Georg Karl Wichura  
(15.12.1851 - 11.12.1923)
place of birth:  Ratibor, Oberschlesien  (Raciborz, Poland)
Königreich Preußen:  KG,  General der Infanterie


Imperial German General Georg Wichura commanded the VIII. Reserve Corps during the Great War. By 1912, Generalleutnant Wichura was at the head of 5th Infantry Division, headquartered in Frankurt a.d. Oder. As Germany marched into Belgium, he lead this group of soldiers into battle in support of General von Lochow's III. Army Corps and von Kluck's First Army. During the war, he saw action at Mons and Le Cateau (1914). Following the First Battle of the Marne, 5th Division covered both II. and III. Army Corps as those troops fell back across the River Aisne and the fighting settled into the trenches.

Generalleutnant Wichura's division fought in battles at Soissons (1915) and at Champagne and Verdun (1916), after which they were able to leave the Front for a month's worth of R and R. They returned to the trenches in the summer of 1916 in time to be engaged in the deadly Battle of the Somme. Returning to the Champagne region in early September, he was given command of VIII. Reserve Corps, subordinate to Seventh Army. In the Spring of 1917, followoing promotion to General der Infanterie, Wichura was awarded the Pour le Merite for distinguished service and leadership as his reservists fought the British at Arras. The VIII. Reserves additionally saw action during hostilities at Chemin des Dames, Coucy-le-Chateau, and the heights above Conde, earning him the additional oak leaves to his PLM. 

Wichura's reservists additionally fought during the Second Marne campaign in July 1918, which earned the general the Order of the Red Eagle (Roter Adlerorden I. Klasse). Wichura was given command of the V. Army Corps in 1919. After leading his troops back to Germany for demobilization, Wichura was selected to command V. Army Corps, headquartered in Posen. He retired from military service in September 1919. General Wichura, who was married to Ellinoe Elisabeth von Langenn-Steinkeller, passed away in 1923. A street in Berlin was named after him in 1937.

 
 
General der Infanterie  22.03.1917
China-Denkmünze Ostasiatisches Expeditionskorps  1900-01

Pour le Mérite  26.04.1917  (Eichenlaub:  08.06.1918)
 
 
 

  
 
Curriculum Vitae
   
15.09.1872 4. Niederschlesisches Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 51 - Breslau  (Fahnenjunker)
12.04.1873 Portepée-Fähnrich
12.02.1874 Sekonde-Lieutenant
01.11.1876 4. Niederschlesisches Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 51 - Breslau  (Bn Adjutant)
01.10.1880 Preußische Kriegsakademie - Berlin
23.07.1883 4. Niederschlesisches Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 51 - Breslau
06.12.1883 Premier-Lieutenant
15.08.1885 8. Infanterie-Brigade - Bromberg  (Adjutant)
22.03.1888 Hauptmann
00.03.1889 4. Unter-Elsässisches Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 143 - Straßburg i.E.
01.04.1890 4. Unter-Elsässisches Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 143 - Straßburg i.E.  (Coy Cdr)
14.09.1893 2. Unter-Elsässisches Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 137 - Hagenau  (Coy Cdr)
12.09.1896 Major
14.06.1898 4. Unter-Elsässisches Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 143 - Mutzig  (Bn Cdr)
03.07.1900 Ostasiatisches Expeditionskorps - China  (East Asian Expedition Forces, Bn Cdr)
02.09.1901 1. Unter-Elsässisches Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 132 - Straßburg i.E.  (Bn Cdr)
18.04.1903 Oberstleutnant
00.06.1903 5. Badisches Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 113 - Freiburg im Breisgau  (regimental staff)
22.04.1905 Bezirkskommando I - Berlin  (Cdr) 
10.04.1906 Oberst
17.12.1908 Grenadier-Regiment ,,König Friedrich Wilhelm II (1. Schlesisches) Nr. 10 - Schweidnitz  (Cdr)
18.02.1910 23. Infanterie-Brigade - Gleiwitz  (provisional Cdr)
22.03.1910 Generalmajor
22.03.1910 23. Infanterie-Brigade - Gleiwitz  (Cdr)
01.10.1912 Generalleutnant
01.10.1912 5. Infanterie-Division - Frankfurt an der Oder  (Cdr, replaced von Süßkind-Schwendi)
   
Great War
   
02.08.1914 5. Infanterie-Division  =  1. Armee
00.00.1915 III. Armeekorps - Führer  (provisional Cdr)
17.09.1916 VIII. Reservekorps  (replaced Paul Fleck)
22.03.1917 General der Infanterie
02.01.1919 V. Armeekorps  (replaced Eduard von Below)
20.09.1919 zur Disposition gestellt
   
   
 

06.05.1914

 

 

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