To add to all the interesting WWI stuff: what would have happened if the Russians didn't invade East Prussia in august 1914. Would that have made a difference for the war in the Western front, and would Germany still want to attack Russia after 6 weeks?
The Orriginal Von Schlieffen Plan included a march throught the southern tip of the Netherlands as well. In the OTL this was eventually bented through Belgium as well, to prevent the Netherlands becomming an enemy for Germany. A neutral neighbour was prefered for trade and so on.
What, has the Dutch army disintegrated or something?But the Germans already had gone through Belgium by then. So that would make no difference.
How? They didn't even attack OTL, where the Netherland wasn't an enemy.Would they attack Russia?
What, has the Dutch army disintegrated or something?
How? They didn't even attack OTL, where the Netherland wasn't an enemy.
No no no no no!! I never mentioned the Netherlands or the Dutch army. You misunderstand me.
I am just asking the question: would Germany invade Russia after 6 weeks war in Belgium if the Russians did not invade East Prussia themselves first.
If the Plan succeeds and they take Paris at the start of September (very iffy but just this side of possible, I'd say), then yes, of course they'll invade Russia - they're still at war, after all.
Russia, however, would certainly ask for a peace as soon as possible: cosnider Stuermer in 1916, when RUssia's position was in some ways rather party (sure, it was disntegrating, but nobody knew quite how much). The Germans might well make some demands, but the Russians would hardly be in a position to refuse them, anyway.
There was no Schlieffen Plan, it originally was an theoretical excercise created by Schlieffen to justify the expansion of the Imperial Army. It becomes a fixture in military history by about mid-war as an answer, to their own people, to why the German's hadn't done as well as they thought they would. It was also a means to disgrace Moltke the Younger who really developed the plan.
and authorising the offensive on the right wing instead of switching whatever forces he could to the left.
I can't tell my right from my left which is why I wear a watch, I wasn't wearing my watch when I typed that.
I can't tell my right from my left which is why I wear a watch, I wasn't wearing my watch when I typed that.