August von Mackensen

August von Mackensen
Nickname(s)"The Last Hussar"
Born(1849-12-06)6 December 1849
Haus Leipnitz, Province of Saxony, Kingdom of Prussia, German Confederation
Died8 November 1945(1945-11-08) (aged 95)
Habighorst, Province of Hanover, Allied-occupied Germany[1]
Allegiance Kingdom of Prussia

 North German Confederation
 German Empire
 Weimar Republic
Service / branch Prussian Army
 Imperial German Army
 Reichsheer
Years of service1869–1920
RankMariscal prussià Generalfeldmarschall
CommandsArmy Group Mackensen
Battles / warsFranco-Prussian War
World War I
AwardsGrand Cross of the Iron Cross
Pour le Mérite with Oak Leaves
Order of the Black Eagle
RelationsEberhard von Mackensen (son)
Hans Georg von Mackensen (son)
Signature

Anton Ludwig Friedrich August Mackensen (ennobled as von Mackensen in 1899; 6 December 1849 – 8 November 1945), was a German field marshal.[2] He commanded Army Group Mackensen during World War I (1914–1918) and became one of the German Empire's most prominent and competent military leaders. After the armistice of 11 November 1918, the victorious Allies interned Mackensen in Serbia for a year. In 1920, he retired from the army. In 1933 Hermann Göring made him a Prussian state councillor. During the Nazi era (1933–1945), Mackensen remained a committed monarchist and sometimes appeared at official functions in his World War I uniform. Senior Nazi Party members suspected him of disloyalty, but nothing was proven against him.

  1. ^ David T. Zabecki, Germany at War: 400 Years of Military History, p. 808
  2. ^ See Lamar Cecil, "The Creation of Nobles in Prussia, 1871-1918" in The American Historical Review, Vol. 75, No. 3. (February, 1970), pp. 794; Gerard E. Silberstein, "The Serbian Campaign of 1915: Its Diplomatic Background" in The American Historical Review, Vol. 73, No. 1. (October 1967), 60.