- Helmuth von Moltke: Moltke was the Chief of the General Staff at the start of the war and was responsible for the initial German war plan, the Schlieffen Plan. However, he was dismissed in September 1914 after the failure of the Schlieffen Plan.
- Erich von Falkenhayn: Falkenhayn succeeded Moltke as Chief of the General Staff and held the position until August 1916. He was responsible for the German strategy of unrestricted submarine warfare, which brought the United States into the war.
- Paul von Hindenburg and Erich Ludendorff: In August 1916, Hindenburg was appointed Chief of the General Staff, and Ludendorff became the First Quartermaster-General. Hindenburg and Ludendorff were jointly responsible for the German military strategy for the rest of the war.
- Wilhelm Groener: Groener succeeded Ludendorff as First Quartermaster-General in October 1918, and he became the sole Chief of the General Staff after Hindenburg's resignation in November 1918. Groener was responsible for the negotiations with the Allies that led to the armistice that ended the war.