Hermann von Eichhorn

Hermann von Eichhorn
File:Voneichornhermanngen.jpg Hermann von Eichhorn
Born	(1848-02-13)February 13, 1848 Breslau, Kingdom of Prussia
Died	Kiev, Ukrainian State
Allegiance	German Empire
Service/branch	Army
Years of service	1866 - 1918
Rank	Generalfeldmarschall
Commands held	8th (1st Brandenburg) Life Grenadiers "King Frederick William III" 18th Infantry Brigade 9th Division XVIII Corps 10th Army Heeresgruppe Eichhorn-Wilna Heeresgruppe Eichhorn-Kiev
Battles/wars	Battle of Königgrätz Franco-Prussian War World War I
Awards	Pour le Mérite with Oak Leaves

Grave of Hermann von Eichhorn (1918) on the Invalidenfriedhof Berlin

Hermann Emil Gottfried von Eichhorn (February 13, 1848 – July 30, 1918) was a Prussian officer, later Generalfeldmarschall during World War I. He was a recipient of Pour le Mérite with Oak Leaves.

Biography

Eichhorn was born in Breslau in the Province of Silesia. A veteran of the Austro-Prussian War and the Franco-Prussian War, he had risen through the ranks of the Prussian Army, being appointed chief of the staff of the VI Army Corps at Breslau in 1897, commanding the 9th Division from 1901 to 1904 and the XVIII Army Corps from 1904 to 1912. In 1912 he took command of the 7th Army Inspection, the peacetime headquarters for the Imperial German XVI, XVIII, and XXI Army Corps.

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

He was assassinated in Kiev on July 30, 1918 by Boris Mikhailovich Donskoy of Left Socialist-Revolutionaries. He is buried at the Invaliden Friedhof in Berlin.

Awards

• Order of Saint Stanislaus, 3rd class (31 August 1871)
• Order of the Crown (Prussia), 1st class (17 January 1904)
• Order of Philip the Magnanimous (8 September 1905)
• Order of the Red Eagle Grand Cross with Oak Leaves (20 August 1907)
• Pour le Mérite (18 August 1915) with Oak Leaves (28 September 1915)
• Military Order of St. Henry Commander Second Class (25 October 1916)
• University of Berlin Honorary Doctorate (18 February 1918)

Wilhelm II decreed that one of the eight towers of religious castle Marienburg had to bear his name. According to him Eichhornstraße in Berlin is named in the Marzahn-Hellersdorf.

External links

• Photo of Eichhorn and his adjutant

Military offices
Preceded by New Formation	Commander, 10th Army 26 January 1915-5 March 1918	Succeeded by General der Infanterie Erich von Falkenhayn