The Schlieffen Plan | Animated Battle Map

Summary

In this historical exploration, we unravel the complexities of the Schlieffen Plan, Germany's strategic blueprint for World War I. The plan, designed to avoid a two-front war, aimed to swiftly defeat France through a wide encircling movement via Belgium. Despite the loss of primary documents, historians deduce Schlieffen's intentions through military exercises and the subsequent Plan 17 of France. The video delves into the political and military maneuvers leading to WWI, the Franco-Prussian War's aftermath, and the Russo-Japanese War's impact on Russian military reform, culminating in the infamous trench warfare that characterized the conflict.

Takeaways

• 🌍 The Schlieffen Plan was a strategy designed by Germany prior to World War I to avoid fighting a two-front war against France and Russia.
• 🏰 France's loss of Alsace and Lorraine to Germany after the Franco-Prussian War fueled their desire for revenge and influenced their military strategy.
• 🤝 Germany formed a Triple Alliance with Austria-Hungary and Italy, creating a power block that excluded Russia, leading France to form its own alliance with Russia and Britain.
• 🇷🇺 The perception of Russia's military weakness after the Russo-Japanese War influenced Germany's strategic planning.
• 📚 Limited primary sources exist for the original Schlieffen Plan, leading to ongoing debate among historians about its specifics.
• 🛤️ Germany's industrial power and extensive railroad system were key factors in the development of the Schlieffen Plan for rapid troop movement.
• 🎯 The plan aimed to deliver a decisive blow to France quickly to avoid a prolonged conflict and a two-front war scenario.
• 🔄 Alfred von Schlieffen's successor, Helmuth von Moltke, continued to refine the plan, emphasizing the need for a swift victory against France due to Russia's military modernization.
• 🏰 The Schlieffen Plan involved a thin defensive line along the French-German border, with the main forces positioned to invade through Belgium to encircle Paris.
• 🛡️ France's Plan 17 was developed in response to the perceived German threat, focusing on defense along the border and anticipating a German advance through Belgium.
• 💥 The implementation of the Schlieffen Plan led to the onset of trench warfare, marking the beginning of the stalemate that characterized much of World War I.

Q & A

What is the Schlieffen Plan?

The Schlieffen Plan was a strategy designed by Germany prior to World War I to quickly defeat France before turning to face Russia, aiming to avoid fighting a two-front war.

Why was the Schlieffen Plan significant?

The Schlieffen Plan was significant because it was a strategic maneuver intended to exploit Germany's industrial power and railway system to quickly defeat France, thus preventing a prolonged two-front war.

What was the historical context of the Schlieffen Plan?

The historical context includes the Franco-Prussian War, where France lost territories to Germany, and the subsequent formation of alliances and power blocks in Europe that set the stage for World War I.

Who was Alfred von Schlieffen?

Alfred von Schlieffen was a German Field Marshal and strategist who served as the Chief of the Imperial German General Staff from 1891 to 1906 and was instrumental in designing the Schlieffen Plan.

What was the impact of the Russo-Japanese War on Germany's perception of Russia?

The Russo-Japanese War demonstrated Russia's military weakness, which subsided Germany's fear of Russia and influenced their strategic planning, including the Schlieffen Plan.

How did the Schlieffen Plan utilize Germany's industrial power?

The Schlieffen Plan capitalized on Germany's expanded railway system to rapidly transport troops to meet threats and execute a quick offensive against France.

What was the role of Helmuth von Moltke in the Schlieffen Plan?

Helmut von Moltke, who succeeded Schlieffen as the Chief of the Imperial German General Staff, continued to refine the plan, emphasizing the need for a quick victory against France due to Russia's military modernization.

What was France's response to the perceived German threat?

France responded by formulating Plan 17, which aimed to combat the German invasion through Belgium and involved placing armies along the German border and the southern end of the Belgian border.

How did the actual execution of the Schlieffen Plan differ from its original design?

The actual execution faced challenges such as resistance from Belgium and the inability to capture Paris quickly, leading to a stalemate and the infamous trench warfare of World War I.

What were the long-term consequences of the Schlieffen Plan for Germany?

The failure to quickly defeat France and the ensuing trench warfare stretched German resources, contributing to a prolonged conflict that ultimately did not favor Germany in World War I.

Outlines

00:00

📜 The Schlieffen Plan: Origins and Strategy

This paragraph delves into the historical context of the Schlieffen Plan, a military strategy devised by Germany prior to World War I. It highlights the geopolitical tensions of the time, with France seeking revenge after losing Alsace and Lorraine to Germany in the Franco-Prussian War. Germany's strategic move to form alliances and the subsequent formation of opposing power blocks are discussed. The paragraph introduces Alfred von Schliefen, the architect of the plan, and his strategy to avoid a two-front war by exploiting Germany's industrial power and railroad system for rapid troop deployment. The narrative also touches on the limitations of historical records and the ongoing debate among historians regarding the specifics of Schlieffen's plan.

05:02

🏰 The Execution and Aftermath of the Schlieffen Plan

The second paragraph focuses on the implementation of the Schlieffen Plan and its consequences during World War I. It describes the strategic deployment of German forces, the anticipated French response, and the ultimate failure to quickly capture Paris. The paragraph details the French counter-strategy, Plan 17, and the British involvement in the conflict. It also discusses the impact of the German invasion on France and Belgium, leading to the infamous trench warfare that characterized the Great War. The summary concludes with a note of thanks to the viewers for their engagement with the video content.

Keywords

💡Schlieffen Plan

The Schlieffen Plan was a strategic military plan developed by Germany prior to World War I, designed to avoid fighting a two-front war by quickly defeating France before turning to face Russia. The plan is central to the video's theme as it discusses its origins, implementation, and the historical debate surrounding its specifics. The script mentions that historians are still debating what Schlieffen's plan actually was, indicating the complexity and importance of this concept in understanding pre-WWI military strategy.

💡World War I

World War I, also known as the Great War, was a global war that lasted from 1914 to 1918. The video's narrative is built around the events leading up to and including the early stages of this war, particularly focusing on the military strategies and alliances that contributed to its outbreak. The script refers to the war to provide context for the Schlieffen Plan and the geopolitical tensions of the time.

💡Franco-Prussian War

The Franco-Prussian War was a conflict between the French Empire and the North German Confederation led by the Kingdom of Prussia in 1870-1871. The script mentions this war to illustrate the historical context that led to France's desire for revenge and the territorial losses that fueled tensions between France and Germany, setting the stage for World War I.

💡Triple Alliance

The Triple Alliance was a military alliance among Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Italy formed in 1882. In the script, it is mentioned as part of Germany's strategy to secure itself against potential enemies by forming alliances, which is crucial to understanding the complex web of pre-WWI diplomatic relations.

💡Russo-Japanese War

The Russo-Japanese War was fought between the Russian Empire and the Empire of Japan from 1904 to 1905. The script uses this war to highlight Russia's perceived weakness, which influenced Germany's strategic planning and contributed to the development of the Schlieffen Plan.

💡Alfred von Schlieffen

Alfred von Schlieffen was a German field marshal and strategist who served as Chief of the Imperial German General Staff. He is most known for devising the Schlieffen Plan. The script discusses his role and the impact of his strategy on the early stages of World War I, emphasizing his significance in the historical narrative.

💡Railroads

The development and expansion of railroads in Germany played a significant role in the Schlieffen Plan, as they were intended to be used for the rapid transportation of troops. The script mentions this to illustrate how Germany's industrial power was leveraged for military strategy, which is a key aspect of understanding the plan's logistics.

💡Two-Front War

A two-front war refers to a conflict where a country is fighting against two enemies simultaneously on two different fronts. The script explains that Schlieffen's primary strategic goal was to avoid such a scenario for Germany by quickly defeating France before turning to face Russia, underscoring the importance of this concept in the plan's design.

💡Helmut von Moltke

Helmut von Moltke, also known as Moltke the Younger, was Schlieffen's successor and played a role in the execution of the Schlieffen Plan. The script discusses the critical timing of the plan's implementation and the changes Moltke may have made to Schlieffen's original strategy, highlighting the evolution of the plan.

💡Plan 17

Plan 17 was the French military strategy during World War I, designed to counter the German invasion through Belgium. The script describes how France prepared for the German offensive, showing the strategic response to the Schlieffen Plan and the importance of understanding both sides' military strategies.

💡Trench Warfare

Trench warfare refers to the type of fighting that took place in World War I where opposing armies faced each other from a system of trenches. The script mentions this as the miserable outcome of the German advance and the French counter-attack, illustrating the harsh realities of the war and the failure to achieve a quick victory as planned.

Highlights

Introduction to the Schlieffen Plan and its significance in World War I.

France's motivation for revenge after losing Alsace and Lorraine to Germany in the Franco-Prussian War.

Germany's strategic formation of the Triple Alliance and its impact on European politics.

The Russo-Japanese War's revelation of Russia's military weakness and its subsequent military overhaul.

Alfred von Schliefen's role in devising a strategy to avoid a two-front war against France and Russia.

Debate among historians regarding the true nature of Schlieffen's Plan due to limited primary sources.

Germany's use of its industrial power and expanded railroads as a strategic advantage in military planning.

Schlieffen's defensive strategy involving the use of railroads for troop transportation.

The Schlieffen Plan's offensive strategy aimed at a quick victory over France before Russia could mobilize.

Helmut von Moltke's continuation and potential modifications of the Schlieffen Plan.

The Schlieffen Plan's proposed thin defensive line along the French-German border and concentration of forces in the north.

France's awareness and counter-strategy to Germany's planned invasion through Belgium, known as Plan 17.

The British Expeditionary Force's role in supporting the French left flank against the German advance.

The failure of the German wide flanking movement to capture Paris and its impact on the war.

The onset of trench warfare as a result of the stalemate between French and German forces.

The video's educational purpose in clarifying the actions of France and Germany in the early stages of World War I.

Transcripts

welcome to half historical travel i am

your host the wilder historian

in this video we'll dive into the fact

and fiction of the famed schlieffen plan

the germany designed prior to world war

one

this topic beat out the battle of new

orleans for the animated battle map this

week

remember if you want to cast your ballot

for the next animated battle map simply

join the patreon page

and you can choose which battle will be

highlighted

the lead up to the first world war is

one of the most fascinating times in

european history

because of the political maneuverings

and diplomatic relations

that set the stage for the war france

had suffered a humiliating defeat at the

hands of the germans

during the franco-prussian war in the

1870s

as a result france forfeited the

provinces of alsace and lorraine to the

germans

this made france seek revenge to help

secure its land and box in their enemy

germany formed a triple alliance between

them austria-hungary

and italy leaving out their former ally

russia

this allowed france to create its own

power block of itself

russia and britain now germany was boxed

in on either side by two powerful

countries however germany's fear of

russia subsided

when the russo-japanese war saw the

smaller japan

defeat the russian colossus displaying

the weakness of russia

after the end of the russo-japanese war

in 1905

russia began an overhaul of their

military updating it and making it large

in order to not allow another debacle to

happen

alfred von schliefen was a german field

marshal and strategist who served as

chief of imperial german general staff

from 1891 to 1906

with the rise of european power blocks

and the fear of war

he set about designing a strategy that

would allow germany to prevail against

both france and russia

now i will say that historians are still

debating what schlieffen's plan

actually was for the most part his

personal documents have been lost

and we have limited primary sources that

describe what his grand strategy was

however historians have been digging

into germany's military exercises

prior to world war one this elaborates

what strategy schlieffen was designing

and it isn't exactly what you may think

germany's industrial power led them to

expand their railroads at an alarming

rate

schlieffen wanted to capitalize on this

the military exercises show germans

fighting a defensive war

using the railroads to transport troops

to meet each threat as needed

however that is not to say that he did

not draw up plans for an offensive

strategy

two thoughts would have ran through

schlieffen's mind first

he must avoid a two-front war and second

russia would be slow to mobilize and the

russo-japanese war demonstrated that

therefore striking decisive blow and

victory against france

would be the best option now schlieffen

left the imperial german general staff

in 1906 his successor was helmut von

mulke

timing is critical in explaining what we

call the schlieffen plan

as stated earlier russia ramped up its

industry

to avoid another defeat multko would

have been aware of this

making a quick victory against france

even more imperative

in order to avoid a two-front war how

much of the plan was schlieffen's

and how much was maulkas is debated by

historians today

the planned devise consisted of a

somewhat thin german defensive line

along the french and german border the

bulk of the german forces would array to

the north

along germany and belgium's border the

germans hoped an invasion by france

would suck the french armies into the

german interior allowing the germans to

swing through belgium and capture paris

and ultimately surround the french

forces and force a mass surrender

allowing germany to focus on the war

against russia

france was not sitting idle this whole

time they also knew they needed a plan

to combat the growing german threat

an espionage operation resulted in

france obtaining valuable german

strategic information thus france began

formulating a way to combat the german

swing through belgium

called plan 17 the name alone

demonstrates how many possible

strategies

the french went through preparing for a

war

they placed their armies along the

german border and along the southern end

of the belgian border

they hoped that belgium would stall any

attempt by germany to pass through their

country minimizing the need for a longer

flank

additionally the british expeditionary

force along with a mishmash of french

troops

would hold the left flank when the war

began the germans

launched their wide flanking movement

through belgium the speed and power of

the german army forced the french to

fall back

however the added resistance and gap

created by the wide swing

kept the germans from capturing paris a

french counter-attack yielded no result

along the german french border and would

only push the germans back a short

distance

in central france there would start the

miserable trench warfare

that the first world war would become

known for thank you all so much for

watching i hope you enjoyed this

animation

and i hope it made the actions of france

and germany in the early stages of the

war

become more clear don't forget to share

the video to help get the word out about

the channel

i really appreciate it and i'll see you

next time