Question

Which BEST describes the goal of the Schlieffen Plan?

a. To dig trenches along the Western Front to prevent the Allies from advancing
b. To force France to surrender quickly, then stop the Russian advance
c. To set up a siege to cut the Allies off from their supplies
d. To occupy France, then launch attacks from there against the United States

Answer 1

b. To force France to surrender quickly, then stop the Russian advance

The Schlieffen Plan aimed to quickly defeat France and then address the Russian threat, but its failure due to Belgian resistance and rapid Russian mobilization led to trench warfare.

Step-by-step explanation:

The goal of the Schlieffen Plan was best described as option b: To force France to surrender quickly, then stop the Russian advance.

This strategy was predicated on the belief that Russia would be slow to mobilize, allowing Germany to concentrate its forces on a rapid invasion of France via Belgium. The plan called for a swift defeat of the French and the capture of Paris, after which German forces could redirect to tackle the Russian threat on the Eastern Front.

The quick mobilization of German troops and the precise execution of these attacks were essential for the plan to succeed.

However, several factors, including unexpectedly strong Belgian resistance and quicker Russian mobilization than anticipated, led to the plan's failure and the subsequent entrenched stalemate of trench warfare on the Western Front.