Ernst August Max von Bacmeister
(28.11.1853 - 17.1.1938)
place of birth:  Bielefeld
Königreich Preußen:  Stellv KG,  General der Infanterie z.D.


Imperial German General Ernst von Bacmeister was reactivated during the Great War to serve as a home-front deputy corps commander, later going into battle as a division commander. Bacmeister's father Lucas (1820-1884) was an Oberstleutnant in the Prussian Army. Ernst got his commission in 1872 and began his 46-year military career with Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 53 in Münster. Although he did not attend the War Academy, as a Major he was sent to Berlin in 1893 to work at the Kriegsministerium (Prussian War Ministry,) an organization he would serve with for about twelve years during peace time. Bacmeister was promoted to Generalleutnant in 1910 and named chief of the Logistics and Justice Department at the War Ministry. He simultaneously served as a delegate in Congress. He retired in 1913 with a brevet promotion to General der Infanterie.

At the outbreak of World War One, General von Bacmeister was recalled to serve as Kurt von Pritzelwitz' Deputy Commander at VI. Armee-Korps headquarters in Breslau. Two years later Bacmeister was transferred to the Eastern Front in order to command 79. Reserve-Division located near Vilnius. In December 1916, Bacmeister and his formation was redeployed to fight in the trenches of French Flanders, the Artois and along the Yser. For his distinguished service and leadership during this campaign, General von Bacmeister was decorated in October 1917 with the highest Royal Prussian order of bravery, the Pour le Mérite. Thereafter, his reservists were engaged in the December 1917 German assault on Cambrai. Bacmeister was relieved of his divisional command in March 1918 and spent the final months of the War charged with the military training of young recruits in Brandenburg.

	General der Infanterie	24.12.1914
	Pour le Mérite	08.10.1917