Hans Johann Karl Hermann von Gronau  
(06.12.1850 - 22.02.1940)
place of birth:  Alt-Schadow, Beeskow-Storkow  (Brandenburg)
Königreich Preußen:  General der Artillerie


Imperial German General of Artillery Hans von Gronau was brought out of retirement to command at the corps level during the Great War. His father Johann was a senior official in the Royal Prussian forestry service. Hans was married to Luise nee Gerischer; their eldest son Wolfang was a renowned pilot circumnavigated the world in 1932. General von Gronau served during the pre-War years as Governor General of Fortress Thorn, retiring from active duty in 1911.

As the German Army mobilized in 1914, General von Gronau came out of retirement to command IV. Reserve Corps, part of General von Kluck's First Army during the invasion of Belgium and France. Placed on von Kluck's extreme right flank during the early September 1914 advance on the Marne, von Gronau was concerned about reports of strong enemy forces on his right and attacked in that direction; there he encountered elements of the French Sixth Army to begin the Battle of the Marne. Generaloberst von Kluck sent one corps to join Gronau's forces and then wheeled the whole First Army to attack. Gronau's enterprising and decisive leadership saved First Army from encirclement and allowed the German Army to withdraw northwards in relative good order.

General von Gronau was dispatched to the Eastern Front in September 1915 to head up XXXXI. Reserve Corps. Headquartered at Pinsk, von Gronau's troops secured the German-held sector of the Pripyat Swampland of modern-day Belarus' until early 1918. In February, he lead his Armeeabteilung Gronau into Ukraine to secure the area from a perceived Bolshevik threat. Following skirmishes in the area south of Minsk, Armeeabteilung Gronau was disbanded and once again became XXXXI. Reserve Corps. General von Gronau remained at his Pinsk headquarters until recalled to Brandenburg an der Havel in February 1919 for the demobilization of his corps. Von Gronau lived in retirement until passing away at the age 89.

	General der Artillerie ......	02.09.1914
	Pour le Mérite ....................	14.10.1916  (Eichenlaub:  06.08.1918)