Hans von Seeckt

Background

Seeckt was born in Schleswig on 22 April 1866 into an old Pomeranian family that had been ennobled in the eighteenth century. His father was an important general within the German Army. Seeckt joined the Army in 1885, served in the elite Kaiser Alexander Guard Grenadiers, and joined the Prussian General Staff in 1897.

First World War

In 1913 he became Chief of Staff of the III Corps. During the First World War, he served as chief of staff for Ewald von Lochow in the German III Corps, then was transferred to the Eastern front in March 1915 to serve as chief of staff to General August von Mackensen. He played a major role in planning and executing the Gorlice–Tarnów Offensive and operations in Serbia. He was promoted to colonel on 27 January 1915.

In June 1915 he was promoted to the rank of Generalmajor. He later served as chief of staff for the Austro-Hungarian 7th Army and for Army Group commanded by Archduke Karl. In 1917 he was sent to the Ottoman Empire as Chief of Staff of the Ottoman Army.

Seeckt supported the Committee of Union and Progress and argued that actions against Armenians were necessary to save Turkey from 'internal decay'. After the Ottoman defeat, he helped organize the escape of the Three Pashas and returned to Germany in November 1918. During the Weimar Republic he was chief of staff for the Reichswehr from 1919 to 1920 and commander in chief of the German Army from 1920 until he resigned in October 1926. He engaged in reorganization of the army and laid the foundation for doctrine, tactics, organization, and training.

Opposition to the Weimar republic and Kapp Putsch

He undertook programs to get around military limitations imposed by the Treaty of Versailles. He served as a member of parliament from 1930 to 1932. From 1933 to 1935 he was repeatedly in China as a military consultant to Chiang Kai-shek in his war against the Chinese Communists and was directly responsible for devising the encirclement campaigns that resulted in victories against the Chinese Red Army and forced Mao Zedong into the Long March. A large military barracks in Celle was built in 1935 and named after von Seeckt.

Did You Know?

• Seeckt was promoted to Generalmajor in June 1915, not on 27 January 1916 as sometimes claimed.
• The saying spread through the German army: 'Where Mackensen is, Seeckt is; where Seeckt is, victory is.'
• Seeckt received the Pour le Mérite with Oak Leaves for his achievements in World War I.
• After World War II, the barracks named after Seeckt was renamed Trenchard Barracks by BAOR.