Changes

In the early years of his reign, the kaiser had great enthusiasm for military adventures, including proposals to invade Denmark<ref>Röhl, pp. 386-392.</ref> and America.<ref>"[https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/usa/1393690/How-Kaiser-Bill-planned-to-invade-United-States.html How Kaiser Bill planned to invade United States]" ''Telegraph'', 09 May 2002</ref> It was the job of Schlieffen, the chief of the General Staff, or war planning division, to remind the all highest that the army needed to remain on the eastern frontier at all times to deter the Russians.

In the early years of his reign, the kaiser had great enthusiasm for military adventures, including proposals to invade Denmark<ref>Röhl, pp. 386-392.</ref> and America.<ref>"[https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/usa/1393690/How-Kaiser-Bill-planned-to-invade-United-States.html How Kaiser Bill planned to invade United States]" ''Telegraph'', 09 May 2002</ref> It was the job of Schlieffen, the chief of the General Staff, or war planning division, to remind the all highest that the army needed to remain on the eastern frontier at all times to deter the Russians.

In 1897, the kaiser ordered that planning by the General Staff focus on France rather than Russia. At about the same time, the kaiser decided to build up the navy in order to frighten the British away from continental interventions. Wilhelm was attempting to woo Tsar Nicholas away from France at this time and did not have want spies to report that Germany was preparing an offensive against Russia.<ref>Mombauer, Annika, ''[https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=t4gDyLfeUEQC&dq= Helmuth Von Moltke and the Origins of the First World War]'', p. 76. See footnote.</ref>

In 1897, the kaiser ordered that planning by the General Staff focus on France rather than on Russia. At about the same time, the kaiser decided to build up the navy in order to frighten the British away from continental interventions. Wilhelm was attempting to woo Tsar Nicholas away from France at this time and did not have want spies to report that Germany was preparing an offensive against Russia.<ref>Mombauer, Annika, ''[https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=t4gDyLfeUEQC&dq= Helmuth Von Moltke and the Origins of the First World War]'', p. 76. See footnote.</ref>

During Russo-Japanese War of 1904–1905, Russian forces were redeployed to the Far East, far from Germany's borders. This inspired great excitement among German officers, who considered how their country could take advantage of the situation. In 1905-1906, Schlieffen sketched a plan to invade France by deploying through Belgium. His "Memorandum for a War against France," or Schlieffen Plan, ignored Russia altogether as its forces were pre-occupied in the east. The Germans would outflank the French and attack from the rear, according to the plan.

In 1905-1906, Schlieffen sketched a plan to invade France by deploying through Belgium. His "Memorandum for a War against France," or Schlieffen Plan, ignored Russia altogether as its forces were pre-occupied in the east. The Germans would outflank the French and attack from the rear, according to the plan.

When the Japanese defeated the Russians in 1905, the kaiser expressed interest in the plan. Schlieffen had to confess that the German army was not in fact ready for war with France. The French had recoilless artillery, which the Germans lacked.<ref>Röhl, p. 416.</ref> The plan contemplated a significantly larger army than the one Schlieffen commanded.<ref>"There was a Schlieffen Plan" by Gerhard P. Gross in ''[https://books.google.fi/books?id=IVjCBAAAQBAJ&hl=fi&source=gbs_navlinks_s The Schlieffen Plan: International Perspectives on the German Strategy for World War I],'' (2014), pp. 100-101.</ref> Schlieffen may have seen his plan a tool for obtaining weapons and more soldiers rather than as a practical battle strategy.<ref>Gross, pp. 103-104. Schlieffen's memorandum is, "A program for further expansion of the army and its mobilization," according to the archive's official description.</ref>

When the Japanese defeated the Russians in 1905, the kaiser expressed interest in the plan. Schlieffen had to confess that the German army was not in fact ready for a war with France. The French had recoilless artillery, which the Germans lacked.<ref>Röhl, p. 416.</ref> The plan contemplated a significantly larger army than the one Schlieffen commanded.<ref>"There was a Schlieffen Plan" by Gerhard P. Gross in ''[https://books.google.fi/books?id=IVjCBAAAQBAJ&hl=fi&source=gbs_navlinks_s The Schlieffen Plan: International Perspectives on the German Strategy for World War I],'' (2014), pp. 100-101.</ref> Schlieffen may have seen his plan a tool for obtaining weapons and more soldiers rather than as a practical battle strategy.<ref>Gross, pp. 103-104. Schlieffen's memorandum is, "A program for further expansion of the army and its mobilization," according to the archive's official description.</ref>

When Schlieffen retired in 1906, Wilhelm replaced him with Moltke, the emperor's former adjutant. "The personal favour of the emperors...coupled with his great name, elevated him to offices for which he was completely unqualified," as ''Britannica'' puts it.<ref>"Moltke, Helmuth (Johannes Ludwig) von." ''Encyclopædia Britannica'', 2013.</ref> Schlieffen himself strongly advised against the appointment.<ref>Röhl, p. 660.</ref>

When Schlieffen retired in 1906, Wilhelm replaced him with Moltke, the emperor's former adjutant. The plan was reviewed by Erich Ludendorff, who was promoted to a senior position in the General Staff in 1908. After measures were taken to impose secrecy, Ludendorff began reworking the plan in 1909 with the help of Hermann von Stein and Gerhard Tappen.<ref>Mombauer, p. 90.</ref> In 1912, von Stein left the General Staff and Ludendorff replaced him in the No. 2 spot.

The degree of admiration that Schlieffen's plan received both at the time and since is hard to justify. The plan assumed no resistence from either the French or the Belgian armies. Prisoners of their own "lost province" propaganda, the French counterattacked in the heavily fortified Lorraine sector. If they had focused on a less fortified sector, the results could have been catastrophic for an overextended German army.

 

The degree of admiration that Schlieffen's plan received both at the time and since is hard to justify. The plan assumed no resistence from either the French or the Belgians. Prisoners of their own "lost province" propaganda, the French counterattacked in the heavily fortified Lorraine sector. If they had focused on a less fortified sector, the results would have been catastrophic for an overextended German army.

==The ''Daily Telegraph'' Affair (1908)==

==The ''Daily Telegraph'' Affair (1908)==