military plans (WW1)

• Were offensive war plans bad?

  Yes
• What was the issue with the Schlieffen plan immediately?

  This plan was based on two premises that derived from the war of 1870 with France and Russia’s defeat to Japan in 1904/05:

  1. The French war effort would be highly disorganised
  2. Russia’s poor infrastructure and history of disorganisation would result in an eight week delay to their mobilisation

  These predictions turned out to be wrong but the plan was weakened further by changes implemented by Moltke (younger) before putting the operation into practice
• Why did the Schlieffen plan fail?

  Based on wars of the past- failed to acknowledge Russian and French improvements and learning from mistakes of previous wars. Based on assumptions- they assumed the French war effort would be disorganised and that Russias poor infrastructure and disorganisation would cause an 8 week delay which was an incredibly risky prediction that didn’t pay off. It was inflexible, had no alternatives and relied on speed when they had railway issues. Also casualties couldn’t be replaced as they had a smaller army
• What was the plan designed to do?

  Compensate for the sheer size they’d be outnumbered by
• How did Moltke (younger) cause the Schlieffen plan to fail with his mistakes?

  He chose new recruits for the Belgian attack force and these inexperienced troops were expected to move 20 miles a day meaning delays would be even more hard to deal with. He weakened the right flank that attacked through Belgium leaving more to protect Western border than planned. He was also concerned with the defence of Prussia which was not originally in the plan. His personal sentiment overrode sense.
• Plan 17?


  French offensive plan where they’d attack and march into Germany. In the first month there were 300,000 casualties. They wore blue and red uniform to the battle- making them very obvious and visible
• Plan 19?


  Soviet plan again based on assumptions- assumed the Germans would focus on France before them
• What did the Schlieffen plan rely on?

  Alliances and tech- the whole plan was centred upon the fixation of avoiding a 2 frontal war between the allied powers and Russia. The plan required the use of railways to mobilise and move men quickly