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Moltke Jr.'s change in the distribution of forces on the Western Front was tantamount to directly undermining the Schlieffen plan. Moltke Jr.'s distribution of troops on the Western Front was roughly 300,000 on the left flank, 400,000 on the center, and 700,000 on the right flank (a total of 1.4 million). The original plan was to have a left-right ratio of 1:7, but now it is about 1:3. Strictly speaking, Moltke's biggest mistake was perhaps not to weaken the right wing but to strengthen the left. Schlieffen's plan was to attack the right and defend the left, and try to lure the French army deeper to the left, so as to indirectly help the success of the right flank. Moltke not only strengthened the left flank, but also allowed the left flank to launch an offensive, which resulted in the French being driven from left to right, which in turn strengthened their ability to resist the German right flank.

In 1910, Moltke the Younger abolished the idea of sending two corps from the left flank to reinforce the right flank, and concentrated the six supplementary divisions near Metz. Finally, when the nine divisions were newly formed, he added one of them, plus one division drawn from the Eastern Front, to the right flank, and the remaining eight divisions to the left flank.

On July 21, 1911, the day before Germany declared war on France, according to the revised 'Schlieffen-Moltke Plan', the seven corps deployed by Germany on the Western Front had already arrived in the predetermined area and completed their combat preparations!

The 1st Corps, commanded by General Crook, was headquartered in Griffenpoch. There were seven corps, three cavalry divisions, and three national brigades. It should go to Aix-la-Caperi and then to Brussels. A total of 320,000 people.

The 2nd Army Corps, commanded by General Bilow, was headquartered in Montjoy. There were six corps and two cavalry divisions. and two national militia brigades. Liege should be captured, then its right flank to Vauvel, and its left flank to Lamour. A total of 260,000 people.

The 3rd Army Corps, commanded by General Hausen, with its headquarters in Pryum, consisted of four corps and a national militia brigade. It should move westward so that its right flank reaches La Mur and its left flank reaches Gifett. A total of 180,000 people.

The 4th Army Corps, commanded by the Duke of Württemberg. The headquarters is located in Tirifits. There were five corps and a brigade of the National Militia. It was to move westward so that the right flank reached Flamé and its left flank reached Atilt, north of Allen. A total of 180,000 people.

The 5th Army Corps, commanded by Crown Prince William, with its headquarters in Saarblyuken, was a total of five corps. One division, two cavalry divisions and five national militia brigades. Its left wing remained in Tionville, while its right flank advanced to Frenville. A total of 200,000 people.

the 6th Army Corps, commanded by Prince Rupricht of Bavaria, with headquarters in St. Everd; There were five corps, three cavalry divisions and four supplementary divisions. They should go to the Mosli River and attack the French to pin them. A total of 220,000 people.

7th Corps. The 7th Army Corps, commanded by General Shiringen, was headquartered in Stasburg. There were three armies and one division. Two supplementary divisions and four national militia brigades. Advance to the Moselle, or launch a counteroffensive against Lorraine. Total: 125,000 people.

On July 22, the day Germany officially declared war on France, the German army launched an attack on all fronts! The first to attract the Germans to attack was the small country of Luxembourg. In the face of the German offensive. Luxembourg could not resist, and the Grand Duke of Luxembourg, William IV, ordered the Luxembourg army to stop resisting. Surrender to the Germans. In just one day, the Germans occupied Luxembourg and took control of Luxembourg's well-established railway network!

At the same time, the German Minister in Brussels, Hervon Belozalesque, on behalf of the German Government, issued an ultimatum to Belgium demanding that Belgium open its borders to Germany and that a reply must be given within 24 hours.

Belgium is a neutral country, and Europe has recognized its independence and neutrality as early as 1839 in the Treaty of London. However, now the Germans, in order to defeat France, no longer care whether Belgium is neutral or not!

In his opening remarks in response to Germany's unreasonable demands, King Albert of Belgium, who presided over a state council at the Palais at 9 a.m., said: "Whatever the consequences, our answer must be 'No.'" It is our duty to defend our territorial integrity. We must be steadfast in this regard. However, he also insisted that every participant should have no illusions: the consequences would be severe and terrible; The enemy will be ruthless and merciless. Prime Minister De Brockieville also warned those who wavered not to believe Germany's promise to restore the integrity of Belgium after the war. "In the event of a German victory," he said, "Belgium will be annexed to the German Reich whatever its attitude." ”

Belgium refused the German demands, and the Germans invaded Belgium on July 23, 1911, launching an attack on the small country. And Belgium has also carried out a national mobilization. Before the start of the war, this effect was only a few tens of thousands of troops, but in just three days the Belgian army had grown to 125,000 men. At that time, the total population of Belgium was only 7.4 million. Even though Belgium launched a heroic counterattack, the Belgian army was still unable to resist in the face of the German attack! Only rely on the fortresses of Liège and Namur to defend against the German attack!

After France declared war on Germany, Joseph Chauffe, vice chairman of the French Supreme Military Council and chief of the General Staff, became commander-in-chief of the French army. General Xia Fei, the commander-in-chief of the French army who is nearly 60 years old, has a burly figure, a big belly, a plump face embellished with a thick beard and two thick eyebrows, a white complexion, blue and serene eyes, and a sincere and quiet gaze, looking like a Santa Claus, so he is called "Xia Fei's father". His strategy for the French army was to abandon the fortifications on the right flank and concentrate on the German center and left flank, and he and all the French hoped to retake the provinces of Alsace and Lorraine, which had been lost in 1870.

On July 23, in Paris, the French army set out. French soldiers, dressed in dark blue shirts with red trousers and wide hems, marched through the streets in a neat stride, singing loudly. The soldiers of the cavalry regiment marched with vigour, dressed in dazzling iron chest armor and long black ponytails hanging from their helmets. They were followed by large wooden crates and flatbed trailers with aircraft mounted on slender 75 mm field guns, the pride of France. Horses and horses flow throughout the day, passing through the arched gates of the North and East stations.

The strength of the five French armies was similar to that of the 70 divisions deployed by Germany on the Western Front, with the French 1st Army on the right, the 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th armies on the left, and two large armies grouped together on the boundary from Verdun to the Tühr Line, which were similar in numbers to the two German armies on the line from Metz to Theonville. At Asalos and Lorraine, the French 1st and 2nd armies faced the German 7th and 6th armies and formed the French right flank, with the task of launching a powerful offensive to drive the confronting German forces back to the Rhine line.

However, General Xia Fei did not judge that the main direction of the German attack was the right flank. The left flank and the center were only defending against French attacks. After waiting for the right flank to break through Belgium, attack France directly from the north, and encircle and annihilate the French army deployed by France in the northeast, and destroy the main force of the French army!

The German occupation of Luxembourg and the beginning of the invasion of Belgium made the British nervous. Britain and Belgium are separated by only one strait, and in order to ensure the security of Britain, as early as 1839, Britain demanded that the whole of Europe recognize the independence and neutrality of Belgium in the Treaty of London. And now, the German invasion of Belgium poses a great threat to Britain!

"Prime Minister Asquith, the Germans have taken Luxembourg, King Albert of Belgium has rejected Germany's request to open its borders, and the German troops have crossed the border and entered Belgium this morning. King Albert had already ordered a general mobilization, but it was only now that it began, it was too late. Belgium and possibly lose the war in a few days! British War Secretary Paul Stafford Mehuin said with an anxious face!

"How is that possible? The fortress of Liège built by the Belgians is an extremely strong fortress in the whole of Europe, and it may not be so easy for the Germans to break through the fortress of Liège, right? Prime Minister Asquith was surprised.

"Your Excellency, judging from the current disposition of the German army, Belgium is their main direction of attack, and the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Army Corps, which have the most powerful German troops, have crossed the border and are making a detour from the direction of Luxembourg and Belgium to northern France. Belgium was an obstacle to the advance of the German army, and they would definitely launch a fierce attack on Belgium, and with the strength of Belgium, the roots would not be able to resist the attack of the German troops stationed there! War Secretary Mayhuin reminded.

"North? However, the French deployed the main forces in the northeast? "Prime Minister Asquith sensed the crisis.

"That's right! The northern part of the French, almost undefended. As long as the Germans broke through to Belgium, then they could drive straight into the flank of the French army. When the time comes, the French army will most likely be shaken on all fronts and pay a heavy price for it! War Secretary Mayhuine lamented.

"Why not ask the French about it?" Prime Minister Asquith asked.

"We have already proposed to the French, but General Xia Fei insisted that the main direction of the German attack was northeast France, and he believed that the German attack in Belgium was nothing more than a feint, in order to transfer the main force of the French army from the northeast!" Meshuin said.

"Damn, that old fool Xia Fei, he's going to ruin France!" Prime Minister Asquith yelled.

"Your Excellency, Prime Minister, we must do everything we can to form an expeditionary force, and once the French army is defeated, we must help them stabilize the battle!" Mesheu in the construction of yì road.

"Go ahead and prepare!" Prime Minister Asquith said helplessly.

In response to the German invasion of Belgium, Britain issued an ultimatum to Germany, demanding that German troops withdraw from Belgium within 12 hours. However, the Germans completely ignored it. On the morning of July 24, Britain declared war on Germany, and in the afternoon, Russia and the United States also declared war on Germany. At the same time, Germany also declared war on Britain, the United States, and Russia. And Germany's ally, Austria-Hungary, also declared war on the Entente, and only Italy remained neutral!