Alfred Hans Emil Friedrich von Böckmann
(22.09.1859 - 18.11.1921)
place of birth:  Potsdam, Brandenburg
Königreich Preußen:  KG,  Generalleutnant


Imperial German Generalleutnant Alfred von Böckmann served during most of the Great War as a field army chief of staff. During the final year of the conflict, he commanded the elite Garde-Korps formation in the Flanders region. Alfred von Böckmann initially entered military service in 1879 and was soon commissioned as a Sekonde-Lieutenant with Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 75 in Bremen. Although he did not attend Prussian War College, Böckmann spent close to thirteen years of his peace-time career as an officer serving on the German General Staff. Just prior to the War, he was promoted to Generalmajor and took command of 75. Infanterie-Brigade in Allenstein.


In August 1914, Böckmann's East Prussian brigade was subordinate to Scholtz's XX. Armee-Korps and initially engaged along the Russian border area, seeing action in Gumbinnen, Johannisburg, and Lyck. In late August, his troops took part in the legendary Battle of Tannenberg where the Germans successfully routed Samsonov's 2nd Army. The following month, 75. Brigade was once again involved in heavy fighting in the First Battle of Masurian Lakes. He then headed up 41. Infanterie-Division for a couple months of fighting near Warsaw, but was soon transferred to 8. Armee-Oberkommando headquarters in Posen to function as Otto von Below's Chief of Staff. In this role, Böckmann distinguished himself in February 1915 during the Winter Battle of the Masurian Lakes and the destruction of the Russian 10th Army.

General von Below's troop formation was relabeled Njemen-Armee from May through December 1915, when it again went by the designation of the new 8. Armee-Oberkommando. In June 1916, he was promoted to Generalleutnant conferring him the title of Exzellenz (Excellency.) For his distinguished service and leadership as his Chief of Staff, General von Below presented Böckmann in October 1916 with the highest Royal Prussian order of bravery, the Pour le Mérite. He then redeployed with Below south to Macedonia where they headed up Heeres-Gruppe Below. Below was replaced in April 1917 by General Friedrich von Scholtz, and Böckmann remained as his Chief of Staff until August. He was then called upon to command III. Reserve-Korps, also engaged in the Eastern Front. One month later, Exzellenz von Böckmann transferred to the Western Front where he replaced Chales de Beaulieu as commander of XIV. Armee-Korps troops engaged in the Flanders region. He soon thereafter was transferred to Garde-Korps headquarters in order to relieve General von Quast as the corps commander. Garde-Korps troops were likewise engaged in trench warfare along the Flanders Front, where Böckmann remained until War's end.

	Generalleutnant	06.06.1916
	Pour le Mérite	08.10.1916  (Eichenlaub:  01.06.1917)