Actually, it is spelled "Schlieffen", after the German Count Alfred von Schlieffen.
See the Wikipedia article in the Related links section for more details.
In summary, it was German's military strategy dating from around 1900 to win a 2-Front war, supposing that it had to fight both France and Russia at the same time.
The main ideas of the plan were:
- Taking advantage of Russia's slow mobilization speed, fight the French first.
- Using weak forces on the Eastern Front (with Russia), fight minor delaying actions.
- Tie down the majority of French forces (and maintain French strategic attention) by conducting minor attacks in the Alsace-Lorraine. In essence, feint the French in the East.
- Sweep through the Low Countries (Holland, Belgium, Luxembourg) with the main arm of the German army, driving down along the Western coast of France, an envelope Paris from the west. Additionally, cause the main French forces (East and North of Paris) to be encircled.
- France would then surrender.
- Ship all forces back to the German Eastern front, and fight the Russians.
It was a bold plan. Some say too bold. In any case, it was the basis for Germany's French campaigns in both World War One and World Word Two.
