WI No Von Schlieffen Plan?

Without the S plan historians and AH forum folk would lose a major conversation piece, and that would be a crushing blow for humanity.

For mine, the S plan (or something akin, more or less) was Germany's best shot of utilising it's strengths against the weaknesses of it's enemies.
 
I think antisocrates has made a very interesting point about the Russia of 1914 not being Stalin's Russia and not having the same ability to move massive amounts of industry to the East.
As I believe the events of 1917 and 1918 show, a major German effort could take enough of the Balitc coast, White Russia and the Ukraine to cause Russia to crack and sue for peace. What if this effort had been made in 1914 and 1915?
A defense in the West could have caused the French to bleed themselves white while the major German offense was in the East, first to assist the Austrians and then to push the Russians out of Poland, the Balitc coast and into White Russia and Ukraine. Obvioulsy all of this could not be done at once but more could be done and more quickly than in OTL.
Making the major effort in the East can also mean no invasion of Belgium, no (or greatly delayed) British entry into the war and the benefits of no (or a later) blockade.
 
The forces will get caught up in eastern france and the rhine will flow red with blood. It was described that France's casualties were so high that they used there own dead as parapets. Expect there to be more military losses with a lot less land taken. Even worse than OTL. My prediction is that Germany's first push will disable the french frontline in. But when reinforcements come the German line will break with the pressure. Millions dead by the end of the month. German will then fall back to the border, it will be flanked by Italy supporting the South. What will happen then, is a successful Italian campaign will curve Frances southern flank inwards. Once Britain joins their focus will be primarily in the north. Maybe into Belgium, This will turn the lines into an "S" shape. Being on the outside of the line is dangerous for distribution of supplies. It is a lot slower. After a couple weeks of heavy skirmishing ammo is running low. The Germans are able to supply quicker so they begin to push back. The Canadians support the centre with the French. Due to there tenacity and the greater amount of men in the area a hump begins to form in the German line. The Canadians are now vulnerable on the flanks but luckily for them the Germans/Austrians have no more units to spare. The Italians are successful at flanking the extreme south of the theatre having surrounded the French forces 270 degrees. They are pounded from all sides and the area falls. In the north the British push back, yet are met with resistance. The Austrians Pound the Canadians hard The have to fall back. And the Northern Advance Grinds to a halt. It was knowing when to retreat which saved the German cause of war. Otherwise they would have been destroyed.
 
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