Karl von Einem
Encyclopedia
Karl von Einem genannt von Rothmaler (January 1, 1853 - April 7, 1934) was the commander of the German 3rd Army during the First World War and served as the Prussian Minister of War
responsible for much of the German military buildup prior to the outbreak of the war.
, Einem served in the Prussian army
for much of his life when he was appointed Minister of War in 1903. During his six years of service, Einem oversaw the reorganization of the German army building much of the military's heavy armament in preparation for modern warfare, specifically the introduction of the machine gun and modern heavy artillery.
In 1909, Einem was appointed commander of VII Corps serving under the command of Gen. Karl von Bülow
's 2nd Army later taking part in the First Battle of the Marne
soon after Germany entry into World War I
on August 1914.
Assigned to France, Einem succeeded Gen. Max von Hausen
as commander of the Third Army in September 1914. Successfully repulsing the French Champagne-Marne offensive from February–March and September–November 1915 respectively, Einem would take part in all three Battles of the Aisne
and would hold Gen. Anthoine's 4th Army (under Gen. Philippe Petain
's Center Army Group) during the Second Battle of the Aisne
as part of the Nivelle Offensive
from April 16-May 15, 1917.
Einem's right wing units would also participate in Gen. Erich Ludendorff
's Campagne-Marne offensive on July 15–17, 1918 supporting the east flank of the German 1st Army. After suffering severe casualties in battle with Gen. John J. Pershing
's Allied Expeditionary Force from September 26-November 11 in the Meuse-Argonne offensive
, he was forced to retreat northward shortly before the war's end. On November 10, 1918, only one day before the declaration of the Armistice, command of Prince Wilhelm
's Army Group Crown Prince fell to Einem who would oversee Germany's demobilization. Retiring from the army in 1919, Einem lived in retirement until his death in Mülheim
on April 7, 1934.
Prussian Minister of War
The Prussian War Ministry was gradually established between 1808 and 1809 as part of a series of reforms initiated by the Military Reorganization Commission created after the disastrous Treaty of Paris. The War Ministry was to help bring the army under constitutional control, and, along with the...
responsible for much of the German military buildup prior to the outbreak of the war.
Biography
Born in Herzberg am HarzHerzberg am Harz
Herzberg am Harz is a town in the Osterode district of Lower Saxony, Germany.- History :Herzberg castle was first mentioned in 1154. The town was part of the state of Brunswick-Grubenhagen, and the castle was for some time used as a residence by the dukes...
, Einem served in 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...
for much of his life when he was appointed Minister of War in 1903. During his six years of service, Einem oversaw the reorganization of the German army building much of the military's heavy armament in preparation for modern warfare, specifically the introduction of the machine gun and modern heavy artillery.
In 1909, Einem was appointed commander of VII Corps serving under the command of Gen. Karl von Bülow
Karl von Bülow
Karl von Bülow was a German Field Marshal commanding the German 2nd Army during World War I from 1914 to 1915.-Biography:...
's 2nd Army later taking part in the First Battle of the Marne
First Battle of the Marne
The Battle of the Marne was a First World War battle fought between 5 and 12 September 1914. It resulted in an Allied victory against the German Army under Chief of Staff Helmuth von Moltke the Younger. The battle effectively ended the month long German offensive that opened the war and had...
soon after Germany entry into World War I
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...
on August 1914.
Assigned to France, Einem succeeded Gen. Max von Hausen
Max von Hausen
Max Clemens Lothar Freiherr von Hausen served as a German army commander in the early stages of the First World War.-Early life:...
as commander of the Third Army in September 1914. Successfully repulsing the French Champagne-Marne offensive from February–March and September–November 1915 respectively, Einem would take part in all three Battles of the Aisne
Battle of the Aisne
The Battle of the Aisne is the name of three battles fought along the Aisne River in northern France during the First World War.*First Battle of the Aisne - Anglo-French counter-offensive following the First Battle of the Marne....
and would hold Gen. Anthoine's 4th Army (under Gen. Philippe Petain
Philippe Pétain
Henri Philippe Benoni Omer Joseph Pétain , generally known as Philippe Pétain or Marshal Pétain , was a French general who reached the distinction of Marshal of France, and was later Chief of State of Vichy France , from 1940 to 1944...
's Center Army Group) during the Second Battle of the Aisne
Second Battle of the Aisne
The Second Battle of the Aisne , was the massive main assault of the French military's Nivelle Offensive or Chemin des Dames Offensive in 1917 during World War I....
as part of the Nivelle Offensive
Nivelle offensive
The Nivelle Offensive was a 1917 French attack on the Western Front in the First World War. Promised as the assault that would end the war within 48 hours, with casualties expected of around 10,000 men, it failed on both counts. It was a three-stage plan:...
from April 16-May 15, 1917.
Einem's right wing units would also participate in Gen. Erich Ludendorff
Erich Ludendorff
Erich Friedrich Wilhelm Ludendorff was a German general, victor of Liège and of the Battle of Tannenberg...
's Campagne-Marne offensive on July 15–17, 1918 supporting the east flank of the German 1st Army. After suffering severe casualties in battle with Gen. John J. Pershing
John J. Pershing
John Joseph "Black Jack" Pershing, GCB , was a general officer in the United States Army who led the American Expeditionary Forces in World War I...
's Allied Expeditionary Force from September 26-November 11 in the Meuse-Argonne offensive
Meuse-Argonne Offensive
The Meuse-Argonne Offensive, or Maas-Argonne Offensive, also called the Battle of the Argonne Forest, was a part of the final Allied offensive of World War I that stretched along the entire western front.-Overview:...
, he was forced to retreat northward shortly before the war's end. On November 10, 1918, only one day before the declaration of the Armistice, command of Prince Wilhelm
Prince Wilhelm
Prince Wilhelm may refer to:* Prince Wilhelm of Prussia * Prince William of Hesse * Wilhelm, Prince of Hohenzollern * William of Albania * Wilhelm, German Crown Prince...
's Army Group Crown Prince fell to Einem who would oversee Germany's demobilization. Retiring from the army in 1919, Einem lived in retirement until his death in Mülheim
Mülheim
Mülheim an der Ruhr, also called "City on the River", is a city in North Rhine-Westphalia in Germany. It is located in the Ruhr Area between Duisburg, Essen, Oberhausen and Ratingen...
on April 7, 1934.