Günther von Kirchbach

Günther Emanuel Graf von Kirchbach (9 August 1850 - 6 November 1925) was a German Generaloberst who served during the First World War.

Günther von Kirchbach was born in Erfurt in 1850 the son of Hugo von Kirchbach. Von Kirchbach entered the Prussian army in April 1868 as a second lieutenant in the Garde-Füsilier-Regiment. He served with this regiment in the Franco-Prussian War. Günther von Kirchbach married Adda Freiin von Liliencron in 1883. By 1899 von Kirchbach had been promoted to Generalmajor and in 1903 he was promoted to Generalleutnant and in 1907 he became a General der Infanterie. From 1908 to 1911 he was commanding general of V Corps, a command his father had previously held during the Franco-Prussian War. Von Kirchbach last position before the First World War broke out was of President of the Military Tribunal.

On the outbreak of the war in August 1914, von Kirchbach was given command of X Reserve Corps which served as part of the 2nd Army on the Western front. On 29 August 1914 von Kirchbach was wounded in combat and hospitalized. Relieved of his command due to his injuries, he resumed his former post as head of the Military Tribunal. In September 1916 von Kirchbach was given command of the Landwehr Corps. He was given command of Army group Woyrsch in November 1916. In April 1917 von Kirchbach was given command of Armee-Abteilung D. In December 1917 he was given command of the 8th Army fighting in the Baltic states. In August 1918 he succeeded Generalfeldmarschall Hermann von Eichhorn as commander of Heeresgruppe Kiew. Von Kirchbach held this position until 5 February 1919, when he was retired by the new government.

Glossary

 * Armee-Abteilung or Army Detachment in the sense of "something detached from an Army". It is not under the command of an Army so is in itself a small Army.
 * Armee-Gruppe or Army Group in the sense of a group within an Army and under its command, generally formed as a temporary measure for a specific task.
 * Heeresgruppe or Army Group in the sense of a number of armies under a single commander.