The basic idea behind the Schlieffen Plan was to allow Germany to beat both the French and the Russians in quick succession. The theory behind it was to turn their backs on Russia initially and even allow them to invade pans of East Prussia. Alfred von Schlieffen, field marshal and brain child of the new war plan; knew the risks involved with this strategy but was prepared to stand by his plan. Von Schlieffen believed that the Germans in a matter of weeks could overwhelm France, and then they could return their attention to the Russians and stop the progressing Russians. Schlieffen 's entire plan relied on the excellent railway system arid the readiness of armies to fight. Germany's army could be deployed much faster and much more efficiently than any other army in Europe could at the time. Schlieffen knew that it would take a good matter of time before Russia's armies could be deployed. That would provide them even more time if needed to beat the French. Von Schlieffen determined that it would be logical to attack France through its northern neighbor, Belgium. This route, (rather than the route through Switzerland and Luxembourg that is easily defensible and backed with strong fortification), was "magnificently adapted t
o the movement of large armies", with intricate roadways and railways. Belgium was not expected to give any resistance or very little at all. To maintain the timeline a special advance force was prepared to seize Liege. To clear a path for the primary German forces. The essence of the whole plan was this strong right wing. A sweeping "wheel" that would envelop the French from the North, then curving back into Germany where it would encircle any forces that may have rushed back forces in the South at Alsace and Lorraine, and then regain east Prussia back from the Russians. The "great turning movement" was all that mattered. Armies could fall back and retreat to the French and Russians in Prussian and Alsace and Lorraine Schlieffen's major concern was for his successor to keep the right wing strong and eventually carry out his plans. His last words when dying in 1913 were to keep the right wing strong.
The German's defeat at Marne, their neglect to end the war with great tact and excellent conditions, and the overall loss of WWI can be blamed solely on their inability to "keep the right wing strong." General Helmuth began with slight changes but they slowly deviated more and more from the original plan. Whe
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