Ernst von Hoeppner

Ernst Wilhelm von Hoeppner
Photographic portrait of General von Hoeppner
Born	14 January 1860 Tonnin, Wollin, Pomerania
Died	26 September 1922 (aged 62) Groß-Mokratz, Wollin, Pomerania
Buried at	Tonnin, Wollin, Pomerania
Allegiance	German Empire
Years of service	1879 – 1919
Rank	General der Kavallerie (General of Cavalry)
Commands held	75th Reserve Division Luftstreitkräfte XVIII Corps
Battles/wars	World War I
Awards	Pour le Mérite
Other work	Military historian

Ernst Wilhelm Arnold von Hoeppner (14 January 1860 – 26 September 1922) was a Prussian cavalry officer who served as the Commanding General of the German Air Service (Luftstreitkräfte) during World War I.

Hoeppner was born in Tonnin on the island of Wollin in Pomerania on 14 January 1860. The son of a major, he attended the Cadet School in Potsdam from 1872 and in 1879 he was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the 6th Magdeburg Dragoon Regiment. He attended the Prussian Military Academy in 1890. From 1893 to 1899, he was a member of the 14th Dragoon Regiment stationed at Colmar in Alsace, commanding a squadron.

Hoeppner married Sophie Eugenie Minette Elisabeth Adele Valentine of Pöppinghausen on 14 July 1885. They had three children: Busso, Margot and Gerd.

In 1902 Hoeppner was appointed to the General Staff. He was appointed as a staff officer with the IX Army Corps in Altona in 1904. By 1906 he was a lieutenant colonel and was commander of the 13th Hussars Regiment in Diedenhofen. Two years later he was appointed chief of staff of the VII Army Corps. In September 1912 he was made commander of the 4th Cavalry Brigade in Bromberg and the following year he was raised to the nobility by Kaiser Wilhelm II in recognition of his achievements as a staff officer and brigade commander.

At the start of World War I Hoeppner was Chief of Staff at the 3rd Army headquarters. He remained in this post until spring of 1915 when he took up command of the 14th Reserve Division. Later in 1915 he was appointed Chief of Staff of the 2nd Army and in 1916 he became the commander of the 75th Reserve Division.