Newby strategy - help needed

[andyinkuwait]

While pondering my options as CP...why cant I bypass Liege completely in 1914 and pass south and southwest of it and then onto Brussels?
I notice there is a strategy of bypassing Liege from North by declaring war on Netherlands but why bother if you can bypass south?
what is the danger in this type of bypass south?

[vinnie71]

You don't need to bypass Liege. Just don't attack it on the first impulse. In the first impulse just bombard it with your siege guns (and if possible bring additional guns by redeploying it from Ruprecht or some other Rhine army and moving Kluck HQ behind the lines.) Hit Liege during the second impulse with the Guard Corps backed by the siege guns and artillery barrage. You'll take small losses and the delay is a blessing in disguise.

[andyinkuwait]

I suppose what I'm really saying is 'Why do I have to attack Liege at all??' 

[hjaco]

If you want to bypass Liege in turn one then I recommend you do it both to the north and south. In the north your advance won't be hindered in force which may happen in the south.

You need to take Liege in order to conquer Belgium. Sure - the defenders will eventually run out of food but you may deplete the food resource in the meantime and those defenders in Liege forces you to protect following up HQ and artillery and may threaten your supply.

[vinnie71]

Liege will allow you to stretch your attack front against the allies who will have to stretch their forces rather thinly. Its important that initially the Germans deploy on as wide a front as possible because they have overwhelming numbers compared to the French and British. The French will slowly move forces to block you but since they're spread thin, they become vulnerable to a numerically superior German army. BTW not taking Liege may delay not only your advance, but also the collapse of Belgium.
 
Initially the numbers are in favour of the CP and therefore use them to destroy as much of the French army in the opening moves as possible. Though the French will get their reinforcements in Paris, they will have to spread them out in order to shore up their front, which means that a few 3 corps stacks can really break through wherever you want. Also by spreading out, you'll be able to outflank the French border defences and take them from multiple sides.

[ILCK]

You can usually storm Liege on turn 1 with a full strength stack.  You need to take it to collapse the Belgians and it gets to be problematic having that big block sitting in your path of advance.