Why did stalemate develop on the Western Front in 1914
WHY DID STALEMATE DEVELOP ON THE WESTERN FRONT IN 1914?
By 1914, stalemate had developed on the Western Front, caused by the failure of the Schlieffen Plan, the French Plan 17 and the use of modern technology. Stalemate was inevitable due to these factors.
The Schlieffen Plan was implemented by the German General Staff, who prepared German troops to attempt to attack France by advancing through neutral Belgium, before travelling southwards to encircle Paris. This plan was inflexible and unpredictable, and was based on assumptions such as slow six week full Russian mobilisation, and that by then, France would be neutralised. Because an attack on Russia was the main objective at the time, Germany committed a larger amount of troops to the East in Russia, rather than in the West to execute the Schlieffen Plan. As a result, fewer troops were deployed in the West, leading to a failure of the offensive on France.
Another cause for the failure of the Schlieffen was because, as part of the plan, Germany passed through Belgium to enter France, thus violating Belgian neutrality. According to historian Wolfgang Mommsen, "The invasion of Belgium was considered an essential element of the German war plan, a very speedy defeat of all resistance in the first days seemed to be imperative.” Britain was dragged into the war to fight the Germans within Belgium, and succeeded in breaking Germany’s momentum, thus preventing the success of the plan to encircle Paris.
Similarly, France employed Plan 17, in which offensive action was taken against Germany. The French army advanced into their border on Alsace-Lorraine in an attempt to capture it, but underestimated Germany’s strength, and misjudged Germany’s direction of initial assault. As a failure of internal lines, resources were limited, and could not provide for both the security of the home front as well as the onslaught against Germany. Consequently, France’s Plan 17 was unsuccessful against the Germans.
New technologies
By 1914, stalemate had developed on the Western Front, caused by the failure of the Schlieffen Plan, the French Plan 17 and the use of modern technology. Stalemate was inevitable due to these factors.
The Schlieffen Plan was implemented by the German General Staff, who prepared German troops to attempt to attack France by advancing through neutral Belgium, before travelling southwards to encircle Paris. This plan was inflexible and unpredictable, and was based on assumptions such as slow six week full Russian mobilisation, and that by then, France would be neutralised. Because an attack on Russia was the main objective at the time, Germany committed a larger amount of troops to the East in Russia, rather than in the West to execute the Schlieffen Plan. As a result, fewer troops were deployed in the West, leading to a failure of the offensive on France.
Another cause for the failure of the Schlieffen was because, as part of the plan, Germany passed through Belgium to enter France, thus violating Belgian neutrality. According to historian Wolfgang Mommsen, "The invasion of Belgium was considered an essential element of the German war plan, a very speedy defeat of all resistance in the first days seemed to be imperative.” Britain was dragged into the war to fight the Germans within Belgium, and succeeded in breaking Germany’s momentum, thus preventing the success of the plan to encircle Paris.
Similarly, France employed Plan 17, in which offensive action was taken against Germany. The French army advanced into their border on Alsace-Lorraine in an attempt to capture it, but underestimated Germany’s strength, and misjudged Germany’s direction of initial assault. As a failure of internal lines, resources were limited, and could not provide for both the security of the home front as well as the onslaught against Germany. Consequently, France’s Plan 17 was unsuccessful against the Germans.
New technologies