Hermann von Eichhorn

Eichhorn was born in Breslau in the Province of Silesia (now Wrocław in Poland). His father Karl Friedrich Hermann Eichhorn (1813-1892) was a politician. Both of his grandfathers were notable politicians.[1] He joined the Prussian Army in 1866, and took part in the Austro-Prussian War of 1866,[2] and in the Franco-Prussian War of 1870-1871. He won the Iron Cross second class during the Franco-Prussian War.[3] He rose through the ranks of the Prussian Army, being appointed chief of the staff of the VI Army Corps at Breslau in 1897,[2] commanding the 9th Division from 1901 to 1904 and the XVIII Army Corps from 1904 to 1912.[4] In 1912 he took command of the 7th Army Inspection, the peacetime headquarters for the Imperial German XVI, XVIII, and XXI Army Corps.[5]

At the outbreak of World War I, Eichhorn was incapacitated in consequence of an accident in May 1914, but was able to play a part in the Battle of Soissons in 1915.[2] He became the commanding general of the 10th Army on 21 January 1915, and commanded it until 5 March 1918.[6] This Army engaged in the great battle of the Masurian Lakes in East Prussia in February 1915. In August, he took Kovno and afterwards the fortresses of Grodno and Olita, and continued his advance into Russia.[2] He received the Pour le Mérite on 18 August 1915 and the oak leaves to the Pour le Mérite on 28 September 1915.[7] On 30 July 1916, while remaining in command of the 10th Army, Eichhorn became supreme commander of Army Group Eichhorn (Heeresgruppe Eichhorn) based around 10th Army, which he would command until 31 March 1918.[8] On 18 December 1917, Eichhorn was promoted to Generalfeldmarschall. On 3 April 1918, Field Marshal von Eichhorn became supreme commander of Army Group Kyiv (Heeresgruppe Kiew) and simultaneously military governor of Ukraine.[9]

Grave of Hermann von Eichhorn (1918) in the Invalidenfriedhof, Berlin

Eichhorn was assassinated in Kyiv by a member of the Russian Party of Left Socialist-Revolutionaries, Boris Donskoy, threw a bomb at the carriage carrying Field Marshal. He is buried in the Invalidenfriedhof in Berlin.

• Iron Cross
  • 2nd Class (1871)
  • Oak Leaves (1895)
  • Clasp (1915)
  • 1st Class
• Order of Saint Stanislaus (Russian Empire), 3rd Class (31 August 1871)
• Prussian Order of the Crown, 1st Class (17 January 1904)
• Order of Philip the Magnanimous, Grand Cross with Crown (8 September 1905)[10]
• Order of the Red Eagle, Grand Cross with Oak Leaves (20 August 1907)
• Ludwig Order, Grand Cross (15 September 1912)[10]
• Pour le Mérite (18 August 1915), with Oak Leaves (28 September 1915)
• Military Order of St. Henry, Commander 2nd Class (25 October 1916)

He was also awarded an honorary doctorate from the University of Berlin on 18 February 1918.

Wilhelm II, German Emperor, decreed that one of the eight towers of Malbork Castle (Ordensburg Marienburg of the Teutonic Order) should be named after him. Eichhornstraße in the Marzahn-Hellersdorf district of Berlin was named after him during his lifetime.

• Photo of Eichhorn and his adjutant
• Newspaper clippings about Hermann von Eichhorn in the 20th Century Press Archives of the ZBW