Erich von Falkenhayn

Erich von Falkenhayn was a German military leader during World War I, serving as Chief of the German Army's General Staff from 1914 to 1916. He is best known for designing the strategy at the Battle of Verdun in 1916, aiming to "bleed France white" by forcing them into a prolonged, costly fight. Falkenhayn believed in attrition warfare—wearing down the enemy over time. His strategies had mixed results, and in 1916, he was replaced due to disagreements and the changing dynamics of the war.