1. The failure of the Schlieffen Plan
*To identify the reasons for the failure of the Schlieffen plan
*Analyse to what extent Moltke was to blame.

2. Moltke
Moltke took over from Schlieffen in 1906, because he was Kaisers favourite.
He was a much more cautious commander who significantly amended the Schlieffen plan.
Look over the information on Moltke, do you think he is at all responsible for the plans failure? Why?
Write down what he did wrong on your A3 sheet.

3. What a Klutz! It’s too risky!
Takes over as Chief of the German General Staff from 1906 – Schlieffen forced to retire after an accident
It is said he gets the position because he is the Kaiser’s favourite
He has no idea what the Schlieffen Plan is
He makes the left, or defensive, wing in Alsace and Lorraine stronger than Schlieffen designed right wing, the decisive one.
He abandons the planned German advance through Holland and the violation of Dutch neutrality making the German advance through Belgium alone thinking this would make Britain stay out of the war.
By strengthening the German armies in the wrong place he forces the French back to their fortress barrier and thus halts a German victory - Schlieffen’s plan was to divide and conquer and seize Paris quickly.
It’s too risky!
Helmuth Johann Ludwig von Moltke
What a Klutz!

4. More Moltke Disasters Sending units to Russia… Communication…
The Schlieffen had originally envisaged making a sweeping encirclement of the Paris, but during August 1914 Moltke detaches two army corps from the German right wing and sends them across Germany to the eastern front against Russia, further weakening the army in the west.
Communication…
With Moltke at the rear of his forces, communication was difficult
Local commanders are allowed to do their own thing, thus wrecking The Plan
The First Army was placed under the control of the Second Army, but the two Armies' commanders' egos led to fighting between the two

5. The Problem of Liege
Thanks to Moltke's modifications to the Plan, the First and Second Armies (the right flank which was to pound France) were forced to go through Liege within the first days of the war.

6. The Problem of Liege Liege was heavily fortified (twelve strong forts)
Her bridges were destroyed
She became a bottle neck for the armies
Supplies were hard to get through

7. The Fall of Liege
Liege itself was taken, thanks to quick thinking General Ludendorff, (more on him and Hindenburg later)
But Ludendorff had taken Liege before any of the surrounding forts could be taken.
The whole battle took twelve days until the final fortress was demolished by the Germans
Without the special German and Austrian heavy artillery guns and Zepplins, the battle probably would have lasted much longer
Summarise the problem and fall of Liefe on your A3 sheet…

8. It Gets Worse!
The commander of the German First Army, General von Kluck, decides not to encircle the French capital. Instead he chooses to go east, moving past Paris and temporarily halting on the River Marne. Not only is Paris not captured - very significant for French national morale - but it also gives the French a chance to counter-attack.
The result is the Battle of the Marne and , German defeat and the stage set for trench warfare.

9. Bye-Bye Moltke
The general's health breaks down as a consequence of his clash with the Kaiser and the German defeat at Marne, and on 25 October 1914, he resigns.

10. The ‘allies’ get it wrong too
Joseph Joffre – Commander in chief of French army.
Joffre sticks to France’s Plan XVII, ‘a l’outrance’ (attack to the utmost)
Joffre also greatly underestimates the strength of the German forces
Joffre virtually ignores the Belgian border and heads toward Saar and the Ardenne setting themselves up to be attacked on the left flank and rear
The allied commanders dislike each other and fail to communicate – even when retreating
A copy of the Schlieffen Plan fell into British & French hands before the war and still ‘Papa’ Joffre heads toward Saar and Ardenne, ignoring his officers’ pleas to rush to Belgium!

11. In Memoriam 6,000 Belgians were killed (men, women and Children)
25,000 homes and other buildings in 837 communities destroyed.
1,500,000 Belgians (20% of the entire population) fled from the invading German army
Belgium was a small country with limited defences.
The term, ‘Rape of Belgium’, was used as propaganda to encourage enlistment and support for the war by the Triple Entente