During the war

• Why was the Schlieffen plan created?

  Germany wanted to avoid a war on two fronts
• What was the initial German plan for the war called?

  The Schlieffen Plan
• Who was the Chief of Staff that created the Schlieffen Plan?

  Alfred von Schlieffen
• When did the Schlieffen Plan begin to take form?

  In 1905
• What major factors did the Schlieffen Plan take into account?

  Germany's diplomatic isolation and military advancements
• What was the problem created by Germany's diplomatic isolation?

  Only Austria-Hungary was a dependable partner
• How did the Schlieffen Plan address the issue of being outnumbered?

  It was an offensive plan to avoid attrition
• What was the original troop deployment strategy in the Schlieffen Plan?

  7/8 of troops to the west
• Why did the Schlieffen Plan involve marching through Belgium?

  To circumvent French defenses
• What was the significance of violating Belgian neutrality?

  It might bring Britain into the war
• What was the fate of the Schlieffen Plan?

  It failed
• What change did Moltke make to the Schlieffen Plan?

  He only invaded Belgium, not the Netherlands
• What was a major issue with the German reserve and replacement troops?

  They were not well trained or equipped
• What did the Schlieffen Plan rely on for success?

  Speed and transportation
• How many cars and horses did Germany have at the war's start?

  5,000 cars and 1.4 million horses
• What hindered troop movement during the invasion?

  Destruction of railway tracks by retreating forces
• Why was Liege important to the German invasion?

  It was a railway hub
• What was a critical flaw in the Schlieffen Plan's execution?

  It was inflexible and had no alternatives
• What did the Kaiser mistakenly believe about the French mobilization?

  That they weren't mobilizing at all
• What did Moltke say about deploying troops?

  It cannot be improvised and takes years of planning
• What was the impact of the siege of Liege on the German plan?

  It delayed troop movements significantly
• What communication issues did Germany face during the war?

  Telegraphs and radios became scarce near the front
• How did the misinterpretation of Russia's strength affect the plan?

  It forced Moltke to divert troops unexpectedly
• What was the command structure of the German army during peacetime?

  It was organized federally
• What were the consequences of delays and poor communication for the Schlieffen Plan?

  They contributed to its failure
• What ultimately led to Germany fighting a two-front war?

  The failure of the Schlieffen Plan
• What were the key reasons for the failure of the Schlieffen Plan?

  • Insufficient German troop numbers for encirclement
  • Poor training of reserve and replacement troops
  • Inflexibility of the plan and lack of alternatives
  • Delays due to sieges and communication issues
  • Misinterpretation of Russia's military strength
• What were the implications of the Schlieffen Plan's inflexibility?

  • No alternative strategies available
  • Delays caused by unexpected events
  • Difficulty in adapting to changing circumstances
  • Increased risk of failure in execution