Field Marshal von Hindenburg's Life Through Period of German Unity and Renaissance Field Marshal Paul yon Bene~ cxendort und Hindenburg—to. give hhim'his ful" name—was" born in Posen on October 2, 1847, years be~ fore the great plan of Blamarck for a united Germany" had begun to materialize, 'The son of a. major in the Prussian army, he followed his father's footsteps, but his promo: tion in the service vias slow and, be hoted, when he "had eventually Fenehed the highest ranks he "was Dut on the retired list at the instance, it's aig, of the Emperor Wilhelm Who was' displeased with some of his rmy mancuvyes, He was forty~ even years of age before he became 4 colonel, but in thie Fanle his meri teems to have been recognized, for ten years later he was given "com: anal of the 14th Army Corps. While in'this command, situated onthe eastern frontier of the then German empire, he had opportunities to stuay find. explore possibilities for its defence and. mastered the strategy Which he later exploited against the dvancing Russian armies in the fiveat_vielory of Tannenberg " which made him the hero of the German nation.
"The Emperor, however, did not appreciate. von' Hindenbura's activi {ies considering the eastern troutier of comparatively lille importance, and after. the. imperial manceuvres leit the general was placed. the retired st, where he, "remained tintt the outbreak of the: World: War When east Prussia was" overrun The armies of Rennenikampt and he was aediled from his Felirement Hanover and placed in' command the 8th Army, with Field. Marshal (hen General) Laldendor tas his chief of salt tion, everybody, friend and) foe
the character of the new president alike of the new order, knew from and from his religious regard for the sanctity of the oath, that his ofice would be administered strictly according to the constitution.
"Pull Together"
Von Hindenburg, then 78 years old, spared no effort or energy to accustom himself to the tasks of his new office. With clock-like regularity, the chief of the goverament's press division had to report to him every day fon world-events as reflected in the @aily press. An hour later, ministers, chiefs of departments, and specialists on various public questions were requested to report.
To increase the respect for the exalted office of chief executive, Pres Ident von Hindenburg soon set out upon a number of "swings around the circle," visiting one province after another, meeting officials, greeting the masses, and everywhere reaching the message of unity.
ergot your party strife, let us pull together for a united fatherland" was the burden of practically every address, 'Only seldom did the President assume an active political role. When he did, however, there was no mince ing of' words. 'Thus, when after the fall of the second Tuther cabinet in 1926 the party leaders for weeks squabbled about the composition of the next cabinet, von Hindenbury called them' to his ofice one day and according to all reports, "talked to them like a Dutch uncle." and several days later the second Marx ahmet presented itself to the Reiehs-
'The German violeres at 'Tannenberg and the Masurian Takes, which gaved East Prussia from the Russians, have become historical, He followed them with successfully carried out plans for advances on Riga, Duna: Burg, and' Motodetschno, earning Fapid promotion to. the rank' of Field Marshal. He was further pro moted to command of all the Ger nan armies of the eastern front, and Inter in the war took over command at the troops which extended down part of the Austrian frontier.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.