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     Max von Gallwitz    





Max Karl Wilhelm von Gallwitz  
(2.5.1852 - 18.4.1937)
place of birth:  Breslau, Niederschlesien  (Wroclaw, Poland)


Artillery officer who was born a commoner. At war's outbreak, he commanded an independent cavalry corps (three divisions) on Germany's right flank during the invasion of Belgium. Later commanded the Twelfth Army (1915) on the Eastern Front and was then sent south to command the Eleventh Army (1915-16), during which time his forces, under General von Mackensen, helped conquer Serbia. 

He led Army Group Gallwitz during the Somme Offensive of 1916 and also commanded Second Army (1916) and Fifth Army (1916-18) when he repelled the American thrust into the St. Mihiel salient, likewise facing the Americans in the Meuse-Argonne. He also commanded Army Group Gallwitz (1918) in the Verdun sector. The Silesian general was awarded the Pour le Merite in 1915 for
distinguished service against Russian forces in Galicia. Von Gallwitz counseled vigorously against armistice, preferring a national rally in defense of the homeland. After war, served in Reichstag as deputy for the German National People's Party (1920-24). He died on 18 April 1937 in Naples, Italy.



"Nowhere else have I seen such brave lions being led by such lambs."

                                                            Commander Max von Gallwitz
                                                * regarding British soldiers at the Somme - June 1916
    


 
Assignments and Commands  (pre-War)
13.08.1870 Franco-Prussian War - 1870/71  with 9. Artillerie-Brigade
09.03.1871 Fähnrich
09.03.1872 Leutnant
26.10.1872 Feld-Artillerie-Regiment ,,GFM Graf Waldersee” (Schleswigsches) Nr. 9 - Rendsburg
01.10.1877 Preußische Kriegsakademie - Berlin
02.07.1880 Feld-Artillerie-Regiment ,,GFM Graf Waldersee” (Schleswigsches) Nr. 9 - Rendsburg
03.03.1881 Oberleutnant
11.07.1882 11. Feld-Artillerie-Brigade - Kassel  (Adjutant)
21.04.1883 Großer Generalstab - Berlin
15.10.1885 Hauptmann
14.12.1886 II. Armeekorps - Stettin  (General Staff)
13.10.1887 Preußisches Kriegsministerium - Berlin  (Cavalry Section)
16.01.1890 1. Nassauisches Feld-Artillerie-Regiment Nr. 27 Oranien - Mainz  (Bty Cdr)
23.05.1890 Major
22.03.1891 9. Infanterie-Division - Glogau  (General Staff)
15.07.1893 VII. Armeekorps - Münster  (General Staff)
18.10.1895 1. Kurhessisches Feld-Artillerie-Regiment Nr. 11 - Kassel  (Bn Cdr)
12.09.1896 Oberstleutnant
17.06.1897 Preußisches Kriegsministerium - Berlin  (Chief of Field Artillery Section A4)
25.03.1899 Oberst
01.10.1899 5. Badisches Feld-Artillerie-Regiment Nr. 76 - Karlsruhe  (Cdr)
18.05.1901 29. Feld-Artillerie-Brigade - Karlsruhe  (Cdr)
18.10.1902 Generalmajor
27.01.1903 Preußisches Kriegsministerium - Berlin  (Chief of Army Administration Department)
03.10.1906 15. Infanterie-Division - Köln  (Cdr)
16.10.1906 Generalleutnant
03.04.1911 General-Inspektion der Feldartillerie - Berlin  (Inspector General of Artillery)
04.04.1911 General der Artillerie
   
Assignments and Commands  (during Great War)
02.08.1914 Garde-Reservekorps  =  2. Armee
09.02.1915 Armeegruppe Gallwitz
07.08.1915 12. Armee
23.09.1915 11. Armee     (replaced Mackensen)
19.07.1916 2. Armee     (replaced Fritz von Below)
19.07.1916 Heeresgruppe Gallwitz - Somme     (concurrent with above)
17.12.1916 5. Armee     (replaced Lochow)
01.01.1918 Heeresgruppe Gallwitz - Verdun     (concurrent with above)
   
Pour le Merite:  24 July 1915  (Oakleaves: 17 April 1917)
à la suite:  Feld-Artillerie-Regiment Nr. 76 - 27.11.1915
highest rank:  General der Artillerie





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