Hans von Zwehl

Last updated
Johann Hans von Zwehl
Zwehl.jpg
Born(1851-07-27)27 July 1851
Osterode am Harz,
Kingdom of Hannover
Died28 May 1926(1926-05-28) (aged 74)
Berlin, Weimar Republic
AllegianceFlag of Prussia (1892-1918).svg  Prussia
Flag of the German Empire.svg  German Empire
Service/branchWar Ensign of Prussia (1816).svg  Prussian Army
War Ensign of Germany 1903-1918.svg  Imperial German Army
Years of service1870–1909, 1914-1918
Rank General der Infanterie
Commands held
Battles/wars Franco-Prussian War
World War I
Awards Pour le Mérite with oak leaves

Johann Hans von Zwehl was a Prussian officer who was involved in Franco-Prussian War and World War I. During the latter he served as commander of the VII Reserve Corps.

Contents

Life

Johann Hans von Zwehl was born in 1851. He joined the military in 1870 and participated in the Franco-Prussian War where he received the Iron Cross (2nd Class). After the war he stayed in the military and rose through the ranks. In 1899 he became an Oberst and three years later was named commander of 30th Infantry Brigade. In 1902 he was promoted to Generalmajor. Four years later, he became Generalleutnant and commander of the 13th Division. He retired from the army in 1909. [1]

Von Zwehl was brought out of his retirement when World War I began and was assigned to lead the VII Reserve Corps, which was part of the 2nd Army. He was involved in, and eventually led, the Siege of Maubeuge. He received the French surrender and was awarded with the prestigious Pour le Mérite on 8 September 1914. [2] In September 1915 his corps was transferred to the 5th Army and was deployed in the Battle of Verdun. It suffered serious losses throughout the year-long campaign, and von Zwehl was released from command in December. He served as Military Governor of Antwerp until the end of the war. He also received the oak leaves of the Pour le Merite on 8 September 1917. On 25 November 1918, Zwehl retired from the army. [2] Von Zwehl wrote about military history and continued to write after the war, also being Erich von Falkenhayn's authorized biographer. He died in 1926. [1]

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References

  1. 1 2 "Hans von Zwehl". prussianmachine.com. Retrieved 2021-12-12.
  2. 1 2 Brazier, Kevin (2013-08-19). The Complete Blue Max: A Chronological Record of the Holders of the Pour le Mérite, Prussia's Highest Military Order, from 1740 to 1918. Casemate Publishers. ISBN   978-1-78383-057-2.
Military offices
Preceded by
New Formation
Commander, VII Reserve Corps
2 August 1914 – 17 December 1916
Succeeded by