Walther von Lüttwitz
| Walther von Lüttwitz | |
|---|---|
Walther von Lüttwitz (centre) with Gustav Noske (right), c. 1920
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| Born | 2 February 1859 Bodland |
| Died |
20 September 1942 (aged 83) Breslau |
| Allegiance |
 German Empire
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| Years of service | 1878–1920 |
| Battles/wars | World War I |
| Awards | Pour le Mérite with Oak Leaves |
| Relations |
Smilo Freiherr von Lüttwitz (son) Kurt von Hammerstein-Equord (son in law) |
Walther von Lüttwitz or Walther Freiherr von Lüttwitz (2 February 1859 – 20 September 1942) was a German general who fought in World War I. Lüttwitz is best known for being the driving force behind the Kapp-Lüttwitz Putsch of 1920 which attempted to replace the democratic government of the Weimar Republic with a military dictatorship.
Lüttwitz was born on 2 February 1859 in Bodland near Kreuzburg in Upper Silesia, part of Prussia. His father was Ernst von Lüttwitz (1823–92), Oberförster ("head forest warden"), Hauptmann (captain) and Deichhauptmann ("overseer of levees"). His mother was Cecile (1835-1910), the daughter of Heinrich Graf Strachwitz von Groß-Zauche und Camminetz.
Lüttwitz received his military training in 1878–87, finishing as an officer. He then attended the Kriegsakademie in 1887–90. Between 1890 and 1912 he served in various army commands. In 1912, Lüttwitz was appointed Oberquartiermeister at the Großer Generalstab (the German General Staff).Crownprince Wilhelm described him as: "mehr Truppenführer als Armeechef, mehr Blücher als Gneisenau" ("more leader of men than army chief, more Blücher than Gneisenau").
During World War I, Lüttwitz held several high military ranks. At the outbreak of war, he was appointed Chief of Staff at the 4th Army. In September 1915, he became commander of the 10th Army Corps and participated in the Second Battle of Champagne. In 1916, he became Chief of Staff of the 5th Army (whose commander-in-chief was Prince Wilhelm) and managed to minimize the military fall-out from the drain on resources of the Battle of Verdun.
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