Hermann von François

Hermann von François (born the January 31st 1856 with Luxembourg - deceased the May 15th 1933). German soldier.

Beginnings

Born on January 31st, 1856 with Luxembourg from a noble family Huguenot you, Von François was the son of Bruno François. This last, general Prussian ordering the 27e brigade of infantry of Prussia, was killed with the combat at the time of the Battle of Spicheren on August 6th, 1870, a few days before the Bataille of Sedan.

Hermann von François became lieutenant of Ier Régiment of guards to foot based with Potsdam in 1875. From 1884 to 1887, it enters to the Military academy of Berlin. In 1889, it receives the rank of captain and joined the German Staff.

With the beginning of the year 1890, von François is staff officer in XVe Army corps. It is promoted Major in 1894 and is transferred to the 8th Division with Mannheim. In 1899, von François is the Chief of Staff of IVe Army corps ordered then by Paul von Hindenburg and based with Magdeburg.

In 1908, von François is promoted Major general and order the Brigade of Hesse. In 1911, it obtains the rank of general lieutenant and takes the head of the 13th Division until he becomes Général of Infantry and which it orders the IE Army corps within VIIIe Armée based with Königsberg.

First World War

When the war bursts, von Francois, based in Prussia-Eastern, order always the IE Body of VIIIe Armée. It is held to defend the sector of a Russian aggression against the city-key of Königsberg. It clash with the Russian IE Armed ordered by Pavel Rennenkampf. August 17th von François is forced with the retirement by Prittwitz. However he refuses by having this famous sentence: " The General von François will withdraw himself when it beats the Russians! " He counter-attacked at the time of the Bataille of Stalluponen and gained the victory by inflicting severe losses with the enemy (5000) and by making 3000 prisoners.

After the victory, von François obeys Prittwitz and folds up 15 kilometers in the west more where it will fight Rennenkampf at the time of the Bataille of Gumbinnen three days later.

von François and its army are conveyed by train in south-west to counter Russian IIe Armée which is under the command of the general Alexander Samsonov. Although it did not obtain the confidence of Paul von Hindenburg and Erich Ludendorff because of its disobedience, von François played a decisive part at the time of the Bataille of Tannenberg. August 27th, von François attacks Samsonov and takes an advantage. Ludendorff intimates the order to him to be folded up. Von François is unaware of this order by twice and plays a decisive part during the surrounding and the defeat of Samsonov.

When Hindenburg and Ludendorff went in the south to take the head of IXe Armée, von François remained with his Body in Prussia Orientale and continued the war successfully. When the General von Schubert, the new one ordering of VIIIe Armée orders to him to be withdrawn, von François sends a telegram to the High command of the Army describing its success and affirming that the commander is badly advised. The telegram impressed the Emperor as well as last von Schubert was raised of its functions and gave the command of VIIIe Armée to von François. When Hindenburg and Ludendorff prepared their counter-attack of Thorn towards Lodz, von François was reticent to send Ier Corps and sent to the place XXVe Corps of reserve made up soldiers badly trained and badly equipped. In November 1914, von François is dislocated command and replaced by Otto von Below.

After being put on side one moment, von François receives the command of XLIe Corps of reserve until the end of the war. It receives the medal For the Merit, the highest military distinction German in May 1915 for its action at the time of the opening of Gorlice, the sheets of oaks to him are given in June 1917 for its role at the time of the Bataille of Verdun.

After the war, it started to write several works of military history of which Marneschlacht und Tannenberg in 1920 which gained one big hit in Germany.

Bonds Internet

Hermann von François

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