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Abstract
Heinrich von Brandt was the father of German military intelligence. He was responsible for conducting espionage operations for the General Staff in the period of the foundation of the German Empire and made a significant contribution to Prussia's victory over France in 1871. Yet his important role has been completely neglected in histories of the Prussian army during this period. This study uses source material believed to have been lost during the Second World War to reconstruct the life and work of the first chief of the Nachrichtenbüro from 1866 to 1876.

AbstractOtto von Bismarck, the first chancellor of a unified Germany, was an active participant in the Anglo-Russian rivalry for control of Central Asia. Even though Germany had no direct interests there and was never involved on the ground during the two decades of his chancellorship, Bismarck invested considerable resources in working to shape the course of events in that part of the world, stoking the flames of conflict whenever it suited the dictates ofRealpolitik. Over a twenty-year period, he actively pursued a consistent strategy that focused on tying down Russian troops in the remote Asian steppes, i.e., as far away from Central Europe as possible. At the same time, he manipulated Anglo-Russian rivalry in Asia to achieve various foreign policy goals that would further German interests. This article explores in detail all of these objectives, as well as their interrelationship. In particular, it unravels the perplexing mystery of how Bismarck was able to influence the politics of Central Asia from his distant headquarters in Berlin.