1st World War

Stalemate

The Schlieffen Plan Aimed to attack and defeat France

through Belgium before the Russians were ready, then turn back to fight the Russian Army in the East

Why did the plane fail?

Belgians slowed down the attack. Russia was ready and mobilised within

10 days rather than 6 weeks

British sent the BEF (British Expeditionary Force) to Belgium.

They were well trained and professional.

Although they had a shortage of machine guns therefore could not stop the German advance

The supply lines for Germany became overstretched

The Soldiers were exhausted

Trench Warfare – Neither army could win The early battles of the war in the

west saw the two sides struggle for an advantage:

Mons – August 1914, the British Expeditionary Force (BEF) – the first troops sent over from Britain- managed to slow down the German advance, but they didn’t stop it.

MARNE – the Allied troops managed to save Paris, and forced the Germans to pull back to the river Aisne. The battle lasted for 5 days

Ypres – where both sides ‘dashed to the sea’ to stop the other side controlling the coastline.

Neither side could push the other back, so they dug TRENCHES to stop the enemy advancing further. By the end of 1914, the Trench-lines stretched all the way from the Belgium coast down to Switzerland and the 2 armies had reached a Stalemate

The Schlieffen plan relied on speed – DELAYS LED TO ITS FAILURE!

Changes in Warfare meant Stalemate This war was different for the generals

and the soldiers. Nobody was used to trench warfare and

no-one could break the stalemate New weapons the armies had were

better for defence than attack Advancing troops couldn’t hold on to

the ground they won, and were pushed back.

Both sides were well supplied, and could call up more arms and men when necessary

Conditions were often appalling – Muddy and Wet – not suited for quick attacks

Artillery bombardments were supposed to weaken enemy lines – but they just warned the enemy an attack was coming.