Paul von Hindenburg
Paul Ludwig Hans Anton von Beneckendorff und von Hindenburg entered the world on the 2nd of October 1847 in Posen, Kingdom of Prussia. He was born into a family of minor Prussian nobility known as junkers. His father served as an infantry officer and retired with the rank of major. The family maintained a dual surname to secure inheritance rights from their ancestors dating back to 1289. At age 11, Paul attended the Cadet Corps School at Wahlstatt. He transferred to Berlin at 16 and became a page to Queen Victoria's widow at 18. He joined the Third Regiment of Foot Guards as a second lieutenant after graduation. During the Austro-Prussian War of 1866, he wrote home expressing joy about war being the normal state for soldiers. A bullet pierced his helmet during the Battle of Königgrätz and creased his skull. He wrapped his head in a towel and resumed leading his detachment. This action earned him a decoration. Later in the Franco-Prussian War, his regiment attacked Saint Privat near Metz under heavy fire. Four hours of marching led to four hundred guns and 1096 casualties for his unit. He witnessed the proclamation of the German Empire at the Palace of Versailles on the 18th of January 1871.
Hindenburg returned to active duty when World War I broke out in July 1914. On the 22nd of August, he assumed command of the Eighth Army in East Prussia with General Erich Ludendorff as chief of staff. The Russian Second Army advanced from the south toward the Vistula River while the First Army moved from the north. Hindenburg authorized Ludendorff to shift most forces south to attack the exposed left flank of the advancing Russians. On the night of the 25th of August, he told his staff that preparations were well in hand so they could sleep soundly. The resulting Battle of Tannenberg destroyed the Russian Second Army. Nine thousand two hundred Russians were captured along with four hundred guns. German casualties numbered only 14,000. British field marshal Edmund Ironside called it the greatest defeat suffered by any combatant during the war. Hindenburg named the battle after a historical site where Teutonic Knights had been defeated in 1410 even though fighting occurred elsewhere. Two columns drove east from breakthrough points to pocket the Russians led by General Paul von Rennenkampf. In six weeks, Russia lost more than 310,000 men. Eight hundred thousand refugees returned to their homes in East Prussia. On the 1st of November 1914, Hindenburg was promoted to field marshal and named commander of all German forces in the East.
By 1916, Hindenburg replaced General Erich von Falkenhayn as Chief of the Great General Staff. He and Ludendorff took advantage of Emperor Wilhelm II's delegation of authority to establish a de facto military dictatorship known as the Third OHL. Ludendorff demanded joint responsibility for all decisions while Hindenburg did not demur. They visited the Western Front in September meeting Crown Prince Rupprecht of Bavaria and Albrecht Duke of Württemberg. Both crown princes received field marshal batons. The Supreme Army Command issued a Textbook of Defensive Warfare recommending fewer defenders in front lines. Mobile defense tactics were implemented with eight-man units under non-commissioned officers. Headquarters routine began at 09:00 when they discussed reports. Ludendorff gave assignments to staff of about 40 officers while Hindenburg walked or chatted with guests. Dinner at 20:00 included generals, politicians, industrialists, and scientists. At 21:30 Ludendorff announced time was up before returning to work. Until the end of the war this arrangement formed the basis of their leadership. The British intelligence chief wrote that poor old Hindenburg was sixty-four years old and would not do very much.
The Third OHL set ambitious benchmarks for arms production in what became known as the Hindenburg Programme. Major goals included new light machine guns updated artillery and motor transport but no tanks because they considered them too vulnerable. The army released one million men for total war. All German men and women from 15 to 60 were enrolled for national service. Universities except medical training were closed so empty places would not be filled by women. Contraceptives were banned and bachelors taxed to swell the next generation of soldiers. A Polish army being formed excluded Jews from its ranks. By the second quarter of 1917, they assembled 680,000 more men in 53 new divisions. Field guns increased from 5,300 to 6,700 while heavies rose from 3,700 to 4,340. Germany waged unrestricted submarine warfare on allied shipping claiming it would defeat Britain in six months. On the 9th of January the chancellor bowed to their unsound military judgments. In March 1917 revolution erupted in Russia shunning opportunity for the Central Powers. They stayed put fearing invaders would resurrect heroic resistance of 1812.
On the 8th of August the British completely surprised Germans with a well-coordinated attack at Amiens breaking well into German lines. Some commanders surrendered units while reserves arriving at the front were taunted for prolonging the war. Ludendorff called Amiens the black day in history of the German Army. On the 29th of September Hindenburg and Ludendorff told the Kaiser that the war was lost requiring an immediate armistice. Prince Maximilian of Baden opened negotiations with President Woodrow Wilson who dealt only with democratic Germany. The Kaiser refused to abdicate until Admiral Franz von Hipper and Admiral Reinhard Scheer made plans to dispatch the Imperial Fleet against Britain. Sailors in Kiel mutinied setting up workers' and soldiers' councils spreading across Germany. On the 8th of November Hindenburg met with 39 regimental officers at Spa answering questions about troop loyalty. Groener asked officers if troops would follow the Kaiser and answers proved decisive. The army would not follow him. Wilhelm agreed to abdicate without doing so publicly. Prince Max announced the Kaiser's abdication and his own resignation making Friedrich Ebert the new chancellor. That evening Groener telephoned Ebert promising support including military force against revolutionaries on left.
Hindenburg retired to Hanover on the 25th of June 1919 settling into a splendid villa gifted by the city despite having lost greatest war in history. In 1925 he returned to public life becoming second elected president of Weimar Republic. He opposed Hitler and Nazi Party yet played major role in instability resulting in their rise to power. After twice dissolving Reichstag in 1932, Hindenburg agreed in January 1933 to appoint Hitler as chancellor in coalition with German National People's Party. Following February 1933 Reichstag fire, Hindenburg approved Reichstag Fire Decree suspending civil liberties. He signed Enabling Act of 1933 giving Nazi regime emergency powers. After Hindenburg died following year Hitler combined presidency with chancellery before declaring himself Führer of Germany. This transformed country into totalitarian dictatorship. His death occurred on the 2nd of August 1934 ending his tenure that began in 1925.
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Common questions
When was Paul von Hindenburg born and where did he enter the world?
Paul Ludwig Hans Anton von Beneckendorff und von Hindenburg entered the world on the 2nd of October 1847 in Posen, Kingdom of Prussia. He was born into a family of minor Prussian nobility known as junkers.
What happened to Paul von Hindenburg during the Battle of Königgrätz in 1866?
A bullet pierced his helmet during the Battle of Königgrätz and creased his skull while he led his detachment. He wrapped his head in a towel and resumed leading his unit which earned him a decoration.
How many Russian soldiers were captured during the Battle of Tannenberg commanded by Paul von Hindenburg?
Nine thousand two hundred Russians were captured along with four hundred guns during the resulting Battle of Tannenberg. German casualties numbered only 14,000 while Russia lost more than 310,000 men in six weeks.
Why did Paul von Hindenburg agree to appoint Adolf Hitler as chancellor in January 1933?
After twice dissolving Reichstag in 1932, Paul von Hindenburg agreed in January 1933 to appoint Hitler as chancellor in coalition with German National People's Party. This decision followed instability that resulted in their rise to power despite his opposition to the Nazi Party.
When did Paul von Hindenburg die and what was the result of his death for Germany?
His death occurred on the 2nd of August 1934 ending his tenure that began in 1925. Following this event Hitler combined presidency with chancellery before declaring himself Führer of Germany which transformed the country into totalitarian dictatorship.