Schlieffen Doctrine

The Schlieffen Doctrine was a military strategy developed by German General Alfred von Schlieffen before World War I. Its main idea was to quickly defeat France by invading through Belgium, then turn to fight Russia, preventing a two-front war. The plan relied on speed and surprise, aiming to avoid prolonged conflict by overwhelming France within six weeks. However, the execution in 1914 faltered, leading to a prolonged and brutal stalemate on the Western Front, ultimately contributing to the war's devastation and complexity.