The Schlieffen Plan

To avoid the war on two fronts.

General Alfred von Schlieffen

Kaiser Wilhelm II

They had to strike first.

Germany would attack France first by traveling through Belgium, and take Paris in about 3 weeks. France would surrender once Paris was taken, and then Germany would attack Russia.

A small, neutral country.

1. Russia's large but backwards army would take months to mobilize 2. Belgium could be intimidated into allowing Germany to pass through without opposition 3. France would surrender if Paris was taken 4. Britain wouldn't send their army in time to save France 5. Germany was strong enough to defeat any ONE opponent with ease

The plan could fail and Germany might lose the war

They declared war on Russia, then France, then put the plan in action.

Russia mobilized a lot faster than Germany expected and attacked Germany.

They had to pull troops out of France to defend the east of Germany.

It refused passage despite threats of horrible violence and promises of great rewards.

It was now slow-paced and had horrible casualties instead of being quick-paced.

Weeks

They were brutal, killing thousands of innocent people and causing a lot of damage.

The British.

It didn't honor the alliance and stayed out of the war.

A stalemate.

When both sides are evenly matched.

Progress

"Dig in", dig trenches

A complex system of ditches, tunnels, underground bunkers, barbed wire and machine gun nests - which made attack almost suicidal

Very little.