Paul von Hindenburg Biography and Timeline

Prewar Military Career

Retires three years before his wartime recall.

Retirement from Army

Leaves active military service after commanding an army corps.

Battle of Vistula River

General Nikolai Ruzsky, commander of the Russian Northwest Front, brings up significant reinforcement against the Ninth Army, att this time Hindenburg learned of a planned Russian offensive into Silesia from a captured Russian soldier

Role range: 1914-1918

Ninth Army

General Nikolai Ruzsky, commander of the Russian Northwest Front, brings up significant reinforcement against the Ninth Army, att this time Hindenburg learned of a planned Russian offensive into Silesia from a captured Russian soldier

Role range: 1914-1918

Battle of Vistula River

The Germans were unfamiliar with the land and unable to bring sufficient reinforcements to the Ninth Army, allowing Ruzsky to concentrate his front against Mackensen. On October 17, Hindenburg orders a retreat, and by the 31st the battle is over

Role range: 1914-1918

Ninth Army

The Germans were unfamiliar with the land and unable to bring sufficient reinforcements to the Ninth Army, allowing Ruzsky to concentrate his front against Mackensen. On October 17, Hindenburg orders a retreat, and by the 31st the battle is over

Role range: 1914-1918

Siege of Warsaw

The Germans were unfamiliar with the land and unable to bring sufficient reinforcements to the Ninth Army, allowing Ruzsky to concentrate his front against Mackensen. On October 17, Hindenburg orders a retreat, and by the 31st the battle is over

Role range: 1914-1918

Battle of Lodz

Hindenburg had intercepted Russian reports of the proposed invasion into Silesia, and sees an opportunity to repeat his crushing victory at the Battle of Tannenberg, by hitting the Russian flank at Lodz as it moves into Silesia.

Role range: 1914-1918

Battle of Lodz

Hindenburg moves the German Ninth Army, under General August von Mackensen, to the Polish sector.

Role range: 1914-1918

Battle of Lodz

Pressure on Lodz continues until December but the Germans are unable to break the Russian lines, short on ammunition, the Russians withdraw to form a new and stronger line closer to Warsaw.

Role range: 1914-1918

Invasion of Silesia

Hindenburg had intercepted Russian reports of the proposed invasion into Silesia, and sees an opportunity to repeat his crushing victory at the Battle of Tannenberg, by hitting the Russian flank at Lodz as it moves into Silesia

Role range: 1914-1918

Ninth Army

Hindenburg moves the German Ninth Army, under General August von Mackensen, to the Polish sector

Role range: 1914-1918

Battle of Lodz

The Russians had repulsed the Germans and saved Warsaw, which had been the objective of the original German offensive, the Germans, for their part, had caused the Russians to abandon their offensive into Silesia

Role range: 1914-1918

Invasion of Silesia

The Russians had repulsed the Germans and saved Warsaw, which had been the objective of the original German offensive, the Germans, for their part, had caused the Russians to abandon their offensive into Silesia

Role range: 1914-1918

Siege of Warsaw

The Russians had repulsed the Germans and saved Warsaw, which had been the objective of the original German offensive, the Germans, for their part, had caused the Russians to abandon their offensive into Silesia

Role range: 1914-1918

German Retreat to the Hindenburg Line

Supports the withdrawal to a shorter defensive line known to the Allies as the Hindenburg Line.

Role range: 1914-1918

Kerensky Offensive

Oversees German strategic support for the counterattack.

Role range: 1914-1918 – 1916-1919

German Presidency Reviews Locarno Agreements

Hindenburg reviews the Locarno settlement as the government prepares the agreements for parliamentary approval.

Role range: 1919-1933 – 1925-1934

Appointment of Hitler

Appoints Adolf Hitler Chancellor at the head of a Nazi DNVP coalition, ending the last Weimar attempt to contain the Nazi movement through conservative cabinet politics.

Role range: 1919-1933 – 1925-1934

Dissolution of Reichstag

Dissolves the Reichstag after Hitler requests a new election intended to strengthen the Nazi-led coalition.

Role range: 1919-1933 – 1925-1934

Decree for Protection of German People

Signs a decree restricting press freedom and public meetings, giving the Government more power over election campaigning.

Role range: 1919-1933 – 1925-1934

Reichstag Fire Decree

Signs the Reichstag Fire Decree, suspending civil liberties and permitting detention without normal constitutional protection.

Role range: 1919-1933 – 1925-1934

Day of Potsdam

Attends the Potsdam ceremony with Hitler, symbolising conservative acceptance of the new Nazi-led Government.

Role range: 1919-1933 – 1925-1934

Enabling Act

Signs the Enabling Act after the Reichstag vote, allowing Hitler's cabinet to enact laws without Reichstag approval.

Role range: 1919-1933 – 1925-1934