The Schieffen Plan

[Dreadnought]

I feel that they needed the Schieffen Plan. I mean, what would they do: invade only French territory and hit the French fortresses like Toul, Epinal, and Langres head on?

It was a daring plan. And just because it failed doesn't mean it was horrible.

 

[Archduke Otto]

That's what I'd say, too.

 

[SeleucusNicator]

It failed because it was made less daring.

I don't blame the Germans for sending some troops to the Eastern Front. What I do blame them for, however, is

1) Sending troops to the French border
2) Not violating Dutch neutrality

If Germany did not offer resistance (or did not offer as much resistance) to the idiotic French invasion, then those troops would have driven far enough into Germany to not be able to be recalled and sent to rescue Paris. And if the Germans had violated Dutch neutrality, they would be able to get to the Marne and on to Paris much more quickly.

Germany lost because it was too cautious at the opening of the war.