Rudolf
Dänner
(13.10.1862 - 21.08.1936)
place of birth: Lindau am Bodensee, Bayern (Bavaria)
Königreich
Bayern: Div-Kdr,
Generalmajor
Bavarian
lieutenant general Rudolf
Dänner commanded the Bavarian 1st Infantry Division during
the last half of the Great War. Prior to the
outbreak of War, Oberst Dänner was in command of Bavaria's 23rd Infantry
Regiment, and it was with this unit that he went into battle on
Mobilization Day, 2 August 1914. He was severely wounded, however, one
month into the fighting as his troops came under attack near Fraimbois,
France. After a month of convalescence, he returned to the front and as
a newly promoted Generalmajor was chosen in March 1915 to command
Bavaria's 1st Infantry Brigade. In October, his troops fought a great
defensive struggle versus British forces along Vimy Heights.
They were transferred to Verdun and in May 1916
found themselves once again in the thick of battle.
In January 1917, Dänner replaced General von Schoch as head of 1st
Division, which was transported in May to fight a series of skirmishes
against French troops at Chemin des Dames. The
Bavarians made their way piecemeal through the Champagne
region and reached the Argonne Forest by January
1918. The great German Spring Offensive of 1918 saw them fighting in
support of General von Hutier's 18th Army. In October, Generalmajor Dänner's exemplary leadership during heated battle
along the heights of the River Aisne resulted in the Kaiser honoring
him with the Pour le Merite medal. The War soon
ended, and Dänner returned home with what remained of his
division. He briefly commanded Bavarian 2nd Infantry Division
headquartered in Augsburg and then worked on the Royal Bavarian Army's
demobilization staff. Upon his retirement from active duty in 1920, Dänner was
brevetted as a Generalleutnant.
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Generalmajor |
22.01.1915 |
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Pour
le Mérite |
26.10.1918 |
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