Karl Bruno Julius von Mudra 
(01.04.1851 - 21.11.1931)
place of birth:  Bad Muskau, Schlesien
Königreich Preußen:  OBH,  General der Infanterie


Imperial German General der Infanterie who during the Great War briefly commanded three different Field Armies. Mudra entered military service in 1870, just after the Franco-Prussian War had gotten underway. He spent a large part of his peace time career attached to various combat engineers units. By 1911, he headed up Germany's General-Inspektion des Ingenieur- und Pionier-Korps (General Inspectorate of Combat Engineers and Fortresses.) In 1913, Mudra was elevated into the Prussian nobility and received an assignment to command XVI. Armee-Korps headquarters in Metz.

At war's outbreak General von Mudra continued as XVI. Armee-Korps commander in support of the Crown Prince's 5. Armee-Oberkommando. His troops were tasked with blocking French forces in the Argonne as they sought over the first two months to punch through the frontier. Von Mudra was later awarded the Pour le Merite in 1915 for his outstanding leadership and planning in the successful conduct of this assignment. In March 1916, General von Mudra arrived at Verdun where he was to command Angriffsgruppe-Ost (Assault Group East), the combined German forces based on the left bank of the Maas River. This contingent is also referred to as Maas Group East - Verdun and existed within the 5. Armee-Oberkommando.

After the Verdun conflict cooled off, von Mudra transferred East where he replaced von Fabeck as commander of the new 8. Armee-Oberkommando (previously Army of the Niemen) headquartered at Mitau in present-day Latvia. In January 1917, he returned to the Western Front to serve the remainder of the Great War, commanding Armee-Abteilung A in Alsace-Lorraine, as well as brief stints with 1. Armee in Rethel and 17. Armee in Denain and Mons. After Ludendorff stepped down in late October 1918, generals von Mudra and von Gallwitz were ordered back to Berlin where they heatedly argued in front of the Kaiser's military cabinet for the continuance of Germany's war effort, Mudra going as far as to suggest arming the entire German populace. The cabinet decided not to take their advice, however, and von Mudra's military career came to a close.

 

    General von Mudra      


General von Mudra made his mark in Prussia's pre-war military forces by raising the level of competence and utility of the combat engineers. He was also known as a specialist in fortress defenses. Currently, the top officer candidates who graduate from Germany's Combat Engineers School earn the Mudra Award in his honor. General von Mudra's son Herbert served on the Western Front as an observer with the 27th Aviation Detachment, and later as regimental adjutant for Leib-Garde Nr. 115. On 21 November 1931 at the age of 80, General der Infanterie Bruno von Mudra passed away and was buried in Zippendorf, located in the present-day state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern.




                                           
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General der Infanterie  13.09.1911

Pour le Mérite  13.01.1915   (Eichenlaub:  17.10.1916)
 
  
 

  
 
Curriculum Vitae
   
06.10.1870 Offizier-Aspirant
06.10.1870 Garde-Pionier-Bataillon - Berlin
19.07.1870 Deutsch-Französischer Krieg von 1870–1871  (non-Combatant during Franco-Prussian War)
16.06.1871 Kaiserlich-Deutsche Kriegsdenkmünze für die Feldzüge 1870–71 aus Stahl
15.07.1871 Portepée-Fähnrich
09.03.1872 Sekonde-Lieutenant
09.03.1872 Ingenieur- und Pionier-Korps, 1. Ingenieur-Inspektion - Berlin  (assigned to Combat Engineer Corps, 1st Inspectorate)
09.03.1872 Garde-Pionier-Bataillon - Berlin  (detached from 1.IngInsp)
12.10.1875 Garde-Pionier-Bataillon - Berlin  (Bn Adjutant) 
00.00.1879 I. Armee-Korps - Festung Königsberg i. Pr.  (detached from 1.IngInsp)
11.12.1879 Premier-Lieutenant
01.10.1881 Preußische Kriegsakademie - Berlin  (Student at Royal Prussian War College)
12.07.1884 Garde-Pionier-Bataillon - Berlin  (return from War College)
01.05.1885 Großer Generalstab - Berlin  (detached to Prussian Great General Staff HQ)
13.06.1886 Rheinisches Pionier-Bataillon Nr. 8 - Koblenz
15.07.1886 Hauptmann
15.07.1886 Rheinisches Pionier-Bataillon Nr. 8 - Koblenz  (Coy Cdr)
11.12.1886 Garde-Pionier-Bataillon - Berlin  (assigned as Coy Cdr)
04.12.1888 Preußisches Kriegsministerium - Berlin  (detached to Prussian War Ministry, Combat Engineers Dept)
21.01.1891 Königlich Preußischer Roter Adler-Orden - 4. Klasse
16.07.1891 Major
16.07.1891 Preußisches Kriegsministerium - Berlin  (assigned to War Ministry, Dept of Fortresses)
14.09.1893 Westfälisches Pionier-Bataillon Nr. 7 - Deutz  (Cdr)
15.07.1896 Königlich Preußischer Dienstauszeichnungskreuz für Offiziere - 25-jähriger
07.11.1896 Königlich Sächsischer Albrechts-Orden - Offizierkreuz
22.03.1897 Königlich Preußische Kaiser Wilhelm-Erinnerungs-Medaille (Zentenarmedaille)
17.06.1897 Oberst-Lieutenant
22.03.1898 Vereinigte Artillerie- und Ingenieur-Schule - Berlin  (Director Prussian Artillery and Engineer School, à l.s. PioBn-7)
01.01.1899 Oberst-Lieutenant  =  Oberstleutnant
18.01.1899 Königlich Preußischer Roter Adler-Orden - 2. Klasse mit Eichenlaub
18.03.1899 Gen-Inspektion des Ingenieur- und Pionier-Korps und der Festungen - Berlin  (Insp of Combat Engineers and Fortresses, Chief of Staff)
18.04.1900 Oberst
06.03.1901 Königlich Bayerischer Militär-Verdienst-Orden - Offizierkreuz
13.08.1902 Persischer Sonnen- und Löwen-Orden - Großoffizierskreuz
18.04.1903 2. Pionier-Inspektion - Mainz  (Inspector)  
18.06.1903 Generalmajor
27.02.1906 Königlich Preußisches Erinnerungszeichen zur Silbernen Hochzeit 1906
22.03.1907 Generalleutnant  =  Exzellenz
27.08.1907 39. Infanterie-Division - Colmar  (Cdr, replaced Tresckow)
22.03.1910 Gouvernement Metz  (Military Governor of Metz)
05.01.1911 Gen-Inspektion des Ingenieur- und Pionier-Korps und der Festungen - Berlin  (Insp of Combat Engineers and Fortresses, Inpector)
27.01.1911 Königlich Preußischer Kronen-Orden - 1. Klasse
13.09.1911 General der Infanterie
01.03.1913 XVI. Armee-Korps - Metz  (Cdr, replaced Prittwitz)
15.06.1913 25-jährigen Regierungs-Jubiläum Wilhelm II.
16.06.1913 in den erblichen Adelstand erhoben  (elevated into the German nobility)
   
Great War
   
02.08.1914 XVI. Armee-Korps  (Cdr)
00.00.1914 das Königlich Preußische Eiserne Kreuz 1914 - 2. Klasse
00.00.1914 das Königlich Preußische Eiserne Kreuz 1914 - 1. Klasse
13.01.1915 Orden Pour le Mérite
17.10.1916 das Eichenlaub zum Orden Pour le Mérite
22.10.1916 8. Armee-Oberkommando  (Cdr, replaced Fabeck)
02.01.1917 Armee-Abteilung (Cdr, replaced d'Elsa)
18.06.1918 1. Armee-Oberkommando  (Cdr, replaced Fritz von Below)
03.08.1918 à la suite:  Königs-Infanterie-Regiment (6. Lothringisches) Nr. 145
12.10.1918 17. Armee-Oberkommando  (Cdr, replaced Otto von Below)
11.11.1918 Waffenstillstand von Compiègne (Armistice)
07.01.1919 zur Disposition gestellt
   
   
 

06.05.1914

 

 

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