The Great War

In August 1914, von Hindenburg defeated the Russians at Tannenburg, overcoming a much larger enemy force. He was promoted to Commander-in-Chief of the German armies in the East, where he achieved a number of significant victories, most notably at the Battle of the Masurian Lakes. Much of this success has been put down to the brilliance of his chief-of-staff, Erich Ludendorff, who served as von Hindenburg's deputy throughout the war. These victories on the Eastern Front caused von Hindenburg to become a cult figure in Germany, where he was seen as the perfect embodiment of Germanic strength and moral decency. Wooden statues of von Hindenburg were built all over Germany, onto which people nailed money and cheques for war bonds. The Great War gives unparalleled insight into German military thinking during World War I, and offers the rare perspective of one of Germany's most senior military figures. This is the first edition of von Hindenburg's memoirs in more than fifty years.