Germany planned for a short war. What went wrong?

When the First World War broke out, Germany had a massive problem. The alliance between France and Russia left them totally surrounded, with only Austria Hungary on their side. Outnumbered, Germany's chances in a long war were slim.

And yet the German Army of 1914 was still confident of victory. In August, they launched a huge enveloping attack through Belgium, smashing the Allied forces in battle after battle, and Germany seemed to be on the brink of victory.

But just as Paris hoved into view, the tide of the battle, and arguably the whole war, changed. French and British forces counterattacked at the Battle of the Marne and forced the Germans back. Leaving their plan for a short war in tatters. So, what went wrong? Why did the German plan fail? And how close did it come to succeeding?

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'War Map of Europe' Courtesy of University of Illinois Library.

Bataille de la Marne - Intitulée Route de Varredes by Antoine Vasse Nicolas. (CC BY 2.0). https://creativecommons.org/licenses/...
Bataille de la Marne, Combat D'Etrepilly - canon de 75 mm modèle 1897 tirant sur une ferme occupée par les Allemand by Antoine Vasse Nicolas. (CC BY 2.0). https://creativecommons.org/licenses/...
Lee Enfield SMLE n°1 MKIII firing by Antoine Vasse Nicolas. (CC BY 2.0). https://creativecommons.org/licenses/...
Bataille de la Marne - Attente avant la charge en plaine de Chaintrix by Antoine Vasse Nicolas. (CC BY 2.0). https://creativecommons.org/licenses/...
Bataille de la Marne - Septembre 1914, Plateau d'Etrepilly aux abords du cimetière-charge à la baionnette by Antoine Vasse Nicolas. (CC BY 2.0). https://creativecommons.org/licenses/...
Bataille de la Marne , Combat D'Etrepilly, Artillerie de Campagne en position à l'entrée du village by Antoine Vasse Nicolas. (CC BY 2.0). https://creativecommons.org/licenses/...
En face du village d'Ambleny, un pont de bateaux avait été, pendant la nuit, établi par le Génie by Antoine Vasse Nicolas. (CC BY 2.0). https://creativecommons.org/licenses/...