Paul von Hindenburg

Prussian-German field marshal of the German Empire, statesman and president of Weimar Germany and Nazi Germany (1847-1934) · Germany · Politicians · Died at 86

Paul von Hindenburg is read about 5,593 times a day, in 90 languages.

A typical day, 30 days to 15 October 2026

The middle day of the days counted, so one week of news cannot move it. The line under it is the last 390 days, one point a day.

Something wrong?

Compare

The aging Prussian field marshal who defeated Russia at Tannenberg became Germany's president - then handed the keys to Hitler. His appointment of the Nazi leader as chancellor in 1933, despite his personal opposition, opened the door to dictatorship.

Politicians Politician Politics Germany Europe 19th Century

A life in dates

1934Died2 August 1934“I thank Providence for allowing me, in the evening of my life, to see the hour of recuperation.”In their words11 May 1934Testament (11 May 1934), quoted in W. W. Coole (ed.), Thus Spake Germany (London: George Routledge & Sons, 1941), p. 116Read the whole statement

Honorary CitizenshipAward1933Honorary Citizen of BonnAwardHonorary Citizen of PaderbornAwardHonorary Citizen of SpeyerAward1932Honorary Citizen of NurembergAward1930“I have always been a Monarchist. In sentiment I still am. Now it is too late for me to change. But it is not for me to say that the new way is not the better way, the right way.”In their words13 January 1930As quoted in TIME magazine (13 January 1930)Read the whole statement

1927“You are all young men and you have played to me the “March of Entry into Paris” well.”In their words19 September 1927Address to the Stahlhelm of Gross-Schwülper, Correspondance de Genève (19 September 1927), quoted in W. W. Coole (ed.), Thus Spake GermanyRead the whole statement

1919“An English general has said, with justice: ‘The German Army was stabbed in the back.’ No blame is to be attached to the sound core of the Army.”In their words18 November 1919Remarks to the National Assembly's committee of inquiry into the responsibility for the First World War (18 November 1919), quoted inRead the whole statement

1918Grand Cross of the Order of the Cross of LibertyAward1917“I need them for the manoeuvring of my left wing in the next war.”In their words18 December 1917Recommending the annexation of the Baltic Provinces at the Crown Council at Kreuznach (18 December 1917), quoted in John W.Read the whole statement

1914“You cannot wage war with sentimentality. The more ruthlessly war is conducted, the more merciful is it in fact, for it finishes the war the sooner.”In their wordsNovember 1914Remark (November 1914), Paul Dehn, Hindenburg, als Erzieher (1918), p. 12, quoted in W. W. Coole (ed.), Thus Spake Germany (London: GeorgeRead the whole statement

1902Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Friedrich IAward1847Born2 October 1847

Also in Deutsch

Photos 8

Paul von Hindenburg in 1933

"Merkblatt. Auszug aus der Verordnung über den Handelswarenverkehr im Verwaltungsgebiet Ober Ost" - LABW - Hauptstaatsarchiv Stuttgart J 151 Nr 1567

"Verordnung zur Verhütung der weiteren Ausbreitung von Geschlechtskrankheiten im Ostheere" - LABW - Hauptstaatsarchiv Stuttgart J 151 Nr 1560

"Verordnung über das Verhalten der Landeseinwohner" im deutsch besetzten russischen Gebiet rechts der Weichsel - LABW - Hauptstaatsarchiv Stuttgart J 151 Nr 1557

"Verordnung über den Besitz von Waffen, Munitionsgegenständen und Sprengstoffen" - LABW - Hauptstaatsarchiv Stuttgart J 151 Nr 1558

"Verordnung über Einführung des Gregorianischen Kalenders und der mitteleuropäischen (deutschen) Zeit, sowie Aufhebung der sogenannten Galatage" - LABW - Hauptstaatsarchiv Stuttgart J 151 Nr 1559

Abordnung der Führer im I.Weltkrieg 1914 - 1916

Bekanntgabe der "Verordnung zum Zwecke des Schutzes militärischer Anlagen und sonstiger Gegenstände, deren Erhaltung im militärischen Interesse liegt" - LABW - Hauptstaatsarchiv Stuttgart J 151 Nr 1980

In their own words 10

Paul von Hindenburg

10 statements, newest first

Interview of 1929, as quoted in "Nations are greatly concerned over death of German President" in Berkeley Daily Gazette (1 August 1934)
Aug 1, 1934, Variant translation:, Own words
I thank Providence for allowing me, in the evening of my life, to see the hour of recuperation.
May 11, 1934, Testament (11 May 1934), quoted in W. W. Coole (ed.), Thus Spake Germany (London: George Routledge & Sons, 1941), p. 116, Own words
I have always been a Monarchist. In sentiment I still am. Now it is too late for me to change. But it is not for me to say that the new way is not the better way, the right way.
Jan 13, 1930, As quoted in TIME magazine (13 January 1930), Own words

Wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0

Awards

Honorary Citizenship1934

Honorary Citizen of Paderborn1933

Honorary Citizen of Bonn1933

Honorary Citizen of Speyer1933

Honorary Citizen of Nuremberg1932

Grand Cross of the Order of the Cross of Liberty1918

Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Friedrich I1902

Pour le Mérite

Knight of the Order of the Golden Fleece

Grand Cross of the Military Order of Maria Theresa

Military Merit Cross I. Class

Order of the Black Eagle

Star of the Grand Cross of the Iron Cross

Large Military Merit Medal

Military Order of Max Joseph

Honorary Doctor of the Dresden University of Technology

Honorary Citizen of Sankt Andreasberg

Honorary Doctorate of the University of Graz

Honorary Citizen of Berlin

Honorary Doctor of the University of Königsberg

Honorary Doctor of the University of Bonn

Honorary Doctor of the University of Wrocław

Order of Saint Stephen of Hungary

Honorary Citizen of Coburg

Iron Cross 1st Class

Iron Cross 2nd Class

Grand Cross of the Iron Cross

Imtiyaz Medal

Family

Parents

Paul von Hindenburg

Partners

Spouse Gertrud Wilhelmine von Hindenburg

Children

Sibling Bernhard von Hindenburg

Is this everyone?

Only relatives with a profile here are drawn, so a family can be larger than this. A line here can also be wrong.

Correct this family

About this person

Hindenburg was born in 1847 to minor Prussian nobility and fought in the Austro-Prussian and Franco-Prussian wars before rising through the General Staff to lieutenant general. He retired in 1911 but was recalled when World War I began, winning the Battle of Tannenberg in 1914 and becoming a national hero. By 1916 he and deputy Erich Ludendorff had established a de facto military dictatorship, securing Russia's defeat before Germany's fortunes collapsed in 1918. He returned as Weimar Republic president in 1925, and after twice dissolving the Reichstag in 1932, reluctantly appointed Hitler as chancellor in January 1933. He then signed the Reichstag Fire Decree and Enabling Act, which suspended civil liberties and granted the Nazis emergency powers. When Hindenburg died in August 1934, Hitler merged the presidency with the chancellery and declared himself Führer.

Country

Germany

In common with Paul

Erich LudendorffBoth received Large Military Merit Medal

Erich von FalkenhaynBoth received Large Military Merit Medal

Politicians from Germany 4

Fame.am measures public visibility signals. It does not measure human value, talent, morality, or credibility.