Origins & Early Life

Graf Alfred von Schlieffen (German pronunciation: [ɡʁaːf ˈalfʁeːt fɔn ˈʃliːfn̩]; 28 February 1833 – 4 January 1913) was a German and Prussian officer and strategist, eventually reaching the rank of field marshal. He served as chief of the Imperial German General Staff from 1891 to 1906. His name is most known for the 1905–06 "Schlieffen Plan", then Aufmarsch I, a deployment plan and operational guide for a decisive initial offensive operation/campaign in a two-front war against the French Third Republic and the Russian Empire. Born in Prussia, Germany, on 28 February 1833, the son of a Prussian Army officer, he was part of an old Prussian noble family, the Schlieffen family.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

He lived with his father, Major Magnus von Schlieffen, on their estate in Silesia, which he left to go to school in 1842. The young Schlieffen had shown no interest in joining the military and so he did not attend the traditional Prussian cadet academies. Instead, he studied at the University of Berlin. While he was studying law, he enlisted in the army in 1853 for his one year of compulsory military service. Then, instead of joining the reserves, he was chosen as an officer candidate.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

He thus started...

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• Adrien-Marie Legendre — Contemporary (Died in 1833) (1833): Pioneering French mathematician known for Legendre polynomials and least squares method.
• Alexander Borodin — Contemporary (Born in 1833) (1833): Russian Romantic composer, chemist, and physician known for 'Prince Igor' and symphonies.
• Alfred Nobel — Contemporary (Born in 1833) (1833): Pioneering chemist, inventor of dynamite, and founder of the Nobel Prizes.
• Albert Camus — Contemporary (Born in 1913) (1913): Philosopher and writer known for Absurdism, The Stranger, and The Plague.
• Albert Ellis — Contemporary (Born in 1913) (1913): Pioneering figure in psychotherapy, founder of Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT)
• Alfred Russel Wallace — Contemporary (Died in 1913) (1913): Naturalist and explorer who independently conceived the theory of evolution.
• 3rd Dalai Lama — Shared historical date (02-28 · Born) (1543): Founding figure of the Dalai Lama lineage, pivotal to Gelug school's rise in Tibet.
• Alfonso XIII — Shared historical date (02-28 · Died) (1941): King of Spain (1886-1931), whose reign spanned constitutional crises and republican upheaval.
• Alauddin Khalji — Shared historical date (01-04 · Died) (1316): Powerful Sultan of Delhi who reformed administration and repelled Mongol invasions.
• Benito Pérez Galdós — Shared historical date (01-04 · Died) (1920): A towering figure of Spanish Realism, celebrated for his prolific novels and enduring literary impact.
• 1833 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1833
• February 28 (02-28) On This Day — Historical birthdays and events on February 28
• 1913 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1913
• January 4 (01-04) On This Day — Historical events and memorials on January 4