How important to the failure of the Schlieffen Plan was Russia’s mobilisation in 1914?
Level
O LEVEL
Year Examined
2021
Topic
THE FIRST WORLD WAR, 1914–18
👑Complete Model Essay
How important to the failure of the Schlieffen Plan was Russia’s mobilisation in 1914?
How important to the failure of the Schlieffen Plan was Russia’s mobilisation in 1914?
The Schlieffen Plan, Germany’s strategy for avoiding a two-front war, ultimately failed, leading to a protracted conflict. While Russia's rapid mobilisation was a significant factor, other elements played a crucial role in the plan's demise.
Russia's mobilization, completed in ten days rather than the anticipated six weeks, undoubtedly threw a wrench into German calculations. The sheer size of the Russian army, boasting over three million soldiers, posed a formidable threat. Consequently, Germany was forced to divert troops from the Western Front to the Eastern Front, leaving only 10% of its forces to face the French and British. This diversion of resources and the necessity to engage in a two-front war significantly strained German capabilities. Furthermore, early Russian successes against Austria-Hungary compelled Germany to reinforce its weaker ally, further diverting resources from the Western Front.
However, blaming Russia's mobilization solely for the Schlieffen Plan's failure would be an oversimplification. Modifications made to the original plan by Helmuth von Moltke the Younger proved detrimental. His decision to bypass Holland and march directly through neutral Belgium had unforeseen consequences. Belgian resistance, particularly at Liège, delayed the German advance, disrupting the plan's tight timetable.
Moreover, the Schlieffen Plan suffered from inherent flaws. It underestimated the logistical challenges of supplying a massive army on the move and overestimated the effectiveness of using conscripts against professional soldiers. The British Expeditionary Force (BEF), comprising 120,000 highly trained soldiers, played a crucial role in stalling the German advance at the Battle of Mons. Furthermore, the BEF, alongside French forces, successfully halted the German advance at the First Battle of the Marne, forcing them to dig in. The subsequent "Race to the Sea" and the First Battle of Ypres resulted in a stalemate, with neither side able to outflank the other.
Technological advancements also contributed to the Schlieffen Plan's failure. The war saw the rise of defensive weapons like machine guns and heavy artillery, rendering offensive maneuvers incredibly costly. The Schlieffen Plan, designed for a quick, decisive victory, proved ill-suited for this new type of warfare.
In conclusion, while Russia's rapid mobilization significantly impacted the Schlieffen Plan's execution, it wasn't the sole reason for its failure. Modifications to the original plan, inherent logistical flaws, the resilience of the BEF and French forces, and the emergence of new military technologies all played crucial roles. The Schlieffen Plan's failure, therefore, was a culmination of multiple factors rather than a single decisive element.
Source:
Ferguson, Niall. "The Pity of War." Basic Books, 1999.
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Outline
I. Introduction
A. State the importance of understanding the failure of the Schlieffen Plan.
II. Argument for Russia's Mobilization as a Major Factor
A. Russia's rapid mobilization exceeded German expectations.
B. The large size of the Russian army forced Germany to divert troops to the Eastern Front.
C. The diversion of troops led to a war on two fronts for Germany, splitting their resources.
D. Early Russian successes against Austria further weakened Germany's position.
III. Counterargument: Other Factors Contributing to the Failure
A. Von Moltke's alteration of the Schlieffen Plan by invading Belgium directly.
B. The resistance of the Belgian army at Liege, slowing down the German advance.
C. The stretching of German supply lines due to the extended invasion route.
D. The use of conscripts instead of professional soldiers by Germany.
E. The entry of the British Expeditionary Force (BEF) into the war.
F. The BEF's defense at Mons and contributions at the Battle of Marne.
G. The defensive nature of new weapons, favoring defensive positions over offensive advances.
IV. Conclusion
A. Weigh the importance of Russia's mobilization against other factors in the failure of the Schlieffen Plan.
B. State the significance of understanding the interplay of multiple factors in historical events.
Extracts from Mark Schemes
How important to the failure of the Schlieffen Plan was Russia’s mobilisation in 1914? Explain your answer.
YES – Russia mobilised in 10 days as opposed to the 6 weeks believed by the Schlieffen Plan; Russian army was the largest in Europe with over 3 million soldiers; meant von Moltke had to divert troops on the Western Front to the Eastern Front – only 10% of the German Army was in the East; led to a war on two fronts for Germany and splitting of resources; some early successes against Austria forced Germany to reinforce its weaker ally, etc.
NO – More important – von Moltke changed the route of the Schlieffen Plan and marched directly through Belgium instead of partially through Holland; led to Belgian resistance, e.g. Liege which held up German advance; von Moltke did not take into account supply lines being stretched and the use of conscripts as opposed to professional soldiers; BEF entered war due to London Treaty (1839); BEF 120 000 professional soldiers held up German advance at Mons; BEF also took part with French at Marne and forced Germans to dig in; race to the sea and First Battle of Ypres saw neither side able to outflank each other; new weapons were defensive rather than offensive, etc.