The Marne

September 59 1914 Strategic Context As more states join the growing European conflict Germany seeks to avoid a simultaneous twofront war against both Russia and France by initiating the Schlieffen Plan this involves outflanking French forces through Belgium with the bulk of the German Army to knock France out of the war Britain surprises Germany by allying with France Russia and Serbia against Germany and AustriaHungary and sending an expeditionary force to the continent while France initiates Plan XVII this involves bluntly attacking German forces in Lorraine The initial Battles of the Frontiers are disastrous for French forces which must retreat but also encourage German commander Helmuth von Moltke to modify the Schlieffen Plan by shifting forces away from the right wing to the left wing and Eastern Front French commander Joseph Joffre continues to withdraw until politicians force him to halt just south of the Marne River to defend Paris

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