Erich von Falkenhayn

Erich von Falkenhayn
Falkenhayn, c. 1913
Prussian Minister of War
In office
7 June 1913 – 21 January 1915
MonarchWilhelm II
Prime MinisterTheobald von Bethmann Hollweg
Preceded byJosias von Heeringen
Succeeded byAdolf Wild von Hohenborn
Chief of the German Great General Staff
In office
14 September 1914 – 29 August 1916
MonarchWilhelm II
ChancellorTheobald von Bethmann Hollweg
Preceded byHelmuth von Moltke the Younger
Succeeded byPaul von Hindenburg
Personal details
Born11 September 1861
Burg Belchau, Kingdom of Prussia, German Confederation (now Poland)
Died8 April 1922 (aged 60)
Potsdam, Prussia, Weimar Republic
SpouseIda Selkmann
RelationsEugen von Falkenhayn (brother)
Fedor von Bock (nephew)
Henning von Tresckow (son-in-law)
Children2
ProfessionMilitary officer
AwardsOrder of the Black Eagle
Pour le Merite
Military Order of Max Joseph
Military service
Allegiance German Empire (1880–1919)
 Ottoman Empire (1917–1918)
Branch/service Imperial German Army
 Ottoman Army
Years of service1880–1919
Rank General der Infanterie (Imperial German Army)
Field Marshal (Ottoman Army)
CommandsChief of the German General Staff
9th Army
Army Group F (Ottoman Army)
10th Army
Battles/warsBoxer Rebellion
First World War

General Erich Georg Sebastian Anton von Falkenhayn (11 September 1861 – 8 April 1922) was a German general who was the second Chief of the German General Staff of the First World War from September 1914 until 29 August 1916. Falkenhayn replaced General Helmuth von Moltke the Younger after his invasion of France was stopped at the First Battle of the Marne and was in turn removed on 29 August 1916 after the failure of his offensive strategy in the west at the Battle of Verdun, the opening of the Battle of the Somme, the Brusilov Offensive and the Romanian entry into the war. Having planned to win the war before 1917, the German army was reduced to hanging on.

Falkenhayn was given important field commands in Romania and Syria. His reputation as a war leader was attacked in Germany during and after the war, especially by the faction supporting Field Marshal Paul von Hindenburg. Falkenhayn held that Germany could not win the war by a decisive battle but would have to reach a compromise peace; his enemies said he lacked the resolve necessary to win a decisive victory. Falkenhayn's relations with the Chancellor Theobald von Bethmann Hollweg were troubled and undercut Falkenhayn's plans.