German nobleman (Freiherr), general (Generalfeldmarschall from 1911) andmilitary theorist. Born 1843, died 1916.

Inspired by his participation in the Franco-Prussian War (1870-1871), von der Goltz wrote Das Volk in Waffen (1883), in which he argued that modern warfare required the mobilisation of the entire population.

From the mid-1880s on, he was seconded to the Ottoman Imperial Army, which he helped to restructure. Later, around the turn of the century, he also worked on reorganisation of the German Army. He commanded Ottoman forces during World War I.