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-Korps during the Great War. By 1912, Generalleutnant Wichura had command of 5. Infanterie-Division, headquartered in Frankfurt an der Oder. As Germany marched into Belgium, he lead this group of soldiers into battle in support of General von Lochow's III. Armee-Korps and Alexander von Kluck's 1. Armee. During the war, Wichura saw action at Mons and Le Cateau (1914.) Following the First Battle of the Marne, the 5. Infanterie-Division covered both II. and III. Armee-Korps 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-Korps, subordinate to 7. Armee-Oberkommando. In the Spring of 1917, following 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. Reserve-Korps 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 also fought during the Second Marne campaign in July 1918, which earned the general the Order of the Red Eagle (Roter Adlerorden I. Klasse.) Following the Armistice, Wichura led his troops back to Germany for demobilization and was later selected to command V. Armee-Korps, 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 Offizier-Aspirant
15.09.1872 4. Niederschlesisches Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 51 - Brieg/Breslau  (I.Bn in Breslau)
12.04.1873 Portepée-Fähnrich
12.02.1874 Sekonde-Lieutenant
01.11.1876 4. Niederschlesisches Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 51 - Brieg  (Bn Adjutant)
01.10.1880 Preußische Kriegsakademie - Berlin  (Student at Royal Prussian War College)
23.07.1883 4. Niederschlesisches Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 51 - Brieg  (return from War College)
06.12.1883 Premier-Lieutenant
15.08.1885 8. Infanterie-Brigade - Bromberg  (detached as Adjutant, à l.s. 4IR-51)
22.03.1888 Hauptmann
01.04.1890 Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 143 - Straßburg i. E.  (Coy Cdr, new formation)
14.09.1893 Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 137 - Hagenau  (Coy Cdr)
12.09.1896 Major
12.09.1896 Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 137 - Hagenau  (aggregiert = Regimental asset)
22.03.1897 Königlich Preußische Kaiser Wilhelm-Erinnerungs-Medaille (Zentenarmedaille)
12.04.1898 Königlich Preußischer Dienstauszeichnungskreuz für Offiziere - 25-jähriger
15.06.1898 Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 143 - Straßburg i. E. / Mutzig  (III.Bn Cdr in Mutzig)
09.07.1900 Ostasiatisches Expeditions-Korps - China  (German Expeditionary Forces during Boxer Rebellion, Bn Cdr in 4IR)
10.05.1901 Deutsches Reich: China Denkmünze aus Bronze
17.08.1901 1. Unter-Elsässisches Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 132 - Straßburg i. E.  (return from China, aggregiert = Regimental asset)
02.09.1901 1. Unter-Elsässisches Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 132 - Straßburg i. E.  (Bn Cdr)
18.04.1903 Oberstleutnant
18.06.1903 5. Badisches Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 113 - Freiburg i. Baden  (Rgt Staff Officer)
22.04.1905 Landwehr-Bezirk I - Berlin  (Cdr, Territorial Reserves District Office)
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  =  Exzellenz
01.10.1912 5. Infanterie-Division - Frankfurt a. O.  (Cdr, replaced Süßkind-Schwendi)
   
Great War
   
02.08.1914 5. Infanterie-Division  (Cdr)
00.00.1914 das Königlich Preußische Eiserne Kreuz 1914 - 2. Klasse
00.00.1914 das Königlich Preußische Eiserne Kreuz 1914 - 1. Klasse
15.05.1915 III. Armee-Korps  (detached as acting Cdr)
30.06.1915 5. Infanterie-Division  (Cdr)
18.10.1915 Stern mit Eichenlaub und Schwertern zum Königlich Preußischen Roten Adler-Orden 2. Klasse mit Eichenlaub und Schwertern am Ringe
07.09.1916 VIII. Reserve-Korps  (Cdr, replaced Paul Fleck)
22.03.1917 General der Infanterie
10.04.1917 Orden Pour le Mérite
08.06.1918 das Eichenlaub zum Orden Pour le Mérite
04.08.1918 Königlich Preußischer Roter Adler-Orden - 1. Klasse mit Eichenlaub und Schwertern
11.11.1918 Waffenstillstand von Compiègne  (Armistice)
20.09.1919 zur Disposition gestellt
   
   
 

06.05.1914

 

 

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