circa 1915. Large naturalistically rendered hand of the Field Marshal with his marshal's baton as Generalfeldmarschall in 1:1 scale. Engraved inscription on the edge of the forearm “Hand d. G.F.M. von Hindenburgs - Lötzen im Jahr 1915 - St. Cauer”. Overall height 28 cm. Very fine patina, condition 2.

On November 1, 1914, Generaloberst Paul von Hindenburg was appointed Supreme Commander of the Armeeoberkommando Ost (Army High Command East). On November 27 he was promoted to Generalfeldmarschall. Chief of the General Staff was Generalleutnant Erich Ludendorff, and headquarters was located in Hindenburg's birthplace Posen.

After the victorious battles at Tannenberg (August 26-30, 1914) and at the Masurian Lakes (September 6-15, 1914), the Imperial Russian Army was largely weakened and had withdrawn behind the border. However, there were repeated individual incursions into East Prussian territory. With the Winter Battle in Masuria (February 7-22, 1915), they succeeded in decisively defeating the Russians.
Already in early February 1915, headquarters had been moved from Posen to Insterburg; after the fighting ended on February 22, it finally took up residence in Lötzen, where it would remain for eight months.

Daniel Jacob, merchant, purveyor to the court, and member of the Lötzen magistrate, made his business building at Lycker Straße 4 available for this purpose. On the ground floor was the telephone and telegraph center; the large Danziger Zimmer on the first floor served Hindenburg, Ludendorff, and the General Staff officers as workspace; and on the second floor were the offices of the adjutants. As residence for Hindenburg and Ludendorff, notary Max Hardwig provided them his villa on Bahnhofstraße.

During the eight months, numerous prominent visitors came to the city, including members of the German Imperial House and high nobility. Kaiser Wilhelm II had already visited the city on February 13, 1915, accompanied by Hindenburg, to assess the progress of operations during the Winter Battle in Masuria.
In January 1915, serious disagreements arose between Hindenburg and Kaiser Wilhelm II regarding necessary troop transfers to the Eastern Front. Empress Augusta Victoria then mediated this dispute. This bronze hand was commissioned by the Empress and created by sculptor Stanislaus Cauer as a symbol of reconciliation between Hindenburg and the Kaiser. One example each was intended for the Kaiser and Hindenburg, as well as a small number for involved General Staff officers, including Ludendorff.

A historically significant object of contemporary history.

514470

€ 6.500,00

German Empire World War I Field Marshal Paul von Beneckendorff und von Hindenburg Large Bronze “The Hand of the Field Marshal with Marshal's Baton”

The Bronze Hand of Field Marshal von Hindenburg: A Symbol of Victory and Reconciliation

This monumental bronze sculpture depicts the hand of Generalfeldmarschall Paul von Beneckendorff und von Hindenburg grasping his marshal's baton. Cast in 1:1 scale with a total height of 28 cm, it bears the engraved inscription “Hand d. G.F.M. von Hindenburgs - Lötzen im Jahr 1915 - St. Cauer”. Created by the sculptor Stanislaus Cauer, this work is inextricably linked to one of the most significant chapters in German military history during World War I.

Hindenburg and the Eastern Front 1914-1915

On November 1, 1914, General Paul von Hindenburg was appointed Commander-in-Chief of the Army High Command East (Oberbefehlshaber Ost). Just weeks later, on November 27, 1914, he was promoted to Generalfeldmarschall, the highest military rank in the Prussian-German Army. At his side served Lieutenant General Erich Ludendorff as Chief of the General Staff, a partnership that would become legendary.

Hindenburg had already made his name through spectacular victories at Tannenberg (August 26-30, 1914) and the Masurian Lakes (September 6-15, 1914). These battles had decisively weakened the Imperial Russian Army and saved East Prussia from invasion. The Winter Battle of Masuria (February 7-22, 1915) represented another significant success, leading to the final withdrawal of Russian forces from German territory.

The Headquarters in Lötzen

Following the Winter Battle, the Army High Command East relocated its headquarters on February 22, 1915, to Lötzen (today Giżycko, Poland), where it would remain for eight months. The merchant and court supplier Daniel Jacob, a member of the Lötzen magistrate, made his business premises at Lycker Straße 4 available. The ground floor housed the telephone and telegraph center, while the large Danzig Room on the first floor served as the workspace for Hindenburg, Ludendorff, and the General Staff officers.

During these months, Lötzen became a center of military and political power. Numerous prominent visitors came to the East Prussian town, including members of the German Imperial House and high nobility. Kaiser Wilhelm II himself visited the city on February 13, 1915, accompanied by Hindenburg, to assess the progress of military operations.

Conflict and Reconciliation

In January 1915, serious tensions arose between Hindenburg and Kaiser Wilhelm II regarding troop allocation between the Eastern and Western Fronts. Hindenburg vehemently demanded additional troops for the Eastern Front, while the Kaiser had different strategic priorities. The disagreement threatened to escalate into a serious crisis.

In this tense situation, Empress Auguste Viktoria assumed a mediating role. She commissioned the renowned sculptor Stanislaus Cauer to create this bronze hand as a symbol of reconciliation between the Kaiser and his most successful field commander. The hand grasping the marshal's baton was intended to represent Hindenburg's authority and leadership while simultaneously demonstrating loyalty to the Imperial House.

The Artist Stanislaus Cauer

Stanislaus Cauer (1867-1943) came from a distinguished dynasty of sculptors and was known for his naturalistic representations. His works were characterized by technical perfection and anatomical accuracy. The Field Marshal's hand was cast in several copies: one for the Kaiser, one for Hindenburg himself, and a small number for participating officers of the General Staff, including Ludendorff.

Symbolism and Significance

The marshal's baton grasped by the bronze hand had been the traditional insignia of a Generalfeldmarschall since the 18th century. It symbolized the highest military authority and was only awarded to the most successful commanders. The naturalistic representation in 1:1 scale gives the object an immediate, almost physical presence, making it more than just a portrait—it becomes a symbol of the military power of the German Empire during World War I.

The creation of this sculpture in Lötzen in 1915, during the peak of Hindenburg's military success, makes it a remarkable historical document. It represents the veneration accorded to the Field Marshal and the complex relationships between military and political leadership in Imperial Germany.

Historical Context

This bronze hand is an extraordinary example of the personalization of military success and the cultivation of leadership personalities during World War I. It documents not only artistic skill but also the political tensions and reconciliation efforts at the highest levels of the German Empire during the war. As one of the few surviving examples from this special commissioned series, it represents a historically significant object of contemporary history, offering insight into the interplay of art, politics, and military culture in a pivotal moment of the Great War.