World War I and War Cost Germany
Modern History Summary
World War 1 1914-1919 * Archduke Franz Ferdinand heir to Austrian throne, assassinated 28th June 1914, invoked war * July Crisis 1914 led to multiple Euro nations declaring war against each other, separated into Allied (Britain, France, Russia) and Central Powers (Germany, Austria-Hungary) * Schlieffen Plan * Based on idea that Germany would have to fight France/Russia, didn’t want to fight them both at once * France would expect Germany to invade from east, wouldn’t be prepared for invasion from north * Created by Alfred von Schlieffen 1905, became Germany’s only war strategy * Based on assumption: * Russian mobilisation would take 6 weeks in which they could defeat France * France would be easily defeated in 6 weeks * Belgium wouldn’t resist German attack * Britain would remain neutral * Reality: * Germans held up by the Belgium army backed up by the British * Russia mobilised in 10 days * Germany attacked east of Paris, met by French at Marne, halted German advance * Schlieffen retired, replaced by von Moltke - more cautious * The plan couldn’t be abandoned, Moltke modified it, huge subject of debate * Changes to the plan undermined effectiveness, army concerned at long distance b/w German armies thus sent soldiers to east instead of west Paris, they couldn’t encircle Paris, left Germans vulnerable to attack from French/British army * Belgium troops stronger than expected, British arrived sooner than expected * By the battle of Marne German troops exhausted, food supplies hadn’t kept pace with rapid advance, troops weary from walking long distances * German retreat from Marne cost Germany the quick defeat of France * Plan 17 * French troops would quickly recapture Alsace and Lorraine * Troops would then move into German territory * The Battle of Marne
World War 1 1914-1919 * Archduke Franz Ferdinand heir to Austrian throne, assassinated 28th June 1914, invoked war * July Crisis 1914 led to multiple Euro nations declaring war against each other, separated into Allied (Britain, France, Russia) and Central Powers (Germany, Austria-Hungary) * Schlieffen Plan * Based on idea that Germany would have to fight France/Russia, didn’t want to fight them both at once * France would expect Germany to invade from east, wouldn’t be prepared for invasion from north * Created by Alfred von Schlieffen 1905, became Germany’s only war strategy * Based on assumption: * Russian mobilisation would take 6 weeks in which they could defeat France * France would be easily defeated in 6 weeks * Belgium wouldn’t resist German attack * Britain would remain neutral * Reality: * Germans held up by the Belgium army backed up by the British * Russia mobilised in 10 days * Germany attacked east of Paris, met by French at Marne, halted German advance * Schlieffen retired, replaced by von Moltke - more cautious * The plan couldn’t be abandoned, Moltke modified it, huge subject of debate * Changes to the plan undermined effectiveness, army concerned at long distance b/w German armies thus sent soldiers to east instead of west Paris, they couldn’t encircle Paris, left Germans vulnerable to attack from French/British army * Belgium troops stronger than expected, British arrived sooner than expected * By the battle of Marne German troops exhausted, food supplies hadn’t kept pace with rapid advance, troops weary from walking long distances * German retreat from Marne cost Germany the quick defeat of France * Plan 17 * French troops would quickly recapture Alsace and Lorraine * Troops would then move into German territory * The Battle of Marne