General Staff Second Section
Develops deployment arrangements for a possible European war.
Role range: 1908-1913
Historical biography archive · Updated 2026-11-03
Erich Ludendorff Biography and Timeline
Follow Erich Ludendorff through 21 dated historical records for Germany.
Erich Ludendorff, historical timeline
A chronological timeline drawn from matching World History Database records.
21Distinct records
1 of 1Page
1911–1918Years on this page
1911
Mobilization Planning
Leads the General Staff section responsible for mobilization planning.
Role range: 1908-1913
1917
German Retreat to the Hindenburg Line
Authorises Operation Alberich to withdraw German forces to the prepared Siegfried defensive system.
Role range: 1914-1918
Operation Alberich
The German withdrawal plan toward the Siegfried Line is accelerated by a preliminary retirement.
Role range: 1914-1918
German Retreat to the Hindenburg Line
The main German withdrawal toward the Hindenburg Line begins after preparations under Operation Alberich.
Role range: 1914-1918
Kerensky Offensive
Organises support for the Central Powers counteroffensive in Galicia.
Role range: 1914-1918 – 1916-1918
Kerensky Offensive
German forces launch the counteroffensive that breaks the Russian line.
Role range: 1914-1918 – 1916-1918
Ypres Defence
Ludendorff manages German defence during Third Ypres.
Role range: 1914-1918 – 1916-1918
Army Morale Crisis
Russian commanders report declining discipline and weakening morale among troops.
Role range: 1914-1918 – 1917-1917
German Counterstroke
German and Austro-Hungarian forces launch their counterstroke.
Role range: 1914-1918 – 1917-1917
German Offensive Response
German forces exploit Russian weakness following the failed attack.
Role range: 1914-1918 – 1917-1917
German Reinforcements
German units reinforce Austro-Hungarian forces during the counteroffensive.
Role range: 1914-1918 – 1917-1917
Kirchbach Defence
Kirchbach directs Austro-Hungarian units during defensive operations.
Role range: 1914-1918 – 1917-1917
Offensive
The Kerensky Offensive ends after the Russian retreat.
Role range: 1914-1918 – 1917-1917
Prime Minister Path
The offensive failure influences Kerensky's rise to prime minister.
Role range: 1914-1918 – 1917-1917
Russian Defeat
The offensive ends with major losses and withdrawal.
Role range: 1914-1918 – 1917-1917
Russian Offensive Failure
The offensive fails to achieve its strategic objectives.
Role range: 1914-1918 – 1917-1917
War Speech
Kerensky appeals to soldiers to continue fighting for revolutionary Russia.
Role range: 1914-1918 – 1917-1917
1918
Spring Offensive
Ludendorff opens the Lys offensive near Ypres.
Role range: 1914-1918 – 1916-1918
Amiens Offensive
Sees the Amiens defeat as a severe blow to German morale and confidence.
Role range: 1914-1918
Battle of Amiens
Recognises the scale of the defeat as German morale and defensive cohesion weaken.
Role range: 1914-1918
Records, sources and methodology
These dates and descriptions come from the historical_events database. Exact duplicate records have been collapsed. Names are grouped by the country, Name 2 and Name 1 fields; records with missing Name 2 cannot be reliably assigned to an individual biography. Check the underlying sources before formal citation.