1914 no going through Belgium?

Now the Germans felt they had to go through Belgium before France does.

What is the likelihood that France were to make this move if Germany doesn't? Wouldn't that cause the British to join Germany seeing as they have a treaty to defend Belgium?
 
The primary purpose of the French 4th Army was to block a German move through the Ardennes, but there were other contingencies on the table, such as a attack slipping across the south edge of Luxembourg & into the German flank. Even if the Fifth Army the strategic reserve, is committed to such flanking maneuver it does not help much making a wide sweep through the Belgian Ardennes. The terrain to the east of the Luxembourg/Belgian German border Included ground like the rugged Eiffel uplands & deep gorged rivers. The railways thru the area did not support a couple armies across the ground. The French would have to swing north to Liege and take control of that rail hub.
 
It would not be the first time England acted in bad faith.

The likelihood of France attacking Belgium is zero. Look at a map. Germany attacking into a narrow, hilly front covered with forts would be the wet dream of the French Army. Why would the French alienate Britain and drive them away? The treaty was to defend Belgium neutrality again all foreign powers. Britain was talking with and sharing war plans with France.
 
Now, let's assume Germany stays on the defensive in the West, but now the Russians get the worst of it - and are shrieking for relief. Attacking into Alsace and Lorrain does only lead to exorbitant losses without sizeable gains. Therefore, Joffre will soon be pressing to be allowed to attack through Belgium. After some prevarication, Sir Edward will figure out that the Ardennes are not really Belgium, as hardly any Belgians are living there, and after some serious diplomatic arm-wrestling the Belgian government will agree. - Not that the operation will not lead to another bloodbath for the French, but such a venue is perfectly conceivable.
 
Wouldn't that cause the British to join Germany seeing as they have a treaty to defend Belgium?
No. The Uk will not side with Germany and declare war on France. The worst thing that will happen for France (and this is still pretty bad) is that the UK will not declare war on Germany. They will probably still be pro-French neutral and might even declare war on Germany later, if the need arises for France. The UK had been Pro-French and anti-German for quite a while and supporting Germany over France was not in the interest of the UK (or at least they believed it wasn't).
 
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