German general Alfred von Schlieffen devised the Schlieffen Plan in response to the threat of a joint attack on Germany by France and Russia. Schlieffen's plan anticipated a quick German victory through the use of a large flanking movement to crush the French, followed by a redeployment of troops toward Russia via railroad. As World War I opened in 1914, a modified version of the Schlieffen Plan was put into action, but French forces stalled the Germans at the Marne River, and the Russians mobilized faster than expected. Ultimately, the plan failed, and Germany was forced to fight enemies on both the Western Front and Eastern Front.