Hans Karl August Leopold von Werder  
(16.11.1867 - 08.05.1923)
place of birth:  Schleswig
Königreich Preußen:  AK-Stabschef,  Oberst


General Hans von Werder was an Imperial German officer and highly-decorated brigade commander during the Great War. He was born into the home of Prussian Generalmajor Albert von Werder, and was also the grandson of General August von Werder, hero of the Franco-Prussian War. He began his military career in Berlin with 2. Garde-Regiment zu Fuß, a unit he would later command with distinction during the War.

When World War One broke out, Hans von Werder was 4. Armee-Oberkommando commanding general Albrecht von Württemberg's operations officer (Ia), participating in German actions at Neufchateau and during the Battle of the River Marne. He was sent east in September to work for General von Hindenburg and his 8. Armee-Oberkommando, first as his line of communications officer, and then as Chief of Staff at General von Morgen's I. Reserve-Korps headquarters. In May of 1915, von Werder moved to XXI. Armee-Korps mobile headquarters to head up General von Hutier's staff. Here he distinguished himself for his planning and leadership during the siege of Kowno, and during the battles along the River Niemen and at Vilnius. 

Back on the Western Front, von Werder took over his old regiment, 2. Garde-Regiments zu Fuß, and again distinguished himself during the 1916 Battle of the Somme. After promotion to Oberst that August, he was sent to the Romanian Theater to be Donau-Armee Commander General Kosch's Chief of Staff. In early 1917, von Werder was chosen to lead 81. Infanterie-Brigade, which was heavily engaged in the Ypres Battlefield region. His leadership during the Battle of the Kemmel earned him the Pour le Merite honors. As the War ended in late 1918, and after conducting defensive actions along the rivers Somme and Oise and then into Alsace, von Werder led his troops back to Germany for demobilization. He soon thereafter left the military and passed away in Potsdam four years later.

	Oberst	13.09.1912
	Pour le Mérite	03.05.1918