| The Prussian Machine - Generals |
Remus von Woyrsch
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Martin Wilhelm Remus von Woyrsch (4.2.1847 - 6.8.1920) place of birth: Pilsnitz bei Breslau (Wroclaw, Lower Silesia) Generalfeldmarschall: 31 December 1917 German Field Marshal and Dr.Phil. h.c. from Silesia who saw action in the wars of 1866 and 1870-71 and was recalled from retirement in 1914 to command the Landwehr Corps on the Eastern Front. His forces were attached to the Austro-Hungarian Army for a short time before becoming part of Army Detachment Woyrsch in Silesia. He remained on the Eastern Front in Poland until the war's end, commanding Army Group Woyrsch (1916-17). Later promoted to field marshal before retirement at the age of 70. Awarded the Pour le Merite in 1914 for successful operations conducted in Galicia. He was a member of an old Southern Bohemia family, the son of Karl Wilhelm von Woyrsch and the former Cäcilie von Websky. Born and raised just outside of modern-day Wroclaw, Poland, Woyrsch enlisted in the Potsdam Guards in April 1866. Just eight weeks into his enlistment, the still teenaged Remus found himself in the middle of the Austro-Prussian War. As a Fähnrich in his Guard Regiment, young Remus was credited with saving the life of the Prince Anton von Hohenzollern who had been seriously wounded on the battle field at Königgrätz. As Remus was tending to the Prince's wounds, both were captured by the Austrians, the Prince having told von Woyrsch to not resist and thereby avoiding any senseless bloodshed. The particular scene has been captured in bronze relief at the Siegesäule in Berlin. During the soon to follow Franco-Prussian War of 1870-71, Woyrsch was wounded at Saint Privat, as was his compatriot the future Army commander Friedrich von Scholtz. For his efforts, he received the Iron Cross and was put in charge of a company within the 1st Guards Regiment following war's end. During this time, he instructed the future Kaiser, Prince Wilhelm, in field operations. Woyrsch retired from the military after having risen to corps level commander, but was reactivated prior to mobilization. He was promoted to field marshal by the end of 1917, largely due to his leadership in fighting the Russians during the Brussilov Offensive of 1916. In addition to his Iron Cross, von Woyrsch was also awarded the Pour le Merite with oakleaves and the Order of the Black Eagle. After the cease of hostilities in November 1918, von Woyrsch retired to Schloß Pilsnitz in his Silesian homeland, where he died on 6 August 1920 at the age of 73. He had been married to the former Thekla von Massow for 43 years. His nephew Udo von Woyrsch was an S.S. member and Nazi Police Commander during World War Two. |
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