Final answer:
The Schlieffen Plan was based on the need for Germany to fight a two-front war and aimed for a quick victory on the Western Front by swiftly attacking France through Belgium before turning east to Russia.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Schlieffen Plan was predicated on the anticipation that Germany, being encircled by potential adversaries, would have to fight a two-front war against Russia to the east and France to the west. The plan was devised under the assumption that Russia would take a significant amount of time to mobilize its forces, allowing Germany to conduct a quick victory on the Western Front by attacking through Belgium into France. This would enable German forces to knock out France quickly and then turn eastward to face the slower-mobilizing Russian army. The Schlieffen Plan's aim was to prevent a protracted war on multiple fronts, thereby ensuring a swift conclusion to a potential conflict by focusing first and foremost on the West. However, the German advance through Belgium met with unexpected resistance, and the Russians mobilized more quickly than anticipated, undermining the central tenants of the plan.