Who's Who - Max von Gallwitz
Max von Gallwitz (1852-1937) served as
a General of Artillery in the German army during the First World War, having
started the war as commander of an independent cavalry corps on the Western
Front for the siege of
Namur in
August.
By the end of the month however he was transferred to join
Hindenburg and
Ludendorff's
Eighth Army on the Eastern Front.
In 1915 Gallwitz was appointed commander of Army Group Gallwitz, which
incorporated his former corps, and was later renamed Twelfth Army. During
this period Gallwitz was awarded the
Pour le Merite, Germany's highest
honour, for outstanding leadership and distinguished military planning
during the successful offensive against Russian forces in Galicia, and for
the capture of the Russian fortress at Pultusk as well as the heavily
fortified position at Narev. Gallwitz was also awarded the Oakleaves
following Twelfth Army's successful operations in several further
engagements with the Russians during the summer 1915 campaign in the East.
In the autumn of 1915 Gallwitz commanded Eleventh Army for the German
invasion of Serbia, taking over from Mackensen. In March 1916 Gallwitz
returned to the Western Front, this time to
Verdun,
thereafter commanding Second Army during the British offensive at the
Somme in
the summer of 1916.
Switching commands again in August 1916 Gallwitz was given charge of Fifth
Army, a position he held until 1918, during which time he was called upon to
defend against the U.S.-French advance into the St. Mihiel salient, as well
as playing a minor role at
Third Ypres. In the closing months of the war Gallwitz commanded Army Group Gallwitz
sited at Verdun.
Having retired from the army in December 1918, Gallwitz served as a deputy
for the National People's Party in the Berlin Reichstag from 1920-24.
Considered a competent, efficient commander, Max von Gallwitz died in
Breslau in 1937.
Click here to read Gallwitz's account of the Battle of St Mihiel in September 1918.
Photograph submitted by Jonathan Viser
The "linseed lancers" was the Anzac nickname assigned to members of the Australian Field Ambulance.
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