1. How To Start A War

2. After the assassination war seems inevitable After the assassination war seems inevitable The major players The major players in the alliances are bracing for war Germany has a plan!

3. The Germans want to strike an early blow and knock France out of the war before Russia can get involved. The last thing the Germans want is a two-front war The Germans want to strike an early blow and knock France out of the war before Russia can get involved. The last thing the Germans want is a two-front war

4. Germany Army Chief of Staff, Alfred von Schlieffen created a plan to defeat France quickly, forcing them to surrender before Russia had a chance to mobilize her armed forces. Germany Army Chief of Staff, Alfred von Schlieffen created a plan to defeat France quickly, forcing them to surrender before Russia had a chance to mobilize her armed forces.

5. Schlieffen planned to use 90% of German military forces to deliver a knock out blow to France. The remaining Schlieffen planned to use 90% of German military forces to deliver a knock out blow to France. The remaining 10% would defend 10% would defend the eastern border of the eastern border of Germany against Germany against Russian attack Russian attack

6. The attack would be done by Surprise. The Germans would fake an Attack in South France The real attack would come through neutral Belgium and Luxembourg Paris

7. The plan assumed: The plan assumed: France was weak and could be beaten quickly France was weak and could be beaten quickly Russia would take a long time prepare it’s troops and mobilise its army Russia would take a long time prepare it’s troops and mobilise its army Belgium would allow entrance to German troops Belgium would allow entrance to German troops Britain would remain neutral Britain would remain neutral The Plan failed! The Plan failed!

8. The Germans were held up by the Belgium army, backed up by the BEF (British Expeditionary Force) which arrived extremely quickly. The Germans were held up by the Belgium army, backed up by the BEF (British Expeditionary Force) which arrived extremely quickly. Armies started “digging in” Armies started “digging in” and trenches started and trenches started forming in France from Belgium to Switzerland This became known as This became known as the Western Front the Western Front

10. It only took 10 days for the Russian army to mobilize. It only took 10 days for the Russian army to mobilize. Germany had a two front war! Germany had a two front war!