How important were the actions of Britain and France as a reason for the failure of the Schlieffen Plan?
Level
O LEVEL
Year Examined
2020
Topic
THE FIRST WORLD WAR, 1914–18
👑Complete Model Essay
How important were the actions of Britain and France as a reason for the failure of the Schlieffen Plan?
How Important Were the Actions of Britain and France to the Failure of the Schlieffen Plan?
The Schlieffen Plan, Germany's audacious strategy to secure a swift victory in World War One by knocking France out of the war before Russia could mobilize, ultimately failed. While the actions of Britain and France played a role, arguing they were the most important reason for the plan's demise requires a deeper examination of other contributing factors.
Undeniably, the British and French resistance did disrupt the Schlieffen Plan's timeline. Britain's decision to enter the war in 1914, honoring its commitment to Belgian neutrality under the Treaty of London, brought the well-trained British Expeditionary Force (BEF) into the conflict. The BEF, comprising 150,000 professional soldiers, played a crucial role in stalling the German advance at the Battle of Mons. Similarly, resolute French defenses along the Seine River further slowed the German progress. The combined efforts of six French armies and the BEF at the Battle of the Marne forced a German retreat to the Aisne River, effectively ending the possibility of a quick, decisive victory and ushering in the era of trench warfare. Furthermore, Britain's control of the English Channel after the First Battle of Ypres denied Germany crucial naval dominance.
However, focusing solely on British and French actions risks overlooking critical flaws inherent in the Schlieffen Plan itself and other external factors. The plan relied on a rigid timetable, which was immediately thrown off by the unexpectedly stubborn resistance encountered in Belgium, particularly at Liege. Additionally, Russia mobilized in a mere ten days, significantly faster than the anticipated six weeks, forcing Germany to divert troops to the Eastern Front. Internal German miscalculations also played a role. Helmuth von Moltke, who modified the original Schlieffen Plan, reduced the number of troops dedicated to containing the Russians and altered the invasion route by choosing to bypass Holland, ultimately weakening the force in the west. Moreover, the reliance on conscripted troops, as opposed to a fully professional army, impacted German effectiveness. Logistical challenges, including overstretched supply lines as the German army advanced through Northeast France, further hampered their progress.
In conclusion, while the actions of Britain and France, particularly at the Battle of the Marne, significantly contributed to the failure of the Schlieffen Plan, they were not the sole determining factor. Internal flaws in the plan's conception and execution, alongside unforeseen circumstances such as the speed of Russian mobilization and the tenacity of Belgian resistance, played equally, if not more, significant roles in its ultimate downfall. Attributing the plan's failure solely to British and French actions offers an incomplete and potentially misleading interpretation of the complex historical events of 1914.
Source:
THE FIRST WORLD WAR, 1914–18, History Essay
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Essay Outline: How Important Were Britain and France in the Failure of the Schlieffen Plan?
I. Introduction:
⭐Briefly introduce the Schlieffen Plan and its goal of quickly defeating France.
⭐State the essay's main argument: While Britain and France played a role, inherent flaws and other factors were more significant in the plan's failure.
II. Body Paragraph 1: The Role of Britain and France
⭐Acknowledge the significance of British and French actions in hindering the Schlieffen Plan.
⭐Discuss British entry into the war, the BEF's contribution at the Battle of Mons, and the impact of maintaining control of the Channel.
⭐Highlight French resistance along the Seine and their role in the Battle of the Marne, forcing German retreat.
III. Body Paragraph 2: More Important Factors
⭐Transition to argue that other factors were more critical in the Schlieffen Plan's failure.
⭐Emphasize the unexpected resilience of Belgian resistance, which delayed the German advance.
⭐Discuss the impact of Russia's rapid mobilization, forcing Germany to divert troops to the East.
⭐Analyze the modifications made to the Schlieffen Plan by Moltke, weakening its original effectiveness.
IV. Body Paragraph 3: Inherent Flaws and Miscalculations
⭐Focus on the inherent weaknesses of the Schlieffen Plan itself.
⭐Discuss the reliance on a rigid timetable that could not adapt to unforeseen circumstances.
⭐Highlight the strain on German logistics and overstretched supply lines as they advanced.
⭐Explain the impact of new military technologies and the lack of appropriate tactics to counter them.
V. Conclusion:
⭐Briefly summarize the arguments presented, reiterating the limitations of British and French actions in solely causing the plan's failure.
⭐Offer a final analysis, concluding that while Britain and France played a part, the Schlieffen Plan was ultimately defeated by a combination of inherent flaws, miscalculations, and unforeseen circumstances like Belgian resistance and Russian mobilization.
Extracts from Mark Schemes
How important were the actions of Britain and France as a reason for the failure of the Schlieffen Plan? Explain your answer.
YES – Britain entered the war in 1914 to support Belgium and uphold the Treaty of London; the British Expeditionary Force (BEF) was made up of 150,000 professional and well-trained soldiers; it helped halt the German advance temporarily at the Battle of Mons; French resistance along the Seine river slowed down the German advance; six French armies and the BEF saw German forces split at the Battle of the Marne forcing the Germans to retreat back to the River Aisne and dig-in, ending mobile warfare; British and French forces dug-in and the ‘race to the sea’ followed; Britain and France maintained control of the Channel after the First Battle of Ypres etc.
NO – More important – Belgian resistance held up the German advance in places like Liege; Russian mobilisation in just 10 days as opposed to the expected 6 weeks; the Schlieffen Plan was changed by Moltke – he reduced the commitment of troops to contain Russian offensives in the East and altered the route of attack by avoiding Holland; the use of German conscripted troops as opposed to a full-time, professional army; overstretched supply lines as the Germans advanced through NorthEast France; new weapons and lack of modern military tactics led to high casualties in the early campaigns etc.