Schlieffen’s strategic plan, which implied a quick victory for Germany in World War I, was not implemented. But he still continues to excite the minds of military historians, for this plan was unusually risky and interesting.
Most military historians are inclined to the idea that if the plan of the chief of the German general staff Alfred von Schlieffen were realized, the First World War could go in a completely different scenario. But back in 1906, the German strategist was removed from his post and his followers were afraid to implement Schlieffen's idea.
Lightning war plan
At the beginning of the last century, Germany began planning a great war. This was due to the fact that France, defeated several decades earlier, clearly hatched plans for military revenge. The German leadership was not particularly afraid of the French threat. But in the east, Russia was gaining economic and military power, which was an ally of the Third Republic. For Germany, the real danger of a war on two fronts arose. Aware of this, Kaiser Wilhelm ordered von Schlieffen to develop a plan for a victorious war in these conditions
And Schliffen, in a rather short time, created such a plan. According to his idea, Germany was to start the first war against France, concentrating 90% of all its armed forces in this direction. Moreover, this war was supposed to be lightning fast. Only 39 days were allotted for the capture of Paris. On the final victory - 42.
It was assumed that Russia would not be able to mobilize in such a short time. German troops after the victory over France will be transferred to the border with Russia. Kaiser Wilhelm approved the plan, saying the famous phrase: "We will have lunch in Paris, and we will have dinner in St. Petersburg."
