Red Space Rocket

Schlieffen Plan

This German plan assumed it would face two enemies when war broke out.
Russia in the east.
France in the west.

The plan was to quickly defeat France before Russia could mobilise its army. With France defeated it could concentrate on fighting Russia.

Things went badly for Germany

This plan failed for a number of reasons.
Russia moved their troops more quickly than expected.
Belgium refused to allow Germany access and put up fierce resistance to German invasion.
The invasion of neutral Belgium enraged Britain who joined the war.

The Stalemate

Both sides raced to secure the ports on the British Channel.
When winter started they literally dug in and created trenches stretching from the Switzerland to the English Channel.
This was the Western Front and its position changed very little for the duration of the war.