War on the Western Front 1914 1915
In 1914, after the assassination of the Austro-Hungarian Archduke, Austria declared war on Serbia. Russia, honouring its treaty to protect Serbia also began mobilizing for war. France mobilized for war on Germany’s western border because of its treaty with Russia. With enemies preparing for war on both its borders, Alfred von Schlieffen designed a plan for Germany to avoid a two front war. ... Belgium, determined to stay neutral and be no part of the war, refused to be part of the French defence network. ... When this occurred, the British Empire declared war on Germany, in accordance to its treaty to protect Belgium. ... The Schlieffen plan was now destroyed, and Germany would have to fight a two front war. ... The war reached stalemate, a condition in which neither side could prevail. ... In 1915, from January to March, attempts to push Germans out of northern France proved useless.