Alfred von Kühne (2 January 1853 – 8 May 1945) was a Prussian General der Kavallerie who was active during

World War I World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...

. He commanded the 13th Reserve Division and participated in the

Siege of Maubeuge The siege of Maubeuge took place from at the Entrenched Camp of Maubeuge () the start of the First World War on the Western Front. The railway from Thionville (Diedenhofen, 1871–1919) to Luxembourg City, Arlon and Namur into Belgium had been ...

Life

Alfred Kühne was born on 2 January 1853 in

Weimar Weimar is a city in the state (Germany), German state of Thuringia, in Central Germany (cultural area), Central Germany between Erfurt to the west and Jena to the east, southwest of Leipzig, north of Nuremberg and west of Dresden. Together w ...

. He was the son of Prussian Oberstleutnant Gustav Kühne (1818−1880). He entered the military as Second Lieutenant in the 19th (Oldenburg) Dragoon Regiment. As an Oberst, in 1900, Kühne became the commander of the 10th (Magdeburg) Hussars. Later, as Inspector-General of the 1st Cavalry Inspection, he was member of Reinforced Cavalry Commission. For his services

Emperor The word ''emperor'' (from , via ) can mean the male ruler of an empire. ''Empress'', the female equivalent, may indicate an emperor's wife (empress consort), mother/grandmother (empress dowager/grand empress dowager), or a woman who rules ...

Wilhelm II Wilhelm II (Friedrich Wilhelm Viktor Albert; 27 January 18594 June 1941) was the last German Emperor and King of Prussia from 1888 until Abdication of Wilhelm II, his abdication in 1918, which marked the end of the German Empire as well as th ...

ennobled Nobility is a social class found in many societies that have an aristocracy. It is normally appointed by and ranked immediately below royalty. Nobility has often been an estate of the realm with many exclusive functions and characteristics. Th ...

him in 1911. From 18 August to 18 October 1905, Kühne was posted as the commander of the 31st Cavalry Brigade. On 19 October 1905, Kühne was promoted to Generalmajor. From 2 September 1907 to 26 January 1911, Kühne was commander of the 4th Guards Cavalry Brigade in

Potsdam Potsdam () is the capital and largest city of the Germany, German States of Germany, state of Brandenburg. It is part of the Berlin/Brandenburg Metropolitan Region. Potsdam sits on the Havel, River Havel, a tributary of the Elbe, downstream of B ...

. On February 2, 1911, Kühne was promoted to Generalleutnant. He later became the Inspector-General of the 1st Cavalry Inspection in Posen. On 14 March 1912, on his own request, Kühne retired from the army, and was awarded the

Order of the Red Eagle The Order of the Red Eagle () was an order of chivalry of the Kingdom of Prussia. It was awarded to both military personnel and civilians, to recognize valor in combat, excellence in military leadership, long and faithful service to the kingdom, o ...

(2nd class). During

, Kühne was brought back from retirement to serve as commander of the 13th Reserve Division, which served as part of the VII Reserve Corps and the 2nd Army on the Western Front. His division was involved in most of the battles of that front in 1914. On 17 January, 1915, Kühne was given the character of a General der Kavallerie. With his division, Kühne was deployed in

Verdun Verdun ( , ; ; ; official name before 1970: Verdun-sur-Meuse) is a city in the Meuse (department), Meuse departments of France, department in Grand Est, northeastern France. It is an arrondissement of the department. In 843, the Treaty of V ...

for the

Battle of Verdun The Battle of Verdun ( ; ) was fought from 21 February to 18 December 1916 on the Western Front (World War I), Western Front in French Third Republic, France. The battle was the longest of the First World War and took place on the hills north ...

. On 4 April 1918, Kühne became the commander of the 226th Infantry Division. He stayed at this position until 10 February 1919.

Trivial

Ernest Louis, Grand Duke of Hesse Ernest Louis (; 25 November 1868 – 9 October 1937) was the last Grand Duke of Hesse and by Rhine, reigning from 1892 until 1918. Early life Ernest Louis was the elder son of Louis IV, Grand Duke of Hesse and by Rhine and Princess Alice of ...

had a lot of chances to meet Kühne since he had a Hessian division. He said that he is a man with a big heart who had real love for his troops. Wherever it was possible for him, he took care of everyone in the most touching way; his concern went as far as the individual man. When Kühne was transferred to the Eastern Front, a general mourned.

Resources

{{DEFAULTSORT:Kühne, Alfred von German untitled nobility 1853 births 1945 deaths German Army generals of World War I Generals of Cavalry (Prussia) Military personnel from Weimar