Battle of the Frontiers, August-September 1914

What was the Battle of the Frontiers?

The Battle of the Frontiers was a series of six major battles that took place shortly after the First World War began. For a short time the war was one of movement.

Which countries fought in the Battle of the Frontiers?

The Battle of the Frontiers was fought by the French, Belgian, British and German armies.

Where was the Battle of the Frontiers?

The battles took place along the French-German border, from Alsace-Lorraine to the Ardennes and southern Belgium.

When was the Battle of the Frontiers?

The battles took place between the 4th August and the 6th September, 1914.

What were the main events of the Battle of the Frontiers?

There were six major battles that took place along the frontiers. This included the Battle of Mons where the BEF met the German Army for the first time and the French attack into Lorraine.

What was the significance of the Battle of the Frontiers?

The Battles of the Frontiers were significant for 4 reasons:

• ❖ The battles saw the Schlieffen Plan and Plan 17 crash into each other. Both were designed to take the offensive against the other.
• ❖ The battles saw massed infantry attacks, with soldiers advancing in the open without cover. This resulted in massive casualties, with the French losing over 300,000 men.
• ❖ The French attacks into Germany failed and the Schlieffen Plan was stopped at the Battle of the Marne in September.
• ❖ The Allies and the Germans had learned that massed infantry attacks against machine guns and artillery resulted in catastrophe. The war of movement was over and trench warfare developed. It would dominate the Western Front for the next four years.