ALFRED GRAF VON (COUNT OF) SCHLIEFFEN
1833 - 1913

Al was a soldier and developed a war strategy, the Schlieffen Plan. This strategy was, after drastic amendments, used by the Germans at the beginning of World War I.

A real German, Alfred was born and died in Berlin.

ALFRED'S FAMILY
Alfred's father was a Prussian general.


ALFRED SCHLIEFFEN'S CAREER
In 1854, Alfred started his military career and joined the German army. He fought in the Seven Weeks' War as well as in the Franco-Prussian War. Progressing in his career, Alfred became officer and, in 1891, the person in charge of the general staff.


THE SCHLIEFFEN PLAN
The original Schlieffen Plan has never been implemented. However, after making some major amendments, the Germans did use a modified version of the plan in World War I. Of course, the Germans lost that war and some think they could have won if they had applied the unaltered original Schlieffen Plan. Whether that would have been a good thing ...
 

THE SCHLIEFFEN PLAN - BACKGROUND
In the 1800s, political tension was brewing in Europe. Nations formed alliances with each other in fear of losing the balance of power. Soon emerged two sets of military alliances. Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Italy (Triple Alliance) on one side and England, France, and Russia on the other (Triple Entente.) It became obvious that the one attacking first would have a big advantage.


THE ORIGINAL SCHLIEFFEN PLAN
Germany was sandwiched by Russia to the east and France to the west. Alfred's predecessors always voted for attacking Russia first, then France. Alfred thought that was total nonsense. He figured that the Russians would need at least six weeks to get their armies ready for a fight at any given point. Time enough for Germany to crush the west IF almost the entire German military strength could be focused on this attack.

Then came the year 1905 and Alfred retired.


THE MODIFIED SCHLIEFFEN PLAN
Helmuth von Moltke, Alfred's successor, decided to run with Alfred Schlieffen's basic idea, which was to attack the West first.

However, von Moltke and his co-strategists did not put as much oomph into the attack as Alfred had pointed out would be absolutely necessary for this plan's success.

And Alfred Schlieffen proved to be right. In 1914, Germany failed to have a quick victory in the west and from there it went downhill for the Germans during World War I.