Explain how the Schlieffen Plan was meant to work.
An alliance system had developed in Europe by the end of the nineteenth century. The Triple Alliance and Triple Entente where the six most powerful countries split up that made the alliance system. The Triple Alliance was formed in 1882 and consisted of the countries Germany, Austria Hungry and Italy. The Triple Entente was formed in 1907 and consisted of the countries Britain, France and Russia. The reason of the alliance was set up was for the protection of each member so that if any of the nations were attacked the other members would have to help. The Triple Entente had similar views which made them form and they were worried about Germany and also of each other, together they were stronger. Britain signed an agreement with France in 1904 and another with Russia in 1907.
1900 is the time tension began to show and increased. Anglo-German naval rivalry is an example when Germany had plans to build a powerful navy, therefore Britain being the most powerful navy took it the wrong way. Furthermore in 1906 they made HMS Dreadnoughts making Germany respond in making their own Dreadnoughts. The arms race did not only take part of the navy but also on land with military strengths.
Germany was worried about the "encirclement" with Russia to the east and France to the west and those countries having the Franco-Russian pact. France wanted their town, Alsace Lorraine back from Germany. Russia also had some tension with Austria- Hungry as both they had a long history. With all this in mind it created a lot of stress and strain from all countries, with Germany's main worry of the "encirclement" so it devised the Schlieffen Plan.
The Schlieffen Plan was also devised because in 1914 war seemed very likely especially with Russia. If that was to happen Germany assumed France would also attack as she was an ally of Russia and would want revenge for her defeat in the Franco-Prussian war.