The Plan That Broke the World: The "Schlieffen Plan" and World War I (What Were They Thinking?)

As July turned to August in 1914, all the Great Powers of Europe mobilized their armies and then went to war with one another. German troops moved first and set the pattern for the war. They smashed through neutral Belgium before thrusting deeply into France, coming close to knocking France out of the war, and soon were making huge inroads in Russia as well. How did the leaders of Imperial Germany come to make the decisions that committed their nation to an all-or-nothing war based on a highly risky strategy? O'Neil explores the background of the decisions, what those who made them knew and thought, what they failed to look at and why. Read more... Abstract: As July turned to August in 1914, all the Great Powers of Europe mobilized their armies and then went to war with one another. German troops moved first and set the pattern for the war. They smashed through neutral Belgium before thrusting deeply into France, coming close to knocking France out of the war, and soon were making huge inroads in Russia as well. How did the leaders of Imperial Germany come to make the decisions that committed their nation to an all-or-nothing war based on a highly risky strategy? O'Neil explores the background of the decisions, what those who made them knew and thought, what they failed to look at and why Content: Introduction -- Prussia and Empire -- Prussia's military system -- In the reign of the last Kaiser -- Losing the peace -- The cruelest month. Chapter summary -- Schlieffen's daring idea -- The flaws of the perfect plan -- Making it work-- maybe. Mobility Reconnaissance Telecommunications -- Delusions of strategy -- What were they thinking?