What was the Schlieffen Plan and how did it contribute to the war?

What was the Schlieffen Plan and how did it contribute to the war?

The Schlieffen Plan was a military strategy developed by German General Alfred von Schlieffen before World War I. It aimed to quickly defeat France in the west by swiftly invading through neutral Belgium, while a smaller force held off Russia in the east. The plan relied on the assumption that Russia would take longer to mobilize its forces. However, the plan failed as Belgium resisted the German invasion, leading to British involvement in the war. Additionally, the Russian army mobilized faster than expected, forcing Germany to divert troops from the western front to the eastern front. The failure of the Schlieffen Plan contributed to the stalemate on the Western Front and the prolonged duration of the war.