Erich von Ludendorf Biography

Birth of Erich von Ludendorf

Apointed German Army Staff Officer

Appointed head of the Mobilization Section, becoming Moltkes closest adviser

The Russians lose 92,000 compared to 13,000 Germans. Ludendorf & Hindenberg outflank & defeat the Russian Second Army

Ludendorf commands the 14th Infantry Brigade in Liege & accepts its surrender. Ludendorf calls up the zeppelins to drop bombs into the city and citadel, and personally leads 14th Brigade in between the forts into the city, forcing the Belgian garrison there to surrender

Ludendorf commands the 14th Infantry Brigade in Liege & accepts its surrender. Ludendorf calls up the zeppelins to drop bombs into the city and citadel, and personally leads 14th Brigade in between the forts into the city, forcing the Belgian garrison there to surrender

Ludendorf calls up the zeppelins to drop bombs into the city and citadel, and personally leads 14th Brigade in between the forts into the city, forcing the Belgian garrison there to surrender

The last of the forts surrounding Liege surrenders to Ludendorfs forces. The forts around Liege are finally taken

The forts around Liege are finally taken

The forts around Liege are finally taken

The German Second Army, together with First and 3rd Armies, began to implement the next stage of the Schlieffen Plan, embarking upon a wide sweeping wheel movement through Belgium, forcing the Belgian army back to Antwerp

The German Second Army, together with First and 3rd Armies, began to implement the next stage of the Schlieffen Plan, embarking upon a wide sweeping wheel movement through Belgium, forcing the Belgian army back to Antwerp

The German Second Army, together with First and 3rd Armies, began to implement the next stage of the Schlieffen Plan, embarking upon a wide sweeping wheel movement through Belgium, forcing the Belgian army back to Antwerp

The German Second Army, together with First and 3rd Armies, began to implement the next stage of the Schlieffen Plan, embarking upon a wide sweeping wheel movement through Belgium, forcing the Belgian army back to Antwerp

The German Second Army, together with First and 3rd Armies, began to implement the next stage of the Schlieffen Plan, embarking upon a wide sweeping wheel movement through Belgium, forcing the Belgian army back to Antwerp

Brussels is captured without resistance by General von Kluck of the First Army

Brussels is captured without resistance by General von Kluck of the First Army

Brussels is captured without resistance by General von Kluck of the First Army

Brussels is captured without resistance by General von Kluck of the First Army

Ludendorff and Hindenburg become the leaders of the military-industrial dictatorship 3rd Supreme Command

Ludendorff supports unrestricted submarine warfare and successfully puts pressure on Kaiser Wilhelm II to dismiss those in the armed forces that favour a negotiated peace settlement

Hindenburg appoints Ludendorff as his Quartermaster General

Hindenburg appoints Ludendorff as his Quartermaster General

Ludendorff supports unrestricted submarine warfare and successfully puts pressure on Kaiser Wilhelm II to dismiss those in the armed forces that favour a negotiated peace settlement

Ludendorff and Hindenburg become the leaders of the military-industrial dictatorship 3rd Supreme Command

Ludendorff and Hindenburg become the leaders of the military-industrial dictatorship 3rd Supreme Command

Paul von Hindenburg replaces Erich von Falkenhayn as Chief of Staff of the German Army

Paul von Hindenburg replaces Erich von Falkenhayn as Chief of Staff of the German Army

After the withdrawal of Russia from the war in Ludendorff is a key figure in the Brest Litovsk negotiations

Ludendorff becomes the dominant figure in the 3rd Supreme Command and after the resignation of Theobald Bethmann Hollweg takes political, military and economic control of Germany

Ludendorff becomes the dominant figure in the 3rd Supreme Command and after the resignation of Theobald Bethmann Hollweg takes political, military and economic control of Germany

Ludendorff becomes the dominant figure in the 3rd Supreme Command and after the resignation of Theobald Bethmann Hollweg takes political, military and economic control of Germany

Victory enables the German March offensive on the Western Front. Bombards Caporetto & crosses the River Isonzo. 300,000 Italians are taken prisoner

Bombards Caporetto & crosses the River Isonzo

Ludendorf crosses the River Isonzo

Convenes a General Staff Meeting to consider an offensive in the west

A surprise British tank attack.

During the battle casualties were high, the Germans suffered losses of approximately 50,000 and the British 45,000.

Orders an immediate counter-attack only to discover that reserves could not be brought forward for a further two days, at one stage he even contemplates a general withdrawal from the Cambrai front.

Within hours the lightly defended Germans are forced back 6 km to Cambrai, the three trench systems of the Hindenburg Line pierced for the first time in the war.

Within hours the lightly defended Germans are forced back 6 km to Cambrai, the three trench systems of the Hindenburg Line pierced for the first time in the war

Within hours the lightly defended Germans are forced back 6 km to Cambrai, the three trench systems of the Hindenburg Line pierced for the first time in the war

A German counter-offensive wipes out British gains

Ludendorfs 2nd council of war

After signing the Armistice, Ludendorff fled to Sweden where his books and article claim that the unbeaten German Army had been "stabbed in the back" by left-wing politicians in Germany

After signing the Armistice, Ludendorff fled to Sweden where his books and article claim that the unbeaten German Army had been "stabbed in the back" by left-wing politicians in Germany

With the Spring Offensive Ludendorff expects to breakthrough on the Western Front but this ends in failure & Ludendorff realises that Germany will lose the war

After signing the Armistice, Ludendorff fled to Sweden where his books and article claim that the unbeaten German Army had been "stabbed in the back" by left-wing politicians in Germany

With the Spring Offensive Ludendorff expects to breakthrough on the Western Front but this ends in failure & Ludendorff realises that Germany will lose the war

Ludendorf decides on a spring offensive

Launches a German counter-attack to within 75 miles of Paris

Ludendorf orders operation Georgette in 10 days time

The German 8th Army heads towards Amiens

Launches a counter-attack in the Lys-Aisne sector, April-May

Ludendorff finalises the Flanders offensive intended to seize key railways and threaten the Channel ports.

The German push for Amiens is halted

1st day of the Battle of Lys, part of Operation Georgette

Ludendorff launches Operation Georgette against British and Portuguese positions in the Flanders sector.

1st day of the Battle of Lys, part of Operation Georgette

German forces seize Kemmel Hill but fail to convert the gain into a decisive breakthrough in Flanders.

Ludendorf orders the Aisne attack to divert the French reserves so that the BEF can be struck again in Flanders

Ludendorf orders the Aisne attack to divert the French reserves so that the BEF can be struck again in Flanders

The Germans reach Meuse at Chateau-Thierry within 40 miles of Paris

1st day of 3rd Ludendorf offensive, Battle of the Aisne

1st day of 3rd Ludendorf offensive, Battle of the Aisne

The German advance on Paris is stopped

June-July, launches a counter-attack in the Noyon-Marne sector

The German advance on Paris is stopped

Final day of 3rd Ludendorf offensive, Battle of the Aisne

Final day of 3rd Ludendorf offensive, Battle of the Aisne

Americans attack German positions

If the Germans could make progress in the centre sector here, the indented Front Line of the bulge between these two salients could be straightened out. 1st day of 4th Ludendorf offensive, Battle of Matz

The German plan was to push the German Front Line westwards in the sector between two salients; the northern salient had been formed from the fighting towards Amiens and the southern one at the end of the previous German offensive in the Aisne sector.

The Noyon-Montdidier Offensive known in the German plan by its code-name of Operation Gneisenau (9th - Thirteenth June 1918). Also known as the Battle of Matz it was the fourth German offensive launched in 1918.

The Noyon-Montdidier Offensive known in the German plan by its code-name of Operation Gneisenau (9th - Thirteenth June 1918). Also known as the Battle of Matz it was the fourth German offensive launched in 1918

If the Germans could make progress in the centre sector here, the indented Front Line of the bulge between these two salients could be straightened out. 1st day of 4th Ludendorf offensive, Battle of Matz

The German plan was to push the German Front Line westwards in the sector between two salients; the northern salient had been formed from the fighting towards Amiens and the southern one at the end of the previous German offensive in the Aisne sector.

The Noyon-Montdidier Offensive known in the German plan by its code-name of Operation Gneisenau (9th - Thirteenth June 1918). Also known as the Battle of Matz it was the fourth German offensive launched in 1918.

Although the Germans made progress on the first day, the French organized a counter-attack on 11th June

The last German position is taken

The Germans halt their offensive

The Germans halt their offensive

Final day of 4th Ludendorf offensive, Battle of Matz

Final day of 4th Ludendorf offensive, Battle of Matz

The German advance on Paris is turned back, Bellau Wood is secured by the Allies

The Marne Offensive (15th July - 5th August 1918) became the last German offensive of the war. It was intended as a diversionary attack either side of Reims to cross the river Marne and draw the Allied reserves away from Flanders, where Ludendorff was planning to make another offensive to break through the Allied line once and for all

Ludendorff throws 35 Divisions across the Marne to encircle Reims. Final thrust of the Spring Offensive. 1st day of 5th Ludendorf offensive, Battle of the Marne

Launched against US & French divisions from east of the Reims to the Marne

This record states: It was intended as a diversionary attack either side of Reims to cross the river Marne and draw the Allied reserves away from Flanders.

This record states: The German attack east of Reims was blocked by the French defence on the first day.

This record states: The Marne Offensive (15th July - 5th August 1918) became the last German offensive of the war.

This record states: The attack west of Reims did succeed in crossing the Marne river.

This record states: Where Ludendorff was planning to make another offensive to break through the Allied line once and for all.

1st day of 5th Ludendorf offensive, Battle of the Marne

Ludendorff throws 35 Divisions across the Marne to encircle Reims

Final day of 5th Ludendorf offensive, Battle of the Marne

Final day of 5th Ludendorf offensive, Battle of the Marne

The Allies counter-attack capturing 12,000 PoWs, 250 guns & 14 German divisions. German forces south of the River Marne are forced to rereat

On 18th July an Allied counter-attack, comprising French, British, American and Italian troops, pushed the German forces back

1st day of the Allied "100 Days" offensives which lead to the Armistice

The British 9th Division recaptures Meteren

The British 9th Division recaptures Meteren

The Germans retreat 5 miles as the French reach the Lassery-Chateau-Thierry Road

The Allies cross the Marne near Dormans. Ludendorf orders the southern salient to be abandoned

The British recapture Marfaux

A French & British force advances 2 miles toward the Avre Valley

The British recapture Marfaux

The Second Armys failure to secure the fall of Amiens (in particular the critically important railway junction) in the centre of the German line compromised the whole of Ludendorffs planned advance

Soissons is re-captured on 2nd August and the Germans withdrew to entrenched positions on a line along the Vesle and Aisne rivers. As a result of the defeat of this German offensive the proposed German offensive in Flanders was called off

As a result of the defeat of this German offensive the proposed German offensive in Flanders was called off.

Soissons is re-captured on 2nd August and the Germans withdrew to entrenched positions on a line along the Vesle and Aisne rivers.

This record states: This retreat and defeat, the last in a series of offensives which each ended in an unsuccessful strategic conclusion, marked the beginning of the gradual retreat of the German forces which.

This record states: was to come over the following months to 11th November 1918.

The British counter-attack of 8 August at the Battle of Amiens is spectacularly successful, and amounts to what Ludendorff termed "the black day of the German Army"

Directs the German forces during the Battle of Bapaume

The Allies drive the Germans back & capture the Arras-Bapaume Road

The 2nd Australian Div captures Mont St Quentin & removes a central German strongpoint

The 2nd Australian Div captures Peronne

Badens Government is strong enough to force Ludendorffs resignation

Badens Government is strong enough to force Ludendorffs resignation

The German military leadership presses the civilian government to seek an immediate peace settlement.

Ludendorf cables the Government to transmit a peace offer wihout further delay

The Germans retreat across the Meuse

Final day of the Allied "100 Days" offensives which lead to the Armistice

Publication of "My War Memories, 1914-1918"

Arrested for his part in the Munich Beer Hall putsch

Proposes the march through Munich which gives the NAZIs their 1st martyrs, 14 killed. Arrives in the Burgerbraukeller in support of the putsch to take control of the Army

Ludendorf is acquitted for his part played in the Munich Beer Hall putsch

Ludendorf is acquitted for his part played in the Munich Beer Hall putsch

Death of Erich von Ludendorf