The Schlieffen Plan emerged from the strategic realities of a unified Germany facing threats from France and Russia. Key assumptions included the need for a swift victory over France before turning to Russia, based on the belief that Russia would take time to mobilize and that a war of attrition would favor the Allies. The plan hinged on the expectation that France would prioritize retaking Alsace Lorraine, shaping Germany's military strategy in the early 20th century.
