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Kaiser Wilhem discards the modified Schlieffen plan. He orders his generals to prepare a plan that respects Belgian neutrality, like the German invasion during the Franco-Prussian war.
Wilhem also coordinates with Austria to attack Russia, instead of Serbia, thus helping to protect Germany's eastern border.

Britain does not join France, since it is not forced to defend Belgian neutrality and has no time to send an expeditionary force.

The German army does not waste invaluable time, good weather, men and ammunition fighting the efficient and well equipped Belgian army but invades France rapidly providing little time for the French army to mobilize and set up defenses. The cavalry is used as mounted infantry to reinforce rapidly the infantry on key locations at the front, the horses being returned to ferry more fresh troops. Cities are not occupied except the industrial centers, so that French military industrial capacity quickly falls.

The Germans reinforce heavily key positions in the approaches to Alsace-Lorraine in order to inflict heavy losses on the attacking French and then to quickly counter attack.

The Kaiser induces Italy to honor its alliance and attack France. Since Britain and Belgium are not involved and Germany is advancing rapidly, Italy complies.
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