The purpose of the research is to analyze and estimate the view of Russia entertained by three key members of the German political and military elite, head of the German Imperial Government Chancellor Otto von Bismarck, chiefs of the Imperial General Staff Helmut von Moltke the Elder and Alfred von Waldersee, and the impact of their reasoning on Berlin’s policies with regard to the Russian Empire in 1871—1890. The author concludes that they saw Russia as an unpredictable, internally unstable state, a source of constant threat to Germany’s military security. Their ideas reflected the world outlook and stereotypes, interests and desires of the German ruling elite, which had a decisive influence on the Russia foreign policy line in the German Empire.