Blog #1 : The Schlieffen Plan

World War 1

The Schlieffen Plan...  Was it the best plan for Germany?

 The Schlieffen plan was a risky plan conceived by the German general Alfred von Schlieffen in 1905. Since a direct frontal attack across the French - German border would consume too much time, Schlieffen planned on sending a small force to the French - German border to attract the French troops while attacking France with a larger army through the backdoor, Belgium. The plan was that after Germany defeats France with the giant trap, they would then turn its full firepower on Russia, which would have been preparing its forces during the fight against France. However, as many of us know, this plan failed as the French troops stopped the German army on the River Marne, preventing the enemy to reach the gates of Paris, resulting Britain's joining into the war and the destruction of the hope of a short war. 

       Was it really the best plan for the Germans and the others? Personally, I do not think that it was an outstanding plan. Firstly, if Germany did not attack France through Belgium, disregarding its neutrality, then Britain would not have joined the war to protect Belgium. Even though Germany knew that Britain was a strong nation with fine economy, had the strongest naval force and an army that is as powerful as Germany, was the undisputed ruler of the high seas and the controller of a colonial empire that covered on quarter of the earth's land mass, they called in Britain as their enemy. Britain itself was a powerful nation, but it also brought its colonial country, Canada along with it which supported with a large number of volunteers. This resulted a longer and intenser war as the Triple Entente gained more force and support. Secondly, Why didn't the Germans attack Russia first instead of France? Even though the Russian army was large, they were poorly trained and they needed time to equip themselves. If Germany attacked Russia first when it is not ready to fight back and before it gets stronger, wouldn't that have been safer than trapping France and then attacking Russia which requires more time, attraction of the French troops at the border and some luck that Russians would take enough the time to prepare for the war as Germans attack France? 

Question: What would have changed if the German army did not attack France through Belgium or attacked Russia first?