Günther Emanuel Graf von Kirchbach
 (09.08.1850 - 06.11.1925)
place of birth:  Erfurt  (Thuringian Saxony)
Königreich Preußen:  OBH,  Generaloberst


Graf von Kirchbach served as an Imperial German Generaloberst during the First World War. He began his military career in 1868 as an infantry officer with the Garde-Füsilier-Regiment in Berlin. Participating in the Franco-Prussian War of 1870-71 as a second lieutenant, by 1907 he had attained the rank of General der Infanterie and was in command of the V. Armee-Korps in the Duchy of Posen. In 1911, he was appointed to preside over the Imperial German Military Tribunal (Reichs-Militärgericht.) As was customary, he simultaneously functioned as a delegate in the Upper House (Bundesrat) of Imperial Congress.

At War's outbreak, General von Kirchbach was under Bülow's 2. Armee-Oberkommando on the Western Front as commander of the X. Reserve-Korps. He was wounded early on with a gunshot to his upper arm and spent the next two years in convalescence back in Germany. While unable to fight on the front, Kirchbach returned to his office as acting President of the Imperial German Military Tribunal. Finally reporting back in September 1916, he deployed to the Eastern Front to serve as commander of VI. Landwehr-Korps and later Army Detachment "D".  For his distinguished service and leadership during this campaign General von Kirchbach was decorated in 1917 with the highest Royal Prussian order of bravery, the Pour le Mérite.

Generaloberst Graf von Kirchbach remained on the Eastern Front for the rest of the war as commander of the 8. Armee-Oberkommando and of Heeresgruppe Kiew. With the armistice signed on 11 November, Kirchbach was responsible for returning his troops of 21 divisions back to their revolutionary-torn homeland. He continued oversight of these troops during the demobilization process and retired from active duty in February 1919. He later passed away in 1925 in Bad Blankenburg, Thuringia. His father, General Hugo Graf von Kirchbach, was a Pour le Merite recipient who commanded the Prussia's V. Armee-Korps during the Franco-Prussian War. Kirchbach's brother, also named Hugo, was killed in action during that same conflict.

 
 
Generaloberst  27.01.1918

Eisernes Kreuz II  Deutsch-Französischer Krieg  1870–1871
Schwarzer Adler 27.01.1917

Pour le Mérite  27.08.1917
 
 
 

  
 
Curriculum Vitae
   
07.04.1868 Sekonde-Lieutenant
07.04.1868 Garde-Füsilier-Regiment - Berlin
19.07.1870 Deutsch-Französischer Krieg von 1870–1871  (Combatant in Franco-Prussian War)
10.05.1871 Garde-Füsilier-Regiment - Berlin  (Franco-Prussian War ends)
16.06.1871 das Königlich Preußische Eiserne Kreuz 1870/71 - 2. Klasse
01.10.1872 Preußische Kriegsakademie - Berlin  (Student at Royal Prussian War College)
18.01.1875 Premier-Lieutenant 
27.07.1875 Garde-Füsilier-Regiment - Berlin  (return from War College)
00.00.1878 Großer Generalstab, Nebenetat - Berlin  (detached to Prussian Great General Staff HQ, à l.s. GdFR)
22.06.1878 Großer Generalstab, Nebenetat - Berlin  (detached to Prussian Great General Staff HQ, à l.s. GenStaff of the Army)
27.03.1879 Hauptmann
22.03.1881 Königs-Grenadier-Regiment (2. Westpreußisches) Nr. 7 - Liegnitz  (Coy Cdr)
03.12.1886 V. Armee-Korps - Posen  (detached as Adjutant, from GR-7)
17.01.1887 V. Armee-Korps - Posen  (detached as Adjutant, from GR-1)
19.09.1888 Major
30.10.1890 Großherzoglich Mecklenburgisches Grenadier-Regiment Nr. 89 - Schwerin/Neustrelitz  (Bn Cdr)
17.10.1893 Oberst-Lieutenant 
00.00.1893 Königlich Preußischer Johanniter-Orden - Ehren-Ritterkreuz
27.01.1894 Großherzoglich Mecklenburgisches Grenadier-Regiment Nr. 89 - Schwerin/Neustrelitz  (Rgt Staff Officer)
12.09.1896 2. Garde-Regiment zu Fuß - Berlin  (provisional Cdr)
27.01.1897 Oberst
27.01.1897 2. Garde-Regiment zu Fuß - Berlin  (Cdr)
17.10.1899 Generalmajor
17.10.1899 71. Infanterie-Brigade - Danzig  (Cdr)
22.03.1903 Generalleutnant  =  Exzellenz
22.03.1903 Offizier von der Armee  (Officer of the Army)
18.05.1903 17. Infanterie-Division - Schwerin  (Cdr, replaced von Egloffstein)
11.09.1907 General der Infanterie
11.10.1907 V. Armee-Korps - Posen  (Cdr, replaced von Kluck)
22.08.1910 à la suite:  Infanterie-Regiment „Graf Kirchbach“ (1. Niederschlesisches) Nr. 46
07.04.1911 Offizier à la suite der Armee  (Officer of the Army)
07.04.1911 Reichs-Militärgericht - Berlin/Charlottenburg  (President of Imperial Military Court, replaced Linde-Suden, concurrent with below)
07.04.1911 Bevollmächtigter zum Bundesrat des Deutschen Reiches - Berlin  (Delegate to Upper House of Imperial Congress)
   
Great War
   
02.08.1914 X. Reserve-Korps  (Cdr)
29.08.1914 convalescent leave, gunshot wound
00.09.1914 das Königlich Preußische Eiserne Kreuz 1914 - 1. Klasse
07.09.1914 Reichs-Militärgericht - Berlin/Charlottenburg  (President of Imperial Military Court)
23.09.1916 VI. Landwehr-Korps  (Cdr, replaced von König)
15.10.1916 Heeresgruppe Woyrsch  (Acting Cdr for 5 weeks)
19.11.1916 VI. Landwehr-Korps  (Cdr)
27.01.1917 Königlich Preußischer Schwarzer Adler-Orden
27.01.1917 Schwerter zum Königlich Preußischer Roter Adler-Orden - Großkreuz mit Eichenlaub
22.04.1917 Armee-Abteilung "D"  (Cdr, replaced von Hutier)
27.08.1917 Orden Pour le Mérite
12.12.1917 8. Armee-Oberkommando  (Cdr, replaced von Hutier)
27.01.1918 Generaloberst
30.07.1918 Heeresgruppe Kiew  (replaced Heeresgruppe Eichhorn)
11.11.1918 Waffenstillstand von Compiègne  (Armistice)
05.02.1919 zur Disposition gestellt
   
   
 

06.05.1914
 

 

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