Germany follow the Schlieffen Plan to the letter 1914

  Apart from the points michelvan raises there is also another issue.  The memo that Schlieffen originally posted included more troops than the entire German army had in 1914, let alone when it was 1st published so the numbers were somewhat impractical.

  However even if the Germans capture Antwerp earlier there would almost certainly be some 'race to the sea' albeit further west compared to OTL as the primary drive would still be to defeat the French rather than secure the northern flank.  There are questions about whether the plan in any form was practical as the OTL attack pretty much exhausted the German army and overrun its logistics.  As it was that was with the right 'hook' being shortened so it was intended to swing east of Paris rather than west of it which would have been logistically impossible.  Germany might gain the rest of Belgium and some more of France, including probably the Calais region as well as eventually the Netherlands as I doubt it could last inevitably.  However German losses are likely to be heavier and Germany will have additional diplomatic costs and the burden of occupying and supplying the Dutch population as well as not having that nation as a route to bypass the blockage.  Plus it would mean the Dutch forces and colonies outside Europe joining the allies.  Not to mention other neutrals might be distinctly more weary of Germany.

  It could be even worse if the allies react to the wider attack by the French canceling their A-L offensive earlier - which would safe them a lot of men given the horrendous losses suffered OTL - and possibly mean a heavier defeat in some Marne equivalent and the German forces pushed back as far or further than OTL.  Even if the front line ended up as OTL by the end of 1914 or a bit to the west it could be militarily markedly more costly than OTL for them.

  I doubt that the Dutch could hold out as supplying them would be difficult - not just militarily but also things like food and energy imports.  However a fight for a few months or even weeks could tie up a fair amount of German forces and then while they would have Dutch resources and ports again there are the occupation burden.

The German Minister of War was not inclined to advocate the numbers Schlieffen demanded but v. Moltke did carry out the offensive with available forces - I asking whats happening.

I don't expect the Germans to win the war in one blow as I already mentioned logistic difficulties that is bound to impede the plan not mentioning the German Army Commanders who had a will of their own. Not to mention lack of communications with frontline units of Moltke and thus having little control of the battle.

Same can be said of French commanders who had been even worse off than in 1940 when they had radio.. though didn't want to use it. Here they didn't even trust their aerial recce except Gallieni.

So probably no stopping the French offensives early I'd guess.

The race to the sea will lack at least one small force that won't be making an appearance here as the majority of the Belgian Army is still around Liege - Namur with one Infantry Division around Antwerp.

As with the Belgian troops in Centra Africa I doubt the Dutch Colonials in DEI/NEI will have much influence on the wider war. Their important contribution will be earmarking the increasing oil production for Allied use as well as rubber.

  Interesting.  It sounds like Snijder seems to have moved quickly from defending the Holland redoubt, behind the flooded dykes to concentrate a lot of forces in the south to seek to deter/oppose any German attack to open the Scheldt estuary but I would assume there wouldn't be time for this in the proposed scenario where Germany invades immediately alongside the invasion of Belgium.

  If they do pocket the forces around Liege then can they use railway or roads through S Netherlands and then N Belgium to make up the lack of transport links?  That was why the fortifications were there as it was a natural bottleneck and the Germans put so much effort into capturing them ASAP. I think Belgium successfully managed to sabotage a good chunk of their railway network which mean troops had to march and supplies moved by horse drawn transport.  Otherwise they still have to batter their way into Liege anyway.  They might get Antwerp earlier but I don't think that's really on the primary line of march for Paris.

  Two other points that come to mind.

a)  If Liege is less important then is Ludendorff elsewhere and if so does he get to gain the OTL prestige here, which could have a big impact on his future career or lack of.

b)  By attacking the Netherlands that means they don't have to close the Scheldt estuary and hence if the Germans are still delayed a bit there's a possibility of allied forces getting to and being supported in Antwerp earlier, which poses a potential threat to the northern flank of their invasion into France and also possibly linking up with the supply of a Dutch fortress position.  True not sure what could go there unless some of the BEF was diverted in short order but depending on how flexible British plans and contacts with the Dutch would be that could be an issue.  It would leave the French flank more exposed but might be seen as important enough to do it and might prompt changes in French plans in turn. - Probably not too practical in reality but not sure so asking a question.

Well my idea was that Moltke don't change the basics of the Schlieffen plan thus 3. Army is still party to the great sweep round west of Paris. That would be the plan but things may well go awry as OTL.

From what I've read I'm unsure the French were so clear in mind and sight that they would send a more or less independent force north towards Lille? to get in the German flank. Actually they had quite a force up there in Picardy but that was reserve troops not thought fit for fight - which circumstances would prove different. The Germans from the outset planned for using the Reserve Korps as part of the build up though that would be the second echelon more or less.

It would be faster for Joffre to use those Reserve Corps to build a trip wire and then reinforce though such might also let the Germans get further west than OTL on the Channel coast.

Agree on the Dutch colonies - they were important and would be so to Allied war procurement.

The Netherlands had a smallish Army as outlined so would only require a couple of Reserve Corps to keep in check - I'd guess. The wet terrain is a blessing to both sides. The occupied part of Netherlands would also require some troops but I'm rather in the black on this - I know from a book on Danish drafted into the German Army that some of them were sent to keep the farms in Belgium which the men had left for the service while the women and children stayed behind. Not much on resistance! Actually some made it work quite well as long as they were out of harms way. Might go that was too in Netherland.

From what I've just read it don't seem the Dutch was much prepared for taking the offensive. Also the Government according the Lordroel's link was quite scared of repercussions as said general went his own ways!