Why Did Schlieffen Plan Fail

Moltkes unfortunate and negligent modifications to the plan ultimately contributed to its downfall. His variations caused plan 17, and therefore the Schlieffen plan to both fail as these plans relied heavily on each other in order to be successful. The original Schlieffen plan designed by Alfred von Schlieffen depended on his estimations that it would take Russia 6 weeks to mobilise her army. Hence, before this occurred the plan would supposedly conquer Paris, giving the German army time to refocus its military to the Eastern front to combat Russia. Accordingly, avoiding the dreaded war on two fronts. The original plan involved sending 10% (armies 6 and 7) of Germany’s army to Alsace Lorraine, where the French were suspected to attack (The French were still embittered by their defeat in

He augmented the number of troops in Alsace Lorraine by a factor of 6, by adding the tenacious and formidable armies 1 and 2 to fight alongside armies 6 and 7. Moltke was not willing to intentionally give up German territory, as he thought this was a sign of weakness. This inevitably meant that Frances all out attack on ALsace Lorraine, Plan 17, failed. Although this may have been perceived as a great German Victory, however, this was anything but. Plan 17 Failed within 3 days and with it any possible chance of Germany prevailing failed with it. Another change that Moltke Implemented was that instead of invading both belgium and the Netherlands, only Belgium was invaded. He made this decision so that germany would only violate one countries neutrality and so that Germany had a neighbouring trade partner with ocean access. After the French defeat in Alsace Lorraine and the failure of plan 17, the military refocused and headed East to Paris, they arrived at the front refreshed and full of zeal (as they arrived by taxi). Consequently, they defeated the Germans, and the Schlieffen plan