Plan for a Short War Failed
When the First World War broke out, Germany had a massive problem. The alliance between France and Russia left them totally surrounded, with only Austria Hungary on their side. Outnumbered, Germany’s chances in a long war were slim.
And yet the German Army of 1914 was still confident of victory. In August, they launched a huge enveloping attack through Belgium, smashing the Allied forces in battle after battle, and Germany seemed to be on the brink of victory.
But just a Paris hoved into view, the tide of the battle, and arguably the whole war, changed. French and British forces counterattacked at the Battle of the Marne and forced the Germans back. Leaving their plan for a short war in tatters. So, what went wrong? Why did the German plan fail? And how close did it come to succeeding?
Credit to : Imperial War Museum