Paul Ludwig Hans von Hindenburg Biography

Appointed Member of General Staff

Retires from active service as a General

Appointed Field Marshal & Commander of the German armies in the east. Appointed Commander of the Army in East Prussia

Appointed Field Marshal & Commander of the German armies in the east. Appointed Commander of the Army in East Prussia

Hindenburg drives Samsonovs army back to Hohenstein

Later gives him Hindenburg & Ludendorf a legendary status during the Weimar Republic. Decisive victory against Russia in east Prussia

Gathers a force 100,000 against the threat posed by Samsonov & Rennekamps armies

Only 60,000 Russian troops escape. Hindenburg takes 90,000 prisoners & several hundred guns

Hindenburg defeats Samsonov & turns on Rennenkampf who retreats to the Niemen River

Hindenburg reaches the Vistula

The Germans advance on Warsaw but retreat a week later

The Russians regroup, counterattack & recapture Augustov & move into East Prussia

The Russians regroup, counterattack & recapture Augustov & move into East Prussia

The completion of a fortified German Defence line across North Eastern France. Named after the Field Marshal

The Hindenburg Program is the name given to a series of initiatives that attempted to reorganize Germany's war effort around the concept of total war. The High Command issues a program to direct the war economy. Makes war work compulsory for every male aged 17-60. Issues instructions for annexation, mobilization & the auxiliary service law

Appointed Chief of Staff

Appointed Chief of Staff

Issues the operaion Michael order

60 infantry divisions move up to the front

1st day of Operation Michael

General rertreat of 1/2 the British Expeditionary Force to the Somme

General rertreat of 1/2 the British Expeditionary Force to the Somme

Albert is captured by the Germans during Operation Michael

Bapaume is captured by the Germans during Operation Michael

Albert is captured by the Germans during Operation Michael

Bapaume is captured by the Germans during Operation Michael

1st day of the Mars offensive on Arras

Appointed Commander in Chief

Appointed Commander in Chief

Appointed President of Germany, 1st term

Appointed President of Germany, 2nd term

Wins 49.6% to Hitler's 30.1% of votes during the 1st round of the elections

2nd round presidential elections, wins 53% to Hitler's 36.8%

Appoints Hitler as Chancellor

Allows Hitler to use emergency powers under Article 48 of the Weimar Constitution

Persuaded by Hitler to suspend civil liberties because of a communist threat

Decides to appoint Hitler as Chancellor to prevent a Communist revolution

Death of Paul Ludwig Hans von Hindenburg