RUSSIAN WAR PLANS: WW1

PLAN G

• Anticipated direct attack on Russia from Germany first
• Not enough time for mobilization of troops
• Sacrifice some land, resources, and lives at first
• After mobilization, push Germans out
• If Napoleon couldn't do it, Germany definitely can't

PLAN 19

• Anticipated attack on France from Germany
• Gives Russia more time to mobilize the troops
• Less manpower sacrificed, more offensive
• Send two armies to attack East Prussia, Silesia, Germany
• Send troops to defend Black and Baltic Sea

STRENGTHS

• A ton of manpower (5 million)
• Can afford to sacrifice men in order to mobilize troops (Plan G)
• Can afford to sacrifice troops to help Allied forces (Tannenburg, East Prussia)
• France as ally surrounds Germany. Forces Germany to spread out

WEAKNESSES

• Too large land mass, diff rail gauges, slow mobilization, bad communication
• Weak economy (4.6 mil guns)
• No public support, political shuffling, protests and arrests, Tsar is weak
• Outdated weapons
• Untrained soldiers

FIRST OFFENSIVE

• Implements Plan 19 because Schlieffen Plan
• Counterattack East Prussia- Tannenburg, 1st and 2nd battles of Madurain
• Germany forced to allocate troops: loses First Battle of Marne
• Early Russian mobilization in response to Austria-Hungary ultimatum to Serbs
• Germans caught off guard