Alfred Graf von Schlieffen, mostly called Count Schlieffen (. [ˈʃliːfən] ; 28 February 1833 – 4 January 1913) was a German field marshal and strategist who served as Chief of the Imperial German General Staff from 1891 to 1906.lfred Graf von Schlieffen, mostly called Count Schlieffen (. [ˈʃliːfən] ; 28 February 1833 – 4 January 1913) was a German field marshal and strategist who served as Chief of the Imperial German General Staff from 1891 to 1906.