hermann von fran ç ois charlotte daman willems (german general) “[i] will withdraw when [i have]...
TRANSCRIPT
Hermann von François
Charlotte Daman Willems
(German General)
“[I] will withdraw when [I have] defeated the Russians!"
In brief, the Early Years
• Born: January 31, 1856 (Luxembourg)
• Son of Prussian general and commander
• Attended Military Academy of Berlin 1884-1887
Important Military Positions
• 1889 --> Captain• 1894 --> Major (Mannheim)• 1899 --> Chief of Staff
(commanded by Hindenburg)• 1908 --> General-Major• 1911 --> General-Lieutenant• Late 1911 --> General of Infantry
– (Eighth Army, Corps I)
Tasks of the Eighth Army
Stationed in Königsberg:•defend easternmost regions of East Prussia against Russian attack
Königsberg,
now called
Kaliningrad
• to hold out against Russian forces until France was defeated (in accordance with Schlieffen Plan)
• to wait for reinforcement from Western Front
Russian Attack(August 17, 1914)
• Led by Russian General Pavel Rennenkampf
• Russian First Army (200,000 men)
• German Eighth Army (150,000)
Russian Attack(August 17, 1914)
Hermann von François:• Immediately ordered to retreat by
General Maximilian von Prittwitz
• Refused to surrender “his” beloved Prussia
Result of Battle:Russia:
(Rennenkampf):• 5,000 Casualties• 3,000 taken
prisoner by Germany
---• Retreated further
back to Russia
Germany:(von Francois):
• 1,200 Casualties---
• Listened to von Prittwitz and
retreated 15 miles west to
Gumbinnen
Battle of Gumbinnen
• Between Russia (Rennenkampf) and Germany (von Francois) once again
(Francois’s aggressiveness stopped von Prittwitz to retreat and give up!)
RESULT: Both retreated
Due to these “successes”...
• von Prittwitz lost his nerve and was “dismissed”
• von Francois’ Corps was transferred to the southwest to confront the Second Russian Army (Samsonov)
• von Francois was not trusted by any other German military leaders
Battle of Tannenberg
August 27, 1914:• Hermann von Francois’ army attack
Samsonov’s from the front and quickly advance to the rear (against Ludendorff’s orders)
• von Francois is ordered to retreat (by Ludendorff!) but... refuses. (What a surprise...)
• von Francois’ army encircles Samsonov’s army and decisively defeat it.
(Hindenberg and Ludendorff usually receive credit for this victory!)
Result of Battle:Russia:
• 30,000 casualties• 95,000 prisonersJust 10,000
escaped! (out of 150,000)
Samsonov shot himself after this battle out of fear for Tsar Nicholas.
Germany:• less than 20,000
casualties• 0 prisoners
• Gained 500 guns
- Hindenburg and Ludendorff left to lead the 9th army in
Poland- von Francois remained in East
Prussia
First Battle of Lakes (In Brief)
• Eighth Army led by von Francois had quick success
• von Francois was ordered by von Schubert to retreat but...
First Battle of Masurian
Lakes (In Brief)• Eighth Army led by von Francois
had quick success• von Francois was ordered by von
Schubert to retreat but...of course, refused.
• Instead, sent a telegram to the Kaiser stating that:
"the Commander is badly counselled!"
Result:Kaiser so impressed that von Schubert is immediately “dismissed” and von Francois is given command of
Eighth Army.
Unfortunately... (for him)
• October 1914: von Francois refused to send his Corps (Corps I) and instead sent badly trained and equipped Reserve Corps!
• November 1914: von Francois is replaced by General Otto von Below
Post-Dismissal
• von Francois briefly spent time on the Western Front as commander of a Reserve Corps– partook in the “Battle of Verdun”
• Received the highest military distinction for his performance during the Battle of Verdun (Pour le Merité)