Erich was born near a place called Graudenz, not sure of the date though. In the 1900's Falkenhayn served as an advisor for the Chinese Army and with the International Army in the Boxer rebellion. In 1913 Erich was appointed Prussian War Minister. He succeeded Hermuth Von Moltke as the Chief of General Staff in September of 1914. Erich disagreed with two people. Those two were, Paul Von Hidenburg and Eric Von Ludendorff. This disagreement was about concentration of German efforts to bring down Russia. Erich instead believed that if he concentrated the Germans against Framce and Britain they could win.