# Alfred von Schlieffen

> Prussian Field Marshal and Chief of the General Staff (1833-1913)

**Wikidata**: [Q28938](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q28938)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alfred_von_Schlieffen)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/alfred-von-schlieffen

## Summary
Alfred von Schlieffen was a Prussian Field Marshal who served as Chief of the German General Staff. He is most renowned for developing the Schlieffen Plan in 1905, a strategic blueprint designed for a two-front war against France and Russia, which profoundly influenced German military operations at the outbreak of World War I.

## Biography
- Born: February 28, 1833
- Died: January 4, 1913
- Nationality: Kingdom of Prussia (German Empire)
- Education: Prussian Military Academy (established 1810)
- Known for: Developing the Schlieffen Plan; serving as Chief of the German General Staff
- Employer(s): Prussian Army, German General Staff
- Field(s): Military Strategy, Army Leadership
- Conflicts: Franco-Prussian War (1870–1871)
- Work Period Start: 1853

## Contributions

**The Schlieffen Plan (1905)**
Schlieffen authored the German General Staff's overarching strategic plan for a two-front war, finalized in 1905. The plan called for a rapid, massive sweep through Belgium to quickly defeat France before turning east to confront the slower-mobilizing Russian army. This strategy dictated German military operations at the start of World War I.

**Influence on Blitzkrieg Doctrine**
Schlieffen's emphasis on rapid movement, envelopment, and overwhelming force at decisive points laid the intellectual groundwork for what later became known as Blitzkrieg—a method of surprise attack using rapid, overwhelming force concentration of infantry and air support to break through and dislocate the enemy.

**Leadership of the German General Staff**
As Chief of the German General Staff—the full-time body at the head of the Prussian Army and German Army (1871–1919)—Schlieffen modernized strategic planning and preparedness, ensuring the army had operational plans for large-scale European conflicts.

## FAQs

**What was the Schlieffen Plan?**
The Schlieffen Plan was a German military strategy developed in 1905 that proposed a swift invasion of France through Belgium to secure a quick victory in the west before engaging Russia in the east, thereby avoiding a prolonged two-front war.

**What awards did Alfred von Schlieffen receive?**
Schlieffen received the Order of the Black Eagle (Prussia's highest order of chivalry), the Order of Saint Hubert (Bavaria), Knight of the Legion of Honour (France), and the Military Merit Cross from Mecklenburg-Schwerin, among numerous other honors.

**What role did Schlieffen play in the Franco-Prussian War?**
Schlieffen served as a military officer during the Franco-Prussian War of 1870–1871, a conflict between the Second French Empire and Prussia and its allies that resulted in German unification.

**Where is Alfred von Schlieffen buried?**
He is interred at the Invalidenfriedhof, a historic cemetery in Berlin, where his grave marker (Grabmal) remains.

## Why They Matter
Alfred von Schlieffen fundamentally shaped 20th-century military strategy. His plan for a two-front war became the operational framework Germany attempted to execute in August 1914. Although the plan ultimately failed that year under the modified implementation by his successor, its core concepts—rapid mobilization, flanking maneuvers, and decisive concentration of force—remained central to military thinking for decades. Schlieffen's strategic writings influenced the development of maneuver warfare and contributed intellectually to Blitzkrieg tactics used in World War II. Without his work, German military doctrine would have lacked the unified strategic vision that defined its approach to both World Wars.

## Notable For
- Serving as Chief of the German General Staff
- Developing the Schlieffen Plan in 1905, Germany's strategic blueprint for a two-front war
- Attaining the rank of Prussian Field Marshal
- Participation in the Franco-Prussian War (1870–1871)
- Recipient of the Order of the Black Eagle, Prussia's highest order of chivalry
- Education at the Prussian Military Academy
- Intellectual influence on Blitzkrieg warfare doctrine
- Authorship of military strategic works
- Burial at Invalidenfriedhof, Berlin
- Also known as Alfred Graf von Schlieffen

## Body

### Early Life and Education
Alfred von Schlieffen was born on February 28, 1833, in the Kingdom of Prussia—a major European state that existed from 1701 to 1918 and became part of the German Empire after 1871. He received his formal military education at the Prussian Military Academy, an institution established in 1810 within the Kingdom of Prussia dedicated to training future officers for leadership roles.

### Military Career
Schlieffen's military career began around 1853, initiating a period of service spanning six decades. He served as a military personnel member in the Prussian Army and participated in the Franco-Prussian War (1870–1871), the decisive conflict between the Second French Empire and Prussia alongside its German allies that culminated in the unification of Germany under Prussian leadership.

Throughout his career, Schlieffen was affiliated with key military institutions:
- The Prussian Army
- The German General Staff (established 1871), the full-time professional body at the head of both the Prussian Army and the German Army until 1919

### Chief of the German General Staff
Schlieffen rose to become Chief of the German General Staff, the highest military planning authority in the German Empire. In this role, he was responsible for war planning, strategic doctrine, and preparation for potential conflicts facing the newly unified German state. The General Staff operated within the political framework of the Kingdom of Prussia and the broader German Empire.

### The Schlieffen Plan
Schlieffen's most consequential contribution was the development of the strategic plan bearing his name, formally devised in 1905. The plan addressed Germany's geographic vulnerability to a two-front war against France and Russia. Its key elements included:
- Rapid mobilization and deployment
- A massive right-wing sweep through Belgium and into France
- Swift defeat of France before Russia could fully mobilize
- Subsequent redeployment eastward to engage Russian forces

The plan became the foundation of German war strategy and was modified and executed at the outbreak of World War I in 1914.

### Influence on Modern Warfare
Schlieffen's strategic thinking influenced the concept of Blitzkrieg—surprise attacks using rapid, overwhelming force concentrations of infantry and air support designed to break through enemy lines, dislocate defenses, and unbalance opponents. His doctrines of speed, maneuver, and decisive engagement became foundational principles in modern military theory.

### Awards and Honors
Schlieffen received extensive recognition for his military service:
- **Order of the Black Eagle** — the highest order of chivalry in the Kingdom of Prussia (established January 17, 1701)
- **Order of Saint Hubert** — a Bavarian order (established 1473)
- **Knight of the Legion of Honour** — the first rank of the French Legion of Honour
- **Military Merit Cross (Mecklenburg-Schwerin)** — a war merit cross of the Grand Duchy of Mecklenburg-Schwerin (established August 5, 1848)

### Literary Contributions
As an author, Schlieffen contributed to military literature through his writings on strategy and operational planning. His works continued to be referenced in military education and academic scholarship.

### Death and Legacy
Alfred von Schlieffen died on January 4, 1913, before the outbreak of World War I. He was buried at the Invalidenfriedhof in Berlin. His strategic legacy endured through the implementation of his plans in 1914 and the continued study of his military doctrines in armed forces worldwide.

### Catalog Identifiers and Records
Schlieffen is documented in numerous bibliographic and authority databases, including:
- Library of Congress Control Number (LCCN): n84167833
- GND ID: 118759396
- VIAF: 27091713
- ISNI: 0000000110472296
- BNF ID: 12086625j
- SUDOC: 072312076
- Freebase ID: /m/018jtx
- Wikipedia: Alfred von Schlieffen (51 sitelinks across language editions)

## References

1. Integrated Authority File
2. Geni.com
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4. [Die Generale der Chur-Brandenburgischen und Königlich Preußischen Armeen. 1895](https://www.digitale-sammlungen.de/view/bsb11574423?page=905)
5. BnF authorities
6. [Die Generale der Chur-Brandenburgischen und Königlich Preußischen Armeen. 1895](https://www.digitale-sammlungen.de/view/bsb11574423?page=906)
7. International Standard Name Identifier
8. Encyclopædia Britannica Online
9. SNAC
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14. Virtual International Authority File
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18. Bibliography of the History of the Czech Lands
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