General Erich Georg Sebastian Anton von Falkenhayn (September 11, 1861 – April 8, 1922) is the second Chief of the German General Staff of the First World War from September 1914 until 29 August 1916.

He is removed on August 29, 1916 after the failure at the Battle of Verdun, the opening of the Battle of the Somme, the Brusilov Offensive and the entry of Romania into the war on the Allied side undo his strategy to end the war before 1917.

He is later given important field commands in Romania and Syria.

His reputation as a war leader is attacked in Germany during and after the war, especially by the faction that supports Paul von Hindenburg.

Falkenhayn holds that Germany cannot win the war by a decisive battle but will have to reach a compromise peace; his enemies say he lacks the resolve necessary to win a decisive victory.

Falkenhayn's relations with the Chancellor Theobald von Bethmann-Hollweg sre troubled and undercut Falkenhayn's plans.