MR NYAMUDEZA

HISTORY STUDY PACK: FORM 2

SYLLABUS CODE: 0470

WEEK 2: (LESSON 1)

TOPIC: WORLD WAR 1 -BATTLE OF MARNE 1914

 OBJECTIVES

• Identify the countries involved on the battle of Marne

• Outline the problems faced by Germany during this battle.
• Describe the battle of Marne.

WEBSITES
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gwRZpc49soY

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sbOdF-5dk_E

Key words and their definitions

Marne- a river in France near Paris.

BEF-British Expeditionary Force

Casualties- a people killed or injured in a war or accident

Command words

Why-give reasons for

Describe-outline the main features

BATTLE OF MARNE
Soldiers in trenches at the battle of Marne
German soldiers constructing trenches at the battle of Marne

Date: 6–12 September 1914

Location: Marne River near Brasles, east of Paris, France
Failure of the Schlieffen Plan
Beginning of Trench Warfare

THE BATTLE OF MARNE

• This battle was between Germany against France and Britain

• It was fought in September 1914
• At this point, the Germany army was faced with many problems. The Russians had
mobilised earlier than expected and had already invaded Germany. So, the German
commander Moltke had to pull out 1000 troops from the battle and take them to fight
Russia. This means Germany was now faced with war on 2 fronts.
• Another problem was shortage of supplies of food and ammunition that the army could
not keep up.
• As a result, the German army was weakened by these problems and at the same time
the problems worked as an advantage to Britain and France.
• The French, who since the outbreak of war had been defending launched an attach for
the first time
• They diverted their troops to Paris by rail and some by tax to the war front
• On the other hand, the German commander was forced to abandon the war plan of
swinging around Paris and advanced straight towards it
• France combined with Britain were able to stop Germany from advancing along the river
Marne
 • The German forces faced with this Franco British counter attack were repulsed back to
river Aisne, however they failed to push the Germans completely out of France.
• This battle was important because it was a decisive battle that halted German advance
into Paris and forced her to retreat.
• This battle also completely ruined the Schlieffen plan because France showed that it
was not going to be quickly knocked out as was planned, as such Germany had to face
full-scale war on 2 fronts as Russia had also mobilised from the East.
• At this point the German chief of staff reported to the Kaiser that “your majesty, we have
lost the war"
• At this stage, war reached a stalemate
• The Germans instead of surrendering the war began to dig trenches along the river
Aisne
• They began to live and fight in these trenches
• France also responded by digging theses trenches and for the first-time war was staged
on the western front
• The trenches were meant to protect them from snipers and shell fire.

Test your understanding

Who was involved in the battle of Marne?

Describe the battle of Marne

Example

What were the results of the Battle of Mons (4)?

• the Allies suffered heavy casualties

• the Allies were defeated
• German forces made a decisive victory on the battle of Mons
• the BEF retreated

Exercise 1

Why did the German forces lose the Battle at Marne? (6)