A forward defense in Belgium depended on political permission as well as forces ready to move. Even with both conditions met, the French army still had to reach the battlefield before the German attack became decisive. A fortified barrier on France's own frontier would already be in position when the crisis began. The choice therefore turned on the realism of the strategy's access, readiness, and deployment assumptions.
Notable Point · 3:31-4:01
The risk in a forward Belgium strategy
The critique of moving into Belgium highlights the timing, permission, and readiness risks behind a strategy that depends on fast forward deployment.