German World War I Lieutenant General. He joined the Prussian Army in 1885 and became career officer with the artillery. At the start of the World War I, he was a colonel in the Oberste Heeresleitung (OHL) in Koblenz, where he led the operations section which coordinated the German military battle strategy. In September 1914 he reported from a tour of inspection at the front that the French were too exhausted to begin an offensive, that a final push would be decisive and that more withdrawals would compromise the morale of the German troops, after their defeat at the 1st Battle of the Marne. In March 1915 he served as chief of staff of the 7th Army under General Josias von Heeringen, but soon returned to OHL. Several months later, he was promoted to the rank of major general. He was awarded the German Pour le Merite in September 1915 and the following year he was awarded the corresponding Oak Leaves. He was then transferred out of OHL and became chief of staff to Army Group Mackensen on the Romanian front. In December 1916 he became commander of the 5th Ersatz Division. From September 1917 until the Armistice, he commanded the 15th Infantry Division. In 1920 he authored "Bis zur Marne 1914: Beiträge zur Beurteilung der Kriegführen bis zum Abschluss der Marne-Schlacht" (Until the Marne 1914: Contributions to the Assessment of Warfare Until the Conclusion of the Marne Battle). He died at the age of 86.
German World War I Lieutenant General. He joined the Prussian Army in 1885 and became career officer with the artillery. At the start of the World War I, he was a colonel in the Oberste Heeresleitung (OHL) in Koblenz, where he led the operations section which coordinated the German military battle strategy. In September 1914 he reported from a tour of inspection at the front that the French were too exhausted to begin an offensive, that a final push would be decisive and that more withdrawals would compromise the morale of the German troops, after their defeat at the 1st Battle of the Marne. In March 1915 he served as chief of staff of the 7th Army under General Josias von Heeringen, but soon returned to OHL. Several months later, he was promoted to the rank of major general. He was awarded the German Pour le Merite in September 1915 and the following year he was awarded the corresponding Oak Leaves. He was then transferred out of OHL and became chief of staff to Army Group Mackensen on the Romanian front. In December 1916 he became commander of the 5th Ersatz Division. From September 1917 until the Armistice, he commanded the 15th Infantry Division. In 1920 he authored "Bis zur Marne 1914: Beiträge zur Beurteilung der Kriegführen bis zum Abschluss der Marne-Schlacht" (Until the Marne 1914: Contributions to the Assessment of Warfare Until the Conclusion of the Marne Battle). He died at the age of 86.
Bio by: William Bjornstad
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