# August von Mackensen > German field marshal (1849–1945) **Wikidata**: [Q76909](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q76909) **Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/August_von_Mackensen) **Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/august-von-mackensen ## Summary August von Mackensen was a German field marshal and military officer who served from 1869 until his death in 1945. A prominent leader during World War I, he achieved high military rank and was recognized with some of the highest honors in the Kingdom of Prussia and the German Empire. His career spanned significant periods of German history, including the German Empire, Weimar Republic, and Nazi Germany. ## Biography - **Born:** December 6, 1849 - **Nationality:** German - **Education:** Honorary doctor of the University of Halle-Wittenberg; Honorary doctorate of the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna - **Known for:** Service as a German field marshal and military officer during World War I - **Employer(s):** 36th Division (Prussian/German Army) - **Field(s):** Military service, Armed forces ## Contributions August von Mackensen's primary contributions were defined by his military service and leadership during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. He began his work period in 1869 and served as a member of the 36th Division, a unit of the Prussian/German Army established in 1890. He played a significant role in World War I, operating as a high-ranking officer within the German military structure. His legacy includes his association with the SMS Mackensen, a vessel connected to his name and status. ## FAQs ### What awards did August von Mackensen receive? He received numerous prestigious decorations, including the Pour le Mérite, the Order of the Black Eagle, the Iron Cross, the Grand Cross of the Iron Cross, and the Military Order of St. Henry. ### When did August von Mackensen serve in the military? His work period began in 1869, and he served as a military officer through World War I, living until 1945. ### What academic honors were bestowed upon him? He was awarded an honorary doctorate from the University of Halle-Wittenberg in Germany and an honorary doctorate from the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, in Austria. ### What was his rank and affiliation? He attained the rank of field marshal and was a member of the 36th Division of the Prussian/German Army. ## Why They Matter August von Mackensen matters as a representative figure of the German military leadership during the imperial era and World War I. Holding the rank of field marshal, he was among the highest-ranking officers of his time, entrusted with significant command responsibilities during a global conflict. His receipt of the Grand Cross of the Iron Cross, a decoration intended specifically for victorious generals of the Prussian Army and its allies, highlights his importance to the German war effort. Furthermore, his life spanned the existence of the German Empire, the Weimar Republic, and the rise of Nazi Germany, making his career a lens through which the evolution of the German state and its military institutions can be observed. ## Notable For - **German Field Marshal:** Served as a field marshal in the German Army from 1849 to 1945. - **World War I Service:** Active military leadership during the global conflict originating in Europe between 1914 and 1918. - **Pour le Mérite:** Recipient of the Kingdom of Prussia's highest order of merit. - **Order of the Black Eagle:** Awarded the highest order of chivalry in the Kingdom of Prussia. - **Grand Cross of the Iron Cross:** Received the decoration intended for victorious generals of the Prussian Army and its allies. - **Military Order of St. Henry:** Honored with the Saxon Order of Knighthood. - **Academic Honors:** Received honorary doctorates from the University of Halle-Wittenberg and the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna. - **36th Division:** Member of this unit of the Prussian/German Army. - **SMS Mackensen:** Associated with the entity SMS Mackensen. ## Body ### Early Life and Identity August von Mackensen, born Anton Ludwig Friedrich August Mackensen, was a human and citizen of Germany. He was born on December 6, 1849, and lived until November 8, 1945. As a German national, he existed during the evolution of the German state, witnessing the inception of the German Empire in 1871, the Weimar Republic in 1918, and Nazi Germany in 1933. His full name included the noble predicate "von," reflecting his status within the German social hierarchy of the time. ### Military Career Mackensen's occupation was that of a military officer, with his work period commencing in 1869. He served as a member of the 36th Division, a unit of the Prussian/German Army that was established in 1890. His career was defined by his participation in World War I, a global war originating in Europe that lasted from 1914 to 1918. Rising to the rank of field marshal, he became one of the most prominent military leaders of his time, commanding forces and contributing to the strategic operations of the German Army. ### Awards and Decorations Throughout his service, Mackensen accumulated a vast array of military awards. He was awarded the Iron Cross, a military decoration established in the Kingdom of Prussia in 1813 and later used in the German Empire and Nazi Germany. He received the Grand Cross of the Iron Cross, a specific version of the award intended for victorious generals of the Prussian Army and its allies. His high standing was further confirmed by the receipt of the Pour le Mérite, the Kingdom of Prussia's highest order of merit created in 1740, and the Order of the Black Eagle, the highest order of chivalry in the Kingdom of Prussia established in 1701. Additionally, he was honored with the Military Order of St. Henry, a Saxon Order of Knighthood instituted in 1736. ### Academic Recognition and Associations Beyond his military exploits, Mackensen received recognition in the academic sphere. He was named an honorary doctor of the University of Halle-Wittenberg, a university located in Germany. He also received an honorary doctorate from the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, an institution in Austria that began conferring this honorary degree in 1907. His legacy is also tied to the SMS Mackensen, an entity associated with his name, likely reflecting the honor of having a military vessel named after him. His life and career remain a subject of study, documented in various biographical records and historical archives. ## References 1. Find a Grave 2. BnF authorities 3. Integrated Authority File 4. [Source](https://boku.ac.at/universitaetsleitung/rektorat/stabsstellen/oeffentlichkeitsarbeit/themen/ehrentraegerinnen/ehrendoktorinnen/mackensen) 5. International Standard Name Identifier 6. Virtual International Authority File 7. [Source](https://kalliope-verbund.info/DE-611-BF-118787) 8. Encyclopædia Britannica Online 9. SNAC 10. filmportal.de 11. Brockhaus Enzyklopädie 12. Croatian Encyclopedia 13. Munzinger Personen 14. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013 15. [BnF authorities](http://data.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/cb13544468z)