samneanderthal
Active member
Germany quickly defeated France in the Franco-Prussian war in 1870.
In 1914 Germany included Alsace-Lorraine and had an excellent railroad system that allowed for fast mobilization of its powerful army.
Belgium was a neutral country that presented no threat to Germany.
The small Belgian army fought extremely well, providing France with invaluable time to mobilize and Britain with invaluable time to send troops to France. Even after Germany occupied most of Belgium, snipers killed many officers and Belgium provided few benefits to Germany. In contrast, Holland was not invaded and became an important supplier for Germany, smuggling goods past the British blockade.
Had Germany simply concentrated its troops along the French border, before declaring war and invaded only France the day it declared war, so that mobilization were limited, the powerful German army may have broken through to Paris before the British troops arrived in force and the French army gathered in strength.
In 1914 Germany included Alsace-Lorraine and had an excellent railroad system that allowed for fast mobilization of its powerful army.
Belgium was a neutral country that presented no threat to Germany.
The small Belgian army fought extremely well, providing France with invaluable time to mobilize and Britain with invaluable time to send troops to France. Even after Germany occupied most of Belgium, snipers killed many officers and Belgium provided few benefits to Germany. In contrast, Holland was not invaded and became an important supplier for Germany, smuggling goods past the British blockade.
Had Germany simply concentrated its troops along the French border, before declaring war and invaded only France the day it declared war, so that mobilization were limited, the powerful German army may have broken through to Paris before the British troops arrived in force and the French army gathered in strength.
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