What Was Shlieffen's Plan

Alfred von Schlieffen the German Chief of Staff made a plan for the German Army in the war between France and Russia in 1903 at the request of Kaiser Wilhelm II. In order to accomplish Schlieffen’s plan, the immediate defeat of France was needed. Schlieffen thought that it would much easier to become victorious over France by attacking at its rear, rather than pushing through the heavily fortified France-German border. In order for them to do this quickly they would have to go through another country. Switzerland has its high mountains and tight passages was essentially invasion-proof, so the only other option for Germany was to go through Belgium. Schlieffen was knew that Belgium would be easy to defeat, well before British troops could