Gunther von Etzel
Encyclopedia
Franz Hermann Günther von Etzel (December 14, 1862 – January 21, 1948) was a career soldier and general in the Imperial German Army, active in World War I
.
, Etzel entered the Prussian Army
in 1881. On September 19, 1901, he was promoted to the rank of major and was sent on May 29, 1902 as military attache
to the German Embassy in Tokyo
, Japan
. During the Russo-Japanese War
of 1904-1905, he was embedded within the Imperial Japanese Army
and a official military observor. He remained in Japan as a military attache until 1906.
After his return to Germany, he was promoted to lieutenant colonel on May 18, 1908 and assigned to the Kurmärkische Dragoon Regiment No. 14, a cavalry
unit within the Prussian Army.
In the First World War, Etzel was made commander of the German 33rd Division
, which participated in the initial German offensive on the Western Front
. He was later commander of the Guards Cavalry Division
and promoted to lieutenant general on January 27, 1918. From June 23, 1918,as a major general, he commanded the German XVII Army Corps, and from August 27 of the same year, the German XVIII Army Corps
.
He resigned from service on April 4, 1919 resigned and went into retirement. He died in Wiesbaden
in 1948.
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
.
Biography
A native of MagdeburgMagdeburg
Magdeburg , is the largest city and the capital city of the Bundesland of Saxony-Anhalt, Germany. Magdeburg is situated on the Elbe River and was one of the most important medieval cities of Europe....
, Etzel entered the Prussian Army
Prussian Army
The Royal Prussian Army was the army of the Kingdom of Prussia. It was vital to the development of Brandenburg-Prussia as a European power.The Prussian Army had its roots in the meager mercenary forces of Brandenburg during the Thirty Years' War...
in 1881. On September 19, 1901, he was promoted to the rank of major and was sent on May 29, 1902 as military attache
Military attaché
A military attaché is a military expert who is attached to a diplomatic mission . This post is normally filled by a high-ranking military officer who retains the commission while serving in an embassy...
to the German Embassy in Tokyo
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
, Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
. During the Russo-Japanese War
Russo-Japanese War
The Russo-Japanese War was "the first great war of the 20th century." It grew out of rival imperial ambitions of the Russian Empire and Japanese Empire over Manchuria and Korea...
of 1904-1905, he was embedded within the Imperial Japanese Army
Imperial Japanese Army
-Foundation:During the Meiji Restoration, the military forces loyal to the Emperor were samurai drawn primarily from the loyalist feudal domains of Satsuma and Chōshū...
and a official military observor. He remained in Japan as a military attache until 1906.
After his return to Germany, he was promoted to lieutenant colonel on May 18, 1908 and assigned to the Kurmärkische Dragoon Regiment No. 14, a cavalry
Cavalry
Cavalry or horsemen were soldiers or warriors who fought mounted on horseback. Cavalry were historically the third oldest and the most mobile of the combat arms...
unit within the Prussian Army.
In the First World War, Etzel was made commander of the German 33rd Division
33rd Division (German Empire)
The 33rd Division was a unit of the Prussian/German Army. It was formed on April 1, 1871 as the 30th Division and became the 33rd Division on April 1, 1890, and was headquartered in Metz . The division was subordinated in peacetime to the XVI Army Corps...
, which participated in the initial German offensive on the Western Front
Western Front (World War I)
Following the outbreak of World War I in 1914, the German Army opened the Western Front by first invading Luxembourg and Belgium, then gaining military control of important industrial regions in France. The tide of the advance was dramatically turned with the Battle of the Marne...
. He was later commander of the Guards Cavalry Division
Guards Cavalry Division (German Empire)
The Guards Cavalry Division was a unit of the German army that was stationed in Berlin. The division was a part of the Guards Corps .-Pre-war Order of Battle:...
and promoted to lieutenant general on January 27, 1918. From June 23, 1918,as a major general, he commanded the German XVII Army Corps, and from August 27 of the same year, the German XVIII Army Corps
XVIII Corps (German Empire)
The XVIII Army Corps was a corps of the Imperial German Army. It was formed on April 1, 1899 and was headquartered in Frankfurt am Main...
.
He resigned from service on April 4, 1919 resigned and went into retirement. He died in Wiesbaden
Wiesbaden
Wiesbaden is a city in southwest Germany and the capital of the federal state of Hesse. It has about 275,400 inhabitants, plus approximately 10,000 United States citizens...
in 1948.
Honors
- Iron CrossIron CrossThe Iron Cross is a cross symbol typically in black with a white or silver outline that originated after 1219 when the Kingdom of Jerusalem granted the Teutonic Order the right to combine the Teutonic Black Cross placed above a silver Cross of Jerusalem....
(1914) Class II and Class I. - Pour le MéritePour le MériteThe Pour le Mérite, known informally as the Blue Max , was the Kingdom of Prussia's highest military order for German soldiers until the end of World War I....
, awarded 4 August 1917; with Oak Leaves, 26 October 1918.