August von Mackensen, born on December 6th, 1849 in Saxony in Eastern Germany, was one of the most famous German military figures of the late 19th/early 20th century, and probably the most famous German cavalry officer in history.
Born as the son of an administrator in an agricultural company, von Mackensen did not follow his fathers steps, but instead volunteered in 1869 to serve with the Prussian 2nd Life Hussar Regiment. He fought in the Franco-German War of 1870/71, where he was promoted to second lieutenant and awarded the Iron Cross 2nd class for a successful cavalry charge against a French reconnaissance patrol north of Orleans. He briefly left the Army after the war for his studies, but returned in 1873. In the 1880s, the German War Minister Julius von Verdy du Vernois became his mentor, and in 1891, he became part of the General Staff in Berlin of the Imperial German Army. He then served as an adjutant to Alfred von Schlieffen, the chief of the General Staff from 1891 to 1906.
In 1893, he impressed the German Emperor Wilhelm II. so much that he made him the commander of the 1st Life Hussar Regiments. Its uniform, with the characteristic death head, which also later became the symbol of the German Panzer Troops in WWII, was worn by Mackensen for the rest of his life, he can be seen in this footage wearing it. From 1901 to 1903, Mackensen became commander of the newly created Life-Hussar-Briagde, and from 1903 to 1908, commander of the 36th Division in Danzig. In 1908, Mackensen was given command of the XVII. Army Corps in East Prussia.
At the outbreak of WWI, Mackensen, already 65 years old, lead his Army Corps to the fight against Russian troops invading East Prussia. He allegedly had his entire Corp move out only 50 minutes after receiving the order to do so. In battles in late 1914, he led his Corps in the battles of Gumbinnen, Tannenberg and Masurian Lakes, driving out the Russians of East Prussia. He was awarded the Pour le Mérite, Germanys highest military order, in November 1914. In June 1915, he was awarded the Oak Leaves to the Pour le Mérite, and promoted to Field Marshal.
He then was made commander of the newly formed “Army Group Mackensen”, consisting of the German 11th Army and the Austria-Hungarian 4th Army. Mackensen led this Army Group to a decisive breakthrough in the Gorlice–Tarnów offensive in July 1915 in southern Poland, which forced the Russians to retreat from all of Poland. In October 1915, he led German and Austro-Hungarian troops against Serbia, and from August 1916, against Romania.
Mackensen was the most consistently successful senior general of all sides during WWI, having only lost a single battle in the entire war (Battle of Mărășești agains the Romanians/Russians).
He was also extremely popular due to his success and image as old, battle-hardened Prussian Hussar officer, earning him the nickname “The Last Hussar”.
He returned to Germany in 1920 and retired. From 1924 onwards, he supported monarchist and nationalist groups with public appearances.
When the Nazis rose to Power, they used his popularity and he publicly appeared with Hitler on several occasions, such as Memorial Days in the 1930s. However, he remained critical of some of the Nazis action, such as against the Church, and was, for the remainder of his life, a staunch supporter of the monarchy. He was made honorary chief of the Cavalry Regiment 5 in 1936.
Hitler and Goebbels suspected him as being an enemy of the regime, but due to his popularity and old age, did nothing against him. He appeared in his full uniform at the funeral of Emperor Wilhelm II in June 1941.
This footage was taken on December 6th, 1944, his 95th birthday, at his estate in Brüssow in East Germany, near Stettin. Field Marshal Keitel, Chief of the OKW, visited him together with Mackensen' son, Eberhard von Mackensen (1889-1969), a General in the Wehrmacht, Major Max Sauer, the commander of Cavalry Regiment 5, and a delegation of officers and soldiers of the Regiment.
Towards the end of the war in January 1945, he left his estate and moved towards Celle in West Germany, where in April 1945, he was briefly captured by British troops, but nothing further happened. He remained active and mentally sharp until the end, dying on November 8th, 1945, a month before is 96th birthday, and is buried in the Celle cemetery.
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Subtitles made by me.
