Plan XVII

Anderman

Donor
I need some hepl to understand the french Plan XVII for mobilization and concentration of the army in WW1 .
What wanted the french do after the concentraton only march into Alsace-Lorraine, why did they ignore the german army in Belgium etc ?
 
IIRC from Hew Strachan, Plan XVII was nothing more than a general framework, as opposed to German plan that had fixed schedules. French just had generally accepted policy of taking offensive to the enemy.

German armies in Belgium were largely ignored as French considered that a diversionary effort. They could never accept the fact Germans used their reserves in combat roles, as in French doctrine discounted reserves to the point they were considered not combat capable troops, to be used only in rear areas. This is the reason Germany surprised French, as they came with numbers French never considered possible.

The loosely character of the Plan actually saved France as it allowed for far greater flexibility.
 
Top