Who's Who - Alexander von Freytag-Loringhoven
Alexander von
Freytag-Loringhoven (1849-1926) served as Germany's Quartermaster-General
from 1915-16 and as Deputy Chief of the the General Staff from 1916-18
during the First World War, in the course of which he reported variously to
Erich Falkenhayn
and Paul von
Hindenburg.
Freytag-Loringhoven entered the Prussian Army in 1868 and served during the successful Franco-Prussian War of 1870-71.
During the First World War he was appointed Quartermaster-General by Chief of the General Staff Erich von Falkenhayn in 1915. With the latter's downfall in August 1916 Paul von Hindenburg was appointed his replacement, and he brought with him as his new Quartermaster-General Erich Ludendorff from the Eastern Front, where both Hindenburg and Ludendorff had established a popular reputation.
This did not however bring an end to Freytag-Loringhoven's wartime career. He was moved to a fresh position as Deputy Chief of the General Staff, a post he retained until the armistice.
Most unusually a year prior to Germany's defeat Freytag-Loringhoven published Deductions from the World War, in which he expounded his opinion that Germany would fail to win the war - and also explained how the country would inevitably win the following world war.
He died in 1926.
Britain introduced conscription for the first time on 2 February 1916.
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