Richard Karl von Tessmar
Encyclopedia
Generalmajor Richard Karl von Tessmar (1853 – 1928) was a German
soldier
.
He is notable primarily for his exploits during the First World War
, during which he was commanded the German forces occupying Luxembourg
. He led the forces that captured Luxembourg City on the 2 August 1914, before establishing his command in the city. On 26 August, 121 Belgian
civilians were executed in at Arlon train station on his order. His swift and heavy-handed suppression of a miners' strike
in June 1917 led to the downfall of Victor Thorn's National Union Government
.
German Empire
The German Empire refers to Germany during the "Second Reich" period from the unification of Germany and proclamation of Wilhelm I as German Emperor on 18 January 1871, to 1918, when it became a federal republic after defeat in World War I and the abdication of the Emperor, Wilhelm II.The German...
soldier
Soldier
A soldier is a member of the land component of national armed forces; whereas a soldier hired for service in a foreign army would be termed a mercenary...
.
He is notable primarily for his exploits during the First World War
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...
, during which he was commanded the German forces occupying Luxembourg
German occupation of Luxembourg in World War I
The German occupation of Luxembourg in World War I was the first of two military occupations of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg by Germany in the twentieth century. From August 1914 until the end of World War I in November 1918, Luxembourg was under full occupation by the German Empire...
. He led the forces that captured Luxembourg City on the 2 August 1914, before establishing his command in the city. On 26 August, 121 Belgian
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
civilians were executed in at Arlon train station on his order. His swift and heavy-handed suppression of a miners' strike
Strike action
Strike action, also called labour strike, on strike, greve , or simply strike, is a work stoppage caused by the mass refusal of employees to work. A strike usually takes place in response to employee grievances. Strikes became important during the industrial revolution, when mass labour became...
in June 1917 led to the downfall of Victor Thorn's National Union Government
National Union Government (1916)
The National Union Government was a form of national government that governed the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg between 24 February 1916 and 19 June 1917, at the height of the First World War...
.