Paul von Hindenburg - SpeedyLook encyclopedia

First steps with the service of the Prussian army (1847-1866)

The heir to Prussian an aristocrat family

Paul von Hindenburg is born in Posen (today Poznan) in Eastern Prussia, with 7 rue Bergstrasse with 15:00. His/her father Robert von Beneckendorff von Hindenburg (1816-1902), is soldier since 1832 and at this time he exerts as lieutenant of the 18th regiment of infantry with Posen. He is the downward one of an aristocratic family which has grounds in Prussia since several generations. His/her large paternal parents are Otto Ludwig von Beneckendorff von Hindenburg (1778-1855) and Eleonore von Brederlow which make of him the illegitimate descendant of the count Henri VI of Waldeck. As for his/her mother, Luise Wilhelmine Schwickart (1807-1893) it is painter and commoner. Karl Ludwig Schwickart the maternal grandfather of Paul von Hindenburg is doctor-colonel of the Prussian army.

Robert and Luise marry in 1845. Four children are born from this union: Paul (1847-1934), Otto (1849-1908), Ida (1851-?) and Bernhard (1859-?). The family often moves with the liking of the changes of the father: Posen, Graudenz (today Grudziadz) then Cologne. The best memory of Paul von Hindenburg is the Pinne passage close to Posen. In 1850 his father is promoted there captain, it directs a company of men during four years. Hindenburg remembers even in its Mémoires its instituor, Herr Kobelt. In 1855 the family moves in Silesia with Glogau (today Glogow).

Formation at the military academy (1859-1866)

After elementary studies, the young boy incorporates the college and the college of Posen. As from 1859, it joined the military academy of Wahlstatt ( Wahlstätter Kadettehause , today Legnickie). Hindenburg describes the scene in its Mémoires :

" One evening of spring 1859 like an eleven year old boy, to the grids of the boarding school of the Juniors with Wahlstatt, I said to my father " Good-bye! " To be soldier was for me an obviousness (...). The service of weapon for the king and the fatherland was an old tradition in the family "

It also draws the picture of a severe education, with the image of that which the soldiers in barracks know carrying out a life of " spartiate". The permissions are rare and short.

" I remained all the night in the part and I was afraid (...). We did not have a supper. I found like linen only three clean handkerchiefs and some underclothing. This night I could not sleep, because the bugs bit me terribly . "

With the beginning of the year 1861, his/her Otto brother joined it in Wahlstatt and it is Paul who is in load of his education. During spring 1863, a new change of the father seems to take along the two brothers on the side of the Lichterfelde to Berlin. Located on Friedrichstrasse near Alexanderplatz, it is a new world for Hindenburg. Paul tells that the military parades on Opernplatz as those of autumn on Tempelhofer have nothing to do with the rural school. He can also see here new king de Prusse: Guillaume Ier. In 1864, more the former students of the school are sent to the face during the Guerre of the Duchies against the Denmark. Hindeburg testifies:

" Myself I was too young years to belong to these lucky. The comrades knew the desire that they got to us, this cannot describe themselves. "

In 1865, Hindenburg has the privilege to be named officially Page of the queen Elisabeth of Bavaria, widow of Frederic-Guillaume IV the late king of Prussia. Then, it leaves second lieutenant the military academy of 18 years old Berlin on April 7th, 1866.

The participation in the war austro-Prussian (be 1866)

During spring 1866, the Hindenburg second lieutenant incorporates the 3rd Regiment of the guards in foot with Dantzig. Since the War of the Duchies (1864), Prussia and the Austria dispute the direction of the province of the Holstein. Hindenburg, like much soldiers, feels the close war:

" Politiquement we included/understood the need for a decision for being able between Austria and us Prussia since the two powers were with equal footings and any peaceful measurement was not possible. None of both not wanting to yield, only the weapons could speak (...). "

Thus on June 19th, 1866, Prussia declares the war in Austria. The regiment of Hindenburg is incorporated in the Second Prussian Army directed by Kronprinz Frederic. The regiment takes part inter alia in the combat of Rosberitz and Königgrätz. The Hindenburg second lieutenant remembers:

" the enemies penetrated on all the sides on us to take the village (...). Each one pricks and draws around itself as much as it can it (...). Its gold watch Woyrsch Marshal is given to me to prevent that it does not fall into the hands from the plunderers. Soon we run the danger to be crossed. Since a side lane behind us, one hears the enemy drums (...). A thatched roof and bars extreme caused smoke and we escape thanks to this protection on a height from the North-East from the village. "

During the battle of Sadowa the next on July 3rd, Hindenburg seizes pieces of artillery and it is distinguished several times for its courage. During this day, it seems that he lost half of his men.

" It was a proud feeling, when I found myself breathing and wounded slightly with the head but in possession of the conquered guns! "

The conflict represents with the Crimean War one of the first modern wars where one distinguishes the operation from massive armies, the generalization of the firearms and logistics (train and telegraph). July 6th its regiment exceeds the Elba and the armistice is signed the 22 following. On the way of the return it meets his father with Prague which is then active officer among Knights of Midsummer's Day within a military hospital. September 20th, 1866, the regiment of Hindenburg, greeted by crowd, returns to Berlin. Its commander of battalion, von Seel, gives to him on Floraplatz, the Roten Adlerorden (the red Eagle) 4th class. He writes:

" With all those which returned justice in an impartial way, belonged before all my lieutenant Hindenburg who, in spite of his young age, had a great responsibility and gave the example to his comrades . " (The commander of battalion von Seel).

A long career of senior officer (1866-1911)

Its participation in the war free-Prussian (1870-1871)

Until 1870, Hindenburg is sent in garrison to Hanover where it is in charge of the teaching of the recruits. At the same time, one knows that he knows its first love. It is certain Irmengarde von Rappard to which it becomes engaged a few months later. During spring 1870 relations enveniment between France and Prussia. The war ends up bursting on July 19th. Lieutenant Hindenburg is called with the weapons it is 23 years old.

He incorporates the 1st Battalion under the command of von Seegensberg. August 17th its battalion is established in Lorraine, with Pont-à-Mousson then it continues its walk towards the west towards Hattonville (Meuse).

" relatively short walk up to that point, was tiring. Since the day before one had not had, in extreme heat, of provisioning and insufficiently of water. I had on the occasion to visit fall it from a cousin fallen into the 2nd Regiment from the Dragons to March-the-Turn (...). I saw here lines of dead soldiers to the combat, as much Prussians that French. A fatal fight had taken place . "

The regiment takes a north-north-east direction in direction of Saint-Privat. Hindenburg and its men arrive near the enemy. The lieutenant testifies:

" On the heights of Amanvillers until Saint-Privat rises heavy powder clouds. Several enemy lines of artillery and infantry are there in height. Their fire is especially directed on IXe Corps (...). To avoid the frontal shock we circumvented towards north towards Holy-Marie-with-Oaks. The village is then attacked by before guard of our division (...). After the catch of Holy-Marie-with-Oaks, we rested . "

The situation becomes increasingly critical and the war is shown increasingly fatal. Many soldiers as of the officers lose the life there. The regiment of Hindenburg arrive at Saint-Privat.

" lieutenant von Feldhoff of the 1st Regiment of the guard is killed close to me. His/her father, commander of this same regiment had fallen in 1866 in Königgrätz also not far from me… (...) My commander goes up with me ahead to recognize the ground and to indicate to the battalion the direction of walk. During this time, shots draw in our direction. We must continue. We succeed in crossing the road . "

August 30th, 1870, the battle of Beaumont tests its regiment hard. The body of the guard forms the most septentrional part and most exposed to the army of the marshal Patrice of Mac-Mahon. However, the French Army is quickly exceeded. Napoleon III is captured with Sedan. Hindenburg delivers its opinion on the French defeat:

" I believe still today that France had a failure in its resistance what is mainly the cause of this failure. "

September 3rd, its regiment leaves the battle field for Paris. Lieutenant Hindenburg with the order to remain on the spot until mid-January 1871. The evening of January 16th it takes part in the proclamation of the German Empire in the Château of Versailles. Convinced Prussian it keeps a bitter feeling of it. Following its active participation with the conflict it is decorated with the Croix of Iron 2nd Class ( Eiserner Kreuzes ).

Training of the officer von Hindenburg (1872-1879)

After the conflict free-Prussian, lieutenant von Hindenburg is of return in his garrison of Hanover. It is a general-purpose officer who continues teaching with the recruits. April 13rd, 1872 it obtains the first promotion of rank. At the time already, the ultimate goal of a German officer is to incorporate the Academy of War ( Kriegsacademie ) which allows the accession the general Staff. Hindenburg makes a success of the examination of entry at the School of War of Berlin in 1875. During the first year, the 27 year old officer is disappointed by a teaching which studies only the traditional and old tactics armies. Moreover, its interest is shown growing when the following years, the professors introduce the modern weapons and tactics. During its formation, Hindenburg belongs to the promotion of the prince Alexandre of Prussia and it with opportunity of crossing many senior officers.

To spring 1877, it goes back to Hanover where it is incorporated in the large Staff. July 9th, 1878, it is transferred to the Staff of IIe Army corps of Stettin (today Szczecin in Poland) where it is named captain. It is with Königsberg (today Kaliningrad, in Russia) which it makes the knowledge of Gertrud Wilhelmine von Sperling (1860-1921), the girl of the general von Sperling who was the chief of general Staff of the Life Army corps in the 1866 then Anger Armed in 1870. They marry on September 24th, 1879, four children are born from this union: Irmengarde (1880), a son died in low age (between 1881 and 1882), Oskar Wilhelm (1883-1960) and Annemarie (1891).

The entry with the large Staff (1880-1894)

May 5th, 1881, it is transferred as a staff officer to the 1st division of Königsberg. During three year, the captain von Hindenburg acquires a pointed and strategic knowledge of Eastern Prussia and border region with Russia. Of return in its native province, it stresses that the contact with the troop is closer than elsewhere. It is told that he is a severe officer but just with the head of his company. Spring 1884 at the summer 1885, it is called as commander of company in IIIe Régiment of infantry of Posen.

The dedication for Hindenburg arrived. It is transferred within the general Staff in Berlin on July 14th, 1885. It is named commander and is found directly under the orders of the old Marshal Helmuth von Moltke. This last, victorious of the war of the Duchies, Sadowa and the war free-Prussian, required her retirement for a long time but the emperor Guillaume Ier always refused to him. Hindenburg is pointed out by von Moltke which does not fail to touch of them some words with a Swedish officer in displacement in Berlin:

" Hindenburg has a self-confidence so colossal that he does not want absolutely to fold his own will and to carry out only its projects. For my part I notice that all that Hindenburg takes in hand passes very well, therefore I let it make. However, it is not sure that my successor takes into account these same considerations. " (H. von Moltke, C. 1887-1888).

January 1st, 1887, like wants it the German military tradition, it is its direct superior, the head of department of the large Staff, the colonel Alfred von Schlieffen who draws up a report/ratio on Hindenburg:

" the commander von Hindenburg is a splendid staff officer which pointed out itself for an interest animated for the service, the mobile phone activity and thus he encourages the young officers. It serious and energetic is equipped from a precise and fast point of view. Its activities are completely adequate . " (A. von Schlieffen, 01-01-1887).

The Marshal Alfred von Waldersee, who succeeds von Moltke with the head of the general Staff, is not long in adding his opinion:

" Of agreement. The commander von Hindenburg is a very able staff officer and it is appropriate to the chief of general Staff already. " (A. von Waldersee, 1888).

During the autumn 1888, ordering it Paul von Hindenburg is transferred to IIIe Army corps of the general Staff. In parallel, it gives conferences and courses of tactic military to the Academy of War. In next November it is named secretary with the ministry for the War before becoming later chief of the service Kriegsdepartments two years. February 14th, 1891 it is promoted lieutenant-colonel.

Hindenburg is named with the head of a regiment of infantry with Oldenburg during the summer 1893. This responsibility marks it deeply:

" the position of commander of regiment is most beautiful in the army. The education of the officers, by work and especially through the social relations, the monitoring and the teaching of the troop are the most important tasks. I endeavoured to look after the chivalrous direction in my battalions, the moderation of the war and the discipline. In spite of that I always had a great joy in the service. "

Towards the First World War (1894-1919)

The General Kommandierende von Hindenburg (1894-1911)

It is named colonel in March 1894 and continuous to direct the regiment until 1896. On this date it bids its farewell with its regiment more with the manner of a father that of a commander of regiment:

" Musketeers! I returned here to tell you Adieu. I will always remember with joy and pride the honor which I had to find me with the head of this regiment, because you proved that you were brave men soldiers. This spirit of fidelity and obedience, carry it in your native land and then all will be well. Your old commander wishes it to you. " (Colonel von Hindenburg, C. be 1896).

August 14th, 1896, the colonel is indeed transferred to the direction of the general Staff as brigadier general. He incorporates the direction of VIIIe Army corps in Coblentz. In spring 1897 it is promoted major general. Its direct superior is the duke Guillaume de Bade (1829-1897) with whom the relations are so friendly that it ends up being named during the month of July 1900 ordering of the 28e division of Karlsruhe with the rank of lieutenant-general of army. Robert von Hindenburg, the old father of Paul, who rests in the family property of Gut Neudeck, is proud professional rise of his oldest son. He dies in 1902, that is to say nine years after his wife.

January 27th, 1903, the day of the 44e birthday of Kaiser, Hindenburg receives the nomination of general commander of IVe Army corps of Magdeburg ( Kommandierende General ), one of the most important stations of the Prussian army. He is from now on a key character of the army and in particular for the choice and the teaching of the officers. When it finished the review of one of the regiments of IVe Army corps, it with the practice to say to the commander: " They was very well, only the lieutenants could have been merrier! " After eight years of good and faithful services with Magdeburg, it takes its retirement on March 18th, 1911, it is 63 years old.

One does not know the real reasons of the setting in retirement of the general von Hindenburg. In 1909, one had proposed to him the function of Minister for the War, which he refused almost " horrifié" : " I do not want any to discuss in the room with deputies! " In spite of the prestigious position that it acquired, Hindenburg remains a rather simple man: when it spends the night in a hotel it to the practice to sign only " von Hindenburg, officier". In 1920, Paul Lindenberg, his official biographer, written:

" the noise which a tension would have been born between Kaiser and Hindenburg is false because in the operations the soldier always submitted himself to his sovereign. Hindenburg directed only one operation. "

Hindenburg itself adds:

" I had reached a career, better than I had been able to hope for it. The war not being in sight, I recognized the duty to leave my task to young people by asking for my departure in 1911 . "

The victorious entry in the First World War (August 1914 - February 1915)

The Hindenburg couple as their daughter Annemarie junior chose to place in a villa of Hanover of Windekinstrasse. Once per annum, between 1911 and 1914, they travel through Europe, the Alps, Rome… The remainder of time, Hindenburg is devoted to historical studies and it pursues the strategy and the military tactics. Since spring 1914, the general is available but it did not receive for the moment any order of command. August 3rd it sends a bitter safety to its old regiment:

" I cannot prevent myself from saying to the regiment which I could order formerly, my most faithful desires… " (General P. von Hindenburg, 03-08-14).

One afternoon it receives an official telegram which asks to him whether it is available to serve Germany. A few moments later, the personnel manager ( Chief of Stabes ), the general Erich Ludendorff, announces to him that one needs him in VIIIe Armée stationed in Eastern Prussia. The task is difficult, Hindenburg accepts.

Which is the situation in Eastern Prussia? The objective of the Russian Staff is to take the citadel of Königsberg on the Baltic. The Russian Armed Anger and IIe ordered respectively by the generals Paul von Rennenkampf and Alexandre Samsonov demolish VIIIe Armée German, then directed by the general Maximilian von Prittwitz with Gumbinnen on August 20th. The German commander orders the withdrawal of his troops leaving Eastern Prussia to the hands of the Russians. The chief of general Staff, Helmuth von Moltke dismisses von Prittwitz and replaces it by Hindenburg.

the battle of Tannenberg (August 1914)

Hindenburg knows that it is impossible for him and its 200.000 men of VIIIe Armée to face the two Russian armies. It then puts in practice the Schlieffen theory. It disengages a maximum of troops opposite von Rennenkampf and directs them, helped in reinforcement of two army corps coming from the west, towards the men of Samsonov. The relations between the two Russian generals being very tended even non-existent, the two armies are not complementary. VIIIe armed with Hindenburg crushes without difficulty the troops of Samsonov to the Bataille of Tannenberg on August 30th, 1914. This mission being filled successfully, it is enough to take the men of von Rannenkampf out of clipper towards north. August 31st he writes in Kaiser:

" I announce with your Majesty that since yesterday, they Russian all are subjected and the vice was closed again around most of the Russian army: XIIIe, XVe and the XVIIIe Army corps are destroyed. The pieces of artillery are gathered in the forests. The spoils of war were not entered yet but it is extraordinarily important. In the neighborhoods, Ier and the Life Body also suffered terribly. They were put precipitately in retirement towards Mlawa and Myszyniec. " (P. von Hindenburg with Guillaume II, 31-08-14).

battles of the Lakes Mazurie (I) and Lamberg (Sept. 1914)

For his victory, the general von Hindenburg is decorated with the Eisernen Kreuzes " For Mérite" September 2nd. The next September 14th, Hindenburg is once again victorious by crushing Russian Anger Armed with the lakes mazures. Eastern Prussia from now on is released from the Russians but in same time the latter have heavily demolishes the Austrian army of the general Conrad von Hötzendorff with the battle of Lamberg, in Galicie, on September 11th. Hindenburg is named ordering armies of the Eastern face ( Ober-Ost ) on November 1st.

the battle of Lodz (Nov. - DEC. 1914)

Hindenburg and Ludendorff then deviate the road of their troops to lend strong hand to the Austrians. The objective of the German generals is to crush the Russian armies which tighten an opening in Silesia by attacking them on their Western side. Hindenburg knows that its armies are in numerical inferiority compared to the enemies but it must attack quickly. It calls at once the assistance of IXe Armée ordered by the general August von Mackensen. This last is victorious on the Anger Armed with von Rennenkampf then on IIe Armée with Scheidemann which beats retirement towards Lodz. However the Russian reinforcements (Ve Armée with von Plehve) on November 18th start to encircle the men of von Mackensen who escape as by miracle. The Russians ordered by the large-duke Nicolas Nicolaievitch cut off themselves in Lodz: the result is undecided. The Hindenburg November 27th receives the distinction of Generalfeldmarschall .

battles of Bolimov and the Lakes Mazurie (II) (janv. - févr. 1915)

Following this half-failure Hindenburg wants to finish some with the Russian face fixed at Warsaw. It orders once again in IXe Armée with von Mackensen to start an attack of diversion in Bolimov. Its general offensive begins truly on February 7th, 1915: VIIIe and Xe Armed are ready to attack in Mazurie. February 22nd, the offensive is victorious, Russian Xe Armed beats retirement and escapes from little from the total disaster (more than 56.000 dead Russian and 90.000 prisoners). The objective is achieved but Russian XIIe Armée comes to the rescue and allows the end of the German projection on the face of the East. February 23rd the Marshal von Hindenburg is decorated with the Eisernen Kreuzes I. Klass " For Mérite" Eichenlaub put (Iron Cross decorated with sheets of oak).

The appearance on stage of Dioscures (1916-1918)

the battle of Verdun (févr. - DEC. 1916)

With the end of the year 1915, the general Staff, ordered by the general Erich von Falkenhayn, wants to finish some quickly with the French whom it wishes " to bleed with blanc". February 21st, 1916 it launches a great named offensive better known operation Gericht under the name of the Bataille of Verdun. At the beginning of the offensive the German troops face a French resistance keen quickly joined by IIe French Army under the command with the general Philippe Pétain then with Robert Nivelle. In spite of many offensives and enormous means Falkenhayn must wipe a failure with several thousands on dead German side. August 29th, 1916 Kaiser appoints Hindenburg new chief of the general Staff and Ludendorff like first general leading seaman. In spite of their duet, the two men, whom one calls Dioscures, dispute the reins of the capacity.

the Way of the Ladies (April-May 1917)

When Hindenburg and its assistant take again the supreme command of the German army, they know that Germany cannot gain the conflict by a war of attrition. They envisage a new policy then: that of the " ground brûlée" , a massive rearmament ( Rüstungprogramm or programs Hindenburg) and the construction of a vast network of 160 km length trenches strengthened: the Line Hindenburg. April 15th, 1917, the commander of the French Armies, the Nivelle general orders an offensive of 850.000 men which leads the enemy troops to be folded up behind their fortification. But the German soldiers of the second line are embusqués in the slopes of the plate. In spite of two important attacks the French Army loses more than 110.000 men, it is a victory for Ludendorff.

last German offensives (March-juil. 1918)

Since May 1915, Hindenburg completes to neutralize the Russians and the Roumanians on the Eastern face (Galicie). Starting from the autumn 1917, negotiations germano-Soviet envisage a peace treaty between the two countries. March 3rd, 1918, the Traité of Brest-Litovsk makes it possible the German Staff to draw from these troops to bring them on the Western face. Hindenburg orders a succession of victorious offensive operations (Michael, Georgette, Blücher-Yorck, Gneisenau, Marne-Rheims…) ordered by one of the winners of the Lakes Mazurie in 1915, the general Georg von der Marwitz. The Marshal is decorated with the Grosskreuz of Eisernen Kreuzes (Large Cross of the Iron Cross) (March 25th, 1918). However, the German offensive is stopped initially in Picardy starting from April 4th, 1918 by the Australian troops then by the Franco-British armies of the marshal Haig and the general Debeney. In the second time one second German offensive is stopped with the Way of the Ladies (May 1918) then finally a third around Rheims (July 1918). The whole of the counter-offensives is directed by the general Ferdinand Foch. The allied forces reinforced by an American task force at the end of September, strongly make move back the German troops. September 28th, Ludendorff must require of the Hertling chancellor to envisage an armistice. October 10th, the Hindenburg line is seized by the Allies.

Hindenburg with the head of a " dictatorship militaire"

If Hindenburg is present on the army ground, it is manifest that it plays also a great part on the German political scene during the First World War. This role finds its roots in the militarism which, since Frederic II, developed then imposed little by little during Gründerjahren with the figure of Bismarck. The Chief of the Large Staff has great capacities, von Moltke had made the evidence of them. The victory of Hindenburg with Tannenberg reinforced confidence in the victory within the German people. Little by little it acquires one will have phenomenal, it becomes a myth. In 1917, a gigantic statue the representative is inaugurated with Berlin. The statue is 12 meters high and weighs 26 tons. Hindenburg is celebrated with equal of an emperor. Guillaume II loses little by little its influence. This irrefutable fact becomes clear when Ludendorff estimates that the mobilization of the German nation for the effort of war is insufficient and that he proposes the institution of a forced labor: the Vaterländische Hilfsdienst . The chancellor, Bethmann-Hollweg, oppose this measurement. Hindenburg and Ludendorff use then of their capacities to make return the chancellor when this last is opposed to the underwater war with excess. July 13rd, 1917, Bethmann-Hollweg is constrained to resign. Hindenburg and Ludendorff will go even until proposing a new chancellor: Alfred von Tirpitz. The proposal will be isolated with the profit of Georg Michaelis. The Staff incarnated by Hindenburg and Ludendorff grants the prerogatives of the chancellor, they receive even the political parties on July 14th, 1917. One slips little by little of a monarchy to a military dictatorship.

When the course of the war changes into discredit of Germany, the prospect for a Armistice becomes more than possible, it becomes necessary. Ludendorff will write in its memories of war: " should put a term to Us at the war while following the diplomatic channels ". Hindenburg encourages the government to negotiate the armistice, Guillaume II abdicates and exiles himself with the Netherlands. He is signed on November 11th, 1918. Foch represents France and Matthias Erzberger Germany. The fact that it is a civilian who signs the treaty of armistice for Germany is not pain-killer. German propaganda represented the army like an invincible force a long time.

The return of the " winner of Tannenberg" (1919-1934)

The immediate post-war period (1919-1925)

Nothing goes any more between Dioscures, on October 26th Guillaume II convenes Ludendorff and the congédie. Hindenburg does not do anything to retain its assistant of his sides: the war between the two generals is open. Hindenburg organizes as it can it the retirement of the German armies during the month of November 1918. " I died of tiredness " acknowledge it. The military cell (OHL, Oberste Heeresleitung ) which controls Germany since 1916 asks for the formation of a civil government. Friedrich Ebert is named chancellor before becoming the first president of the Weimar Republic on February 11th, 1919. June 25th, Hindenburg leaves the direction of the German Staff and the next on July 3rd it is definitively demobilized.

In spite of the end of the war, the German people continue to cling to the Army and Hindenburg and Ludendorff. It is unthinkable that Germany is demolished and that the prestige of the two generals is sullied. It is necessary to find a scapegoat with the situation: the Weimar Republic, coldly proclaimed. Had been born the Dolchstoßlegende. However the Army is its responsible in the defeat: if the Staff baited itself to want to gain the war militarily, it also worsened the situation. While making return the Bethmann-Hollweg chancellor, the way was free for the underwater war, this same war which caused the entry in war of the the United States, signing the future defeat of Germany.

November 18th, 1919 an investigating committee of the National Assembly of Reich is held with the Reichstag in Berlin to clear up the responsibility for the German dignitaries concerning the defeat for the First World War. Hindenburg and Ludendorff are invited to testify. Follow-up, by Ludendorff, the old Marshal enters the first. The prestige of the two men is such as the room which accommodates the interrogations is full. The national press and international just like the Berliner company and of the surroundings were present. Even if Hindenburg is demobilized, one surrounds it by honors and its seat is decorated with a bouquet of white chrysanthemums in which is tied a black ribbon, white and red.

Hindenburg declares: " the German army received a stab in the back! "

During the interrogation, Hindenburg reads a declaration in which it minimizes even the military weight of Alliés after the entry in war of the the United States, deferring the cause of the defeat on a " decomposition organisée" imperial fleet and army by revolutionary forces. This treason would be due according to him to the workmen and the Socialists. None of the two men evokes that themselves in catastrophe had required the cease-fire, on September 19th, 1918 after the failure of the offensive of summer. After the debates, Hindenburg and Ludendorff are washed of any suspicion and one qualifies even their military action in the west of performance in the world history.

During the beginning of the year 1920, Hindenburg takes its final retirement with his wife in her villa of Hanover. The latter dies on May 14th, 1921 of a badly neat disease. Meanwhile, his/her Oskar son is named general. Between 1921 and 1925, Hindenburg attends the station of cure of Bevensen-Medingen. It drives out in the Bavarian forests and he became an accomplished grandfather.

A president-phantom directed by the Camarilla (1925-1932)

The first president of the Weimar Republic had been elected by the room, but in 1925 the constitution envisages the universal direct suffrage. Erich Ludendorff is presented for NSDAP. Furious, Hindenburg retorts:

" Withdraw your candidature immediately. Instead of you to link, you disperse with the national circles. In this camp your election is desperate. They are ridiculous. Of your fault, the fatherland is in danger. Thus accept the request that I make you (...). " (Letter of P. von Hindenburg with E. Ludendorff, C. March-April 1925).

At the conclusion of the first turn (March 29th), Karl Jarres is at the head with DVP to 38,8% of the votes. Follow, Otto Braun (SPD) to 29,1%, Wilhelm Marx (Zentrum) to 14,5% then Ernst Thälmann (KPD) to 7%. The following candidates carried out unimportant scores following the example Ludendorff with 1,1% of the votes.

the first turn of the German presidential election (March 29th, 1925)

No candidate not gaining the election in the majority absolute, a second turn is held the next on April 26th. Marx becomes the favorite of the election. The conservative right puts side Karl Jarres and called upon Hindenburg. A delegation went to consult it in Hanover in order to replace the candidature of Earthenware jars. Initially old the 77 years old Marshal refuses. After several attempts, the Lord High Admiral Alfred von Tirpitz, officer military of the First World War like him, makes him a last proposal. April 7th, Hindenburg accepts, it is supported by the Reichsblock : it is the whole of conservative right (the NSDAP, the DVP, the DNVP and the BVP). Opposite, the " coalition of Weimar" (SPD, DDP and Zentrum) gets along on the candidature of the ex-chancellor Wilhelm Marx and on that of the Socialist Otto Braun for the post of minister-president de Prusse. Finally Ernst Thälmann (KPD) remains a weak threat.

Everyone abroad thus expected the election of the Marx chancellor, but a new phenomenon intervened in the countryside: the violent reappearance of the denominational factor. “Very quickly the majority of the Protestants rejected the idea of a president of catholic Reich”. Seeing the threat, Marx believed to be defended while being committed showing tolerance, but was to hear the answer: “Did we arrive from There there, us other Protestants, that we must be satisfied to be tolerated in Germany? ”. An analysis of the rural vote shows that the Protestant voters of Otto Braun to the first turn referred in near total on Hindenburg to the second: “It was found unanimism. ”. The result was that on April 27th in the morning, the old marshal who, on paper, practically did not have reserves of voice found elected second president of the Weimar Republic with 48,3% of the voices. April 27th in the morning, Hindenburg is elected second president of the Weimar Republic with 48,3% of the voices. Joseph Goebbels testifies:

" - On April 27th, 1925 - Hindenburg arrives at the goal. Outside in the streets. It is 1 hour of the morning. In front of the BMZ. Last results around 2 a.m. Hindenburg is elected with 900.000 votes in advance on Marx. Interminable transports of delight of the masses: " Long life with Hindenburg! ". The resplendit city of black-white-red. It is a stage towards the final goal. Nothing more and nothing less. How Hindenburg lives! " .

the second turn of the German presidential election (April 27th, 1925)

Hindenburg leaves Hanover for Berlin on May 10th. On Wilhelmstrasse of the thousands of Berliner acclaim the " winner of Tannenberg". At the time of the presidential meal he concludes by:

" the intuitions that I received at the university of the achievement of the duty, with the German Army, must be also useful for my duty of peace (...) " (P. von Hindenburg, 10-05-1925).

A few moments later it makes a short speech with the people:

" One should not even imagine that a party will give me any manner of the instructions, not those which helped me in the electoral competition. However, I tighten the hand with the old adversary which wants to be put with me at work. " (P. von Hindenburg, 10-05-1925).

At the same time, Germany passes through an economic crisis without precedent since 1919 having had its paroxysm in 1923. Not less than five chancellors alternating between Zentrum and the SPD follow one another during the septennate of Hindenburg, often incompetents to rectify the situation of the country.

Hans Luther (no): January 1925 - May 1926
Wilhelm Marx III (Zentrum): May 1926 - December 1926
Wilhelm Marx IV (Zentrum): January 1927 - June 1928
Hermann Müller II (SPD): June 1928 - March 1930
Heinrich Brüning (Zentrum): March 1930 - May 1932

During the first years of being able, the Marshal fills his duties in a great dignity although it is often called Ersatzkaiser (the vice-emperor). It is certain that it would prefer being quietly reprocesses some, but its advisers, that one calls the Camarilla , regularly make pressure on him. Kurt von Schleicher, a friend close to Oscar von Hindenburg, proposes the " mode présidentiel" then based on the 25/48/53 of the Constitution of Weimar:

Article 25: the President can dissolve the Reichstag.
Article 48: it can make vote a law without the assent of the Reichstag.
Article 53: he elects the chancellor of Reich.

The old president does not like this antidemocratic political vision but the Camarilla persuades it.

Between 1928 and 1930, the Nazi party knows a fulgurating rise passing from 2,6 to 18,3%. From now on second party of Germany, Hitler does not need more really the support of Hindenburg:

" - On October 19th, 1929 - is This old Hindenburg ruin defended against article 4? What a error to have made to this man the president of Reich! It blocks all the liberation movement. ".

In January 1930, the old Marshal attacks in Goebbels justice for slanderings in vain. Indeed, in a number of the Angriff (December 29th, 1929) Goebbels had written an article showing Hindenburg to be surrounded by " Jewish advisers and marxistes". Who more is, a caricature of the president of Reich represented it with star of David and a nose " juif".

February 28th, 1930, the deputies of right-hand side refuse to increase the national insurance contributions in a very economically weakened country. Kurt von Schleicher proposes to set up the " mode présidentiel" and 25/48/53. The chancellor Hermann Müller is replaced by Heinrich Brüning in March, which is the first to accept these conditions. However, in its turn in difficulty following the great economic depression of 1929-1930, Brüning is constrained to require of Hindenburg to dissolve the House of Commons to fight against the Socialists and the Nazis (July 1930).

An end-of-life under the yoke of the Nazis (1932-1934)

In October 1931, president Hindenburg meets for the first time the leader Nazi, Adolf Hitler. The interview turns to the disaster: the two men do not get along absolutely. Hindenburg calls it " corporal bohémien" or " corporal autrichien" and Hitler known as of him that it is a " old man fou".

In spite of the efforts of Brüning, the situation of Germany at the time of Hindenburg is still very delicate, unemployment and poverty has been in clear growth for three years then the insecurity reigns everywhere in the country. At the beginning of 1932, the German chancellor does not have from now on any more the support of the social democrats. The very unpopular reforms (purchasing power drops, raises prices and taxes) insulate it on the political scene. In March - April 1932, after seven years of presidential activity the Volksblock , which gathers inter alia Zentrum and the social democrat Party (SPD), called upon the voters to re-elect Paul von Hindenburg, 84 years, the outgoing president. This last, very weakened, does not want any more to be represented but he wants to counter Hitler. It is the Brüning chancellor who makes countryside in his honor.

With the first turn of the poll there are five candidates. Paul von Hindenburg ( Volksblock ), Adolf Hitler (NSDAP), Ernst Thälmann (KPD), Theodor Duesterberg and Gustav A. Winter.

the first turn of the German presidential election (March 13rd, 1932)

the second turn of the German presidential election (April 10th, 1932)

Paul von Hindenburg is re-elected but the Nazi party carries out an enormous opening: from 1,1% in 1925 to 30,1% in 1932 (with the first turns): it is from now on about a partner impossible to circumvent. Hindenburg envisages the resignation of some of its ministers (Wirth and Guérard). May 31st, 1932, in spite of the invaluable assistance of Brüning in its re-election with the presidency, Hindenburg finds it insufficiently flexible and calls with the capacity, under the councils of Schleicher, a monarchist coldly excluded from Zentrum: Franz von Papen. After having formed what is called the " Government of Barons" ( Kabinett DER Baroness ), the new chancellor controls in an authoritative way the country.

Flattering, charmer, monarchist and former officer of the First World War, Papen quickly becomes the preferred chancellor of Hindenburg with depends on Schleicher. The French ambassador in Berlin, André François-Poncet testifies:

" It is him von preferred Papen, the favorite of the Marshal; he diverts the old man by his promptness, his espieglery; he flatters it by showing him respect and devotion. He allures it by his audacity; he is in his Hindenburg eyes the perfect man. "

The Papen chancellor raises the prohibition who weighed since Brüning on SA and the S of Hitler. Vis-a-vis the extreme agitation which reigns in the country, Hindenburg and the chancellor issue the martial Loi; July 14th, Hindenburg names its general Commissaire chancellor of Prussia ( Reichskommissar ) to give the order there. However, incompetent to join together a new coalition, Papen decides a new dissolution of the Reichstag on July 31st: the Nazis obtain 37,2% of the voices (first party of Germany and 230 seats with the Reichstag). Papen and Schleicher hope for their support for the government.

Hitler can potentially be appointed chancellor since it gathers a vast majority with the Reichstag. However, he refuses to be directed by the Camarilla . At the time of a new meeting with Hindenburg it rejects this offer:

" Mr Hitler declared that, for reasons that he explained in detail with the president of Reich this morning, he was out of the question which he takes part in the current government. Considering the importance of the movement national-Socialist, it must ask the totality of the capacity for him and its party (...) " (Declaration of Otto Meissner, 13-08-1932).

In September, the election of Hermann Göring with the presidency of the Reichstag brings a discord between the House of Commons and the Papen government. A last dissolution takes place on November 6th, 1932: the Nazis lose a little ground but they remain a partner impossible to circumvent with 33,1% of the voices (196 seats). Visionary, Hindenburg includes/understands that to name Hitler with the chancellery would bring to a dictatorial State, which it does not wish. Papen resigns in December 1932 following a discord with Schleicher. This last is named chancellor. A few days later, Hindenburg announces:

" Sirs, I hope that you do not return to me responsible to have to appoint this Austrian corporal chancellor of Reich! " (P. von Hindenburg, 26-01-1933).

Papen, Meissner and Oskar Hindenburg persuade the president to dismiss Schleicher and to name Hitler chancellor, an agitator who it will be surely possible to handle. Hindenburg plays against its liking a key role in the takeover ( Machtergreifung ) of the Nazis. At the beginning, only Hitler, Göring and Wilhelm Frick belong to the government. As for Papen, always favorite of the president, it is named vice-chancellor. In February, a law which limits the Freedom of the press is voted. After the Fire of the Reichstag (February 27th, 1933), Hindenburg is constrained to sign the consecutive Ordinance with the fire of the Reichstag (Reichstagsbrandverordnung, February 28th, 1933).

The next March 21st, during the opening ceremony of the new Reichstag, Kroll Opera, the Marshal plays a role-key: the Nazis want to show a continuity between the tradition germano-Prussian and Nazi. Hitler requires of Hindenburg to dissolve the Reichstag in order to make pass the Loi of the full powerss ( Ermächtigungsgesetz , March 23rd, 1933): it obtains more than 37% of the voices. In bad health, the Nazis make sure that it is always accompanied at the time of the official exits by Hitler. This last does not fail as a public to multiply the respect towards the Marshal of the Great War. Actually it is in a hurry which it dies to take all the capacities. During the year 1933, Hitler skilfully tries not to offend president Hindenburg too much. However in April, a major dissension opposes the two men. The Nazis make vote a law which aims to expel all the Jewish civils servant of Reich. Hindenburg refused until one agrees to preserve the Jewish veterans of the First World War.

Erased, relegated more and more to the role of signatures, Paul von Hindenburg dies on August 2nd, 1934 of a Lung cancer in its house of Neudeck in Eastern Prussia at the 86 years age. It is said that its death day before, Hitler came to return visit to a very weakened man who took it for Guillaume II by calling it " Your Majesté". A few days later, a Plébiscite gives to Hitler all the capacities (August 19th, 1934). The political legacy of the Marshal, surely adulterated, warmly thanks the Hitler chancellor for completed work. Paul von Hindenburg is buried against his will with the memorial of Tannenberg at the time of imposing Funérailles (during which the Croix-gammée was absent) to which his/her former Ludendorff colleague refuses to appear in that it calls " this false half-dieu". At the end of the war, because of the Russian advance, the coffin of the old marshal and that of his wife are withdrawn from the Monument of Tannenberg and are placed at Marbourg in the Elisabethkirche where they are still.

Random links:

Television in the United States of America | Equation of Boltzmann | Series 0350 | Assembly (homonymy) | Collector with arc