| The Prussian Machine - Generals |
Hermann von Francois
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Hermann Karl Bruno von François (31.1.1856 - 15.5.1933) place of birth: Luxembourg General of infantry who prior to the war (1903-04), had served as Hindenburg's chief of general staff with IV. Army Corps in Magdeburg. Young Hermann launched his military career in 1874 as a Leibpage for Kaiser Wilhelm I. In August 1914, forty years later, the short-statured but highly energetic von François was in command of the I. Corps (attached to Hindenburg's Eighth Army) on the Eastern Front, playing a major role in German engagements at Gumbinnen, Tannenberg, and Masurian Lakes. He briefly commanded the Eighth Army later that same year, fighting off the second Russian invasion. Von François was promoted to command XXXXI. Reserve Corps and transferred in early 1915 to the Picardy region of France. Later, as commander of VII. Army Corps, he returned to the Eastern Front where he was awarded the Pour le Merite for distinguished service at Gorlice-Tarnow. Following the war, von François wrote several notable books, including Marneschlacht und Tannenberg, and was Dr. phil. h.c. at the University of Tübingen.
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