were ...

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