to evaluate the strengths, weaknesses, and military capabilities of their assigned nations. They used close observation, conversations, and paid agents to produce very high-quality reports that gave a significant advantage to the military planners. The military staff grew increasingly powerful, reducing the role of the Minister of War, and increasingly asserted itself in foreign policy decisions. Otto von Bismarck, the Imperial Chancellor 1871–1890, was annoyed by military interference in foreign policy affairs – in 1887, for example, they tried to convince the Emperor to declare war on Russia; they also encouraged Austria to attack Russia. Bismarck never controlled the army, but he did complain vehemently, and the military leaders drew back. In 1905, when the Morocco affair was roiling international politics, the chief of the General staff Alfred von Schlieffen called for a preventive war against France. At a critical point in the July crisis of 1914, Helmuth von Moltke, the chief of staff, without telling the Emperor or chancellor, advised his counterpart in Austria to mobilize against Russia at once. During the First World War, Generalfeldmarschall Paul von Hindenburg increasingly set foreign policy, working directly with the Emperor—and indeed shaped his decision-making—leaving the chancellor and civilian officials in the dark. Historian Gordon A. Craig says that the crucial decisions in 1914, "were made by the soldiers and that, in making them, they displayed an almost complete disregard for political considerations." Chiefs of the German General Staff (1871–1919) Helmuth von Moltke the Elder 7 October 1857 – 10 August 1888 Alfred von Waldersee 10 August 1888 – 7 February 1891 Alfred von Schlieffen 7 February 1891 – 1 January 1906 Helmuth von Moltke the Younger 1 January 1906 – 14 September 1914 Erich von Falkenhayn 14 September 1914 – 29 August 1916 Paul von Hindenburg 29 August 1916 – 3 July 1919 Wilhelm Groener 3 July 1919 – 7 July 1919 Hans von Seeckt 7 July 1919 – 15 July 1919 Structure The Kaiser had full control of the armed forces but used a highly complex organizational structure. The basic peacetime organizational structure of the Imperial German Army were the Army inspectorate (), the army corps (), the division and the regiment. During wartime, the staff of the Army inspectorates formed field army commands, which controlled the corps and subordinate units. During World War I, a higher command level, the army group (), was created. Each army group controlled several