What was the earliest that a Schlieffen/Fall Gelb-style plan could have worked?

Though they differed markedly when it came to the details, the Schlieffen and Manstein (Fall Gelb) plans shared at least superficial similarities and had a common objective, that being:

Utilizing the territory of neutral powers as a thoroughfare for the German army in order to bypass a heavily fortified and geographically difficult borderland, so as to effect a quick capitulation on the part of France.

It has been concluded by many in academia and on this board that the timely success of the Schlieffen Plan in 1914 was made impossible/very difficult by the logistical and technological (the latter being in part a subset of the former) constraints of the day.

In 1940, however, the German invasion was a smashing success, in no small part because technology had evolved such that the German forces had become much more mobile

Thus, I pose the question to the board: What was the earliest time at which a German invasion of France through the Low Countries could have succeeded within a short span of time?

For instance, could a *WW1 which begins in the late 1920s/early 1930s-- where German forces make widespread (or at least significant) use of armored cars, aircraft, motorized infantry, and trucks in their logistics --lend itself to a German victory?
 

NoMommsen

Donor
Though they differed markedly when it came to the details, the Schlieffen and Manstein (Fall Gelb) plans shared at least superficial similarities and had a common objective, that being:

Utilizing the territory of neutral powers as a thoroughfare for the German army in order to bypass a heavily fortified and geographically difficult borderland, so as to effect a quick capitulation on the part of France.

It has been concluded by many in academia and on this board that the timely success of the Schlieffen Plan in 1914 was made impossible/very difficult by the logistical and technological (the latter being in part a subset of the former) constraints of the day.

In 1940, however, the German invasion was a smashing success, in no small part because technology had evolved such that the German forces had become much more mobile

Thus, I pose the question to the board: What was the earliest time at which a German invasion of France through the Low Countries could have succeeded within a short span of time?
Well, in 1940 there might have been a window of (some) opportunity from 19th April to 23/24th April for an earlier launch (due to some days of good weather then). However, as the palcement of troops wasn't all ready then ... opportunity passed and weather worsened for the next 2 weeks.

About WW 1 ... IMO the german army wasn't even in August 1914 ready for the "Schlieffen"-stunt to be truely successfull as intended.


For instance, could a *WW1 which begins in the late 1920s/early 1930s-- where German forces make widespread (or at least significant) use of armored cars, aircraft, motorized infantry, and trucks in their logistics --lend itself to a German victory?
Rather unlikely. This would "need" the lessons learned from the war 1914-1918.
Despite trials with motorization in almost every army before 1914, "conservatism" of the military would strongly speak against widespread motorization (and probably even more againsz aircrafts used as a "fighting" arm).
 
Top