Schlieffen Plan

Devised in Germany in the latter years of the nineteenth century, the Schlieffen Plan's objective was to gain a quick and decisive victory over France so that Germany would not face the prospect of a war on two fronts - with France and Russia, to whom France was allied. Its architect was Alfred von Schlieffen, Chief of the German General Staff from 1891 to 1905. It required German forces to move through Belgium and Holland, avoiding French fortifications along its border with Germany, and for those forces to sweep towards Paris.

It was put into effect in August 1914 and, as well as bringing Germany and France into conflict, committed Britain to war as a guarantor by treaty of Belgian neutrality.

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