"The Schlieffen Plan was prepared way back in 1905 and had the objective of quickly knocking out France so that Germany could then turn to Russia in the east and so not have to fight on two large fronts at the same time. The plan required German forces to quickly move through the neutral Low Countries, avoiding the main French fortifications on the Franco-German border."
"The Battle of the Frontiers of WWI (1914-18), fought between 14 and 25 August, involved a flurry of encounters between German and French, Belgian, and British armies as both sides attempted to cross borders and establish the fighting front in the enemy's territory. Germany hoped to advance through Belgium and fight the major battles of the Western Front in France."
Between 14 and 25 August 1914, the Battle of the Frontiers produced numerous clashes as German, French, Belgian, and British armies sought to cross borders and establish fighting lines. Germany pursued an advance through Belgium to bring the decisive battles onto French soil, while France attempted offensives along the Franco-German frontier around Alsace. Superior German numbers and artillery achieved strategic objectives but incurred heavy casualties. The Schlieffen Plan of 1905 aimed for a rapid knockout of France by moving through the neutral Low Countries to avoid border fortifications, a route that narrowed the invasion and created logistical bottlenecks. Britain entered to uphold Belgian neutrality.
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