Final answer:
The Schlieffen Plan was a military strategy developed by Germany during World War I. It aimed to quickly defeat France in the west before focusing on Russia in the east. However, the plan failed due to various factors.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Schlieffen Plan was a military strategy developed by Germany prior to World War I. It was named after its chief architect, German Field Marshal Alfred von Schlieffen. The plan was designed to quickly defeat France in the west before turning to face Russia in the east.
The Schlieffen Plan called for a massive German offensive through Belgium, bypassing the heavily fortified Franco-German border and encircling Paris from the north. The goal was to quickly defeat France and secure the western front, allowing Germany to then focus its forces on the eastern front against Russia.
However, the Schlieffen Plan ultimately failed. Germany underestimated the resistance from Belgium and the speed at which Russia could mobilize its forces. The plan also relied heavily on strict timetables, which proved challenging to maintain in the chaos of war. As a result, the plan was not executed as intended, and the war developed into a prolonged stalemate with trench warfare.
Learn more about The Schlieffen Plan during World War I