The primary goal of the Schlieffen Plan at the start of World War I was to enable Germany to quickly defeat France and then transfer its forces to fight Russia in the East. Developed by General Count Alfred von Schlieffen in 1905, the plan aimed to avoid a prolonged two-front war by swiftly invading Belgium to outflank French defenses. The idea was to capture Paris rapidly, forcing a French surrender. However, the plan failed when logistical challenges and unexpected resistance from Belgium and British forces led to a stalemate on the Western Front, ultimately prolonging the war and changing the course of the conflict.