Hermann von der Lieth-Thomsen
Encyclopedia
General Hermann von der Lieth-Thomsen, born Hermann Thomsen, (10 March 1867 – 5 May 1942) was a German military aviation pioneer, a senior air commander in the Imperial German Army Air Service during World War I and a founding father of the German military aviation.
which had recently been lost by the Kingdom of Denmark
and incorporated into Prussia
. Lieth-Thomsen joined the Prussian Army in 1887, serving first as a pioneer officer.
In January 1908 the German General Staff
established a technical staff to monitor foreign and domestic progress in aviation, motorized transport and telegraphy. Captain Thomsen was appointed as its head, serving under Erich Ludendorff
. Thomsen served on the General Staff until February 1914 when he was transferred to the staff of the 2nd Railway Regiment. However, he was soon transferred again and at the start of August Thomsen took up post as the Investigation Officer for Airship Guidance at Posen.
. In October the following year, with the reorganization of the German Army Air Services into the Luftstreitkräfte
, Thomsen, by now a lieutenant-colonel, was named Chief of Staff to Ernst von Hoeppner
, the newly appointed Commanding General of the Air Service. He served as the Luftstreitkräfte Chief of Staff until after the end of World War I.
In 1917 Thomsen was awarded the Pour le Mérite
even though as a senior commander he was not directly involved in air combat. The award was resented by some of his junior officers.
His son, Joachim von der Lieth-Thomsen
, was hit by a ship, while he was flying over the Thames Estuary, and ended the war as a POW.
in August 1919.
In the 1920s Lieth-Thomsen actively participated in the German efforts to build a secret Air Force in the Soviet Union. In 1923 he first made contact with the Soviets and in 1925 he was instrumental in establishing the German military mission in the Soviet Union.
During the 1920s he developed serious eye problems which eventually led to his blindness. In 1928 he moved back to the island of Sylt
in his native Schleswig.
was established in 1935 under Hermann Göring
, Lieth-Thomsen re-entered military service as Head of the Military Science at the Reich Air Ministry
. He was granted the rank of major general
. He held this post until his death in 1942, receiving promotions to lieutenant general
and General of Flying (General der Flieger) before the outbreak of World War II.
Hermann von der Lieth-Thomsen died on 5 May 1942 in Sylt and was buried in the Invalidenfriedhof Cemetery
in Berlin.
Early life and military career
Hermann Thomsen was born on 10 March 1867 in FlensburgFlensburg
Flensburg is an independent town in the north of the German state of Schleswig-Holstein. Flensburg is the centre of the region of Southern Schleswig...
which had recently been lost by the Kingdom of Denmark
Kingdom of Denmark
The Kingdom of Denmark or the Danish Realm , is a constitutional monarchy and sovereign state consisting of Denmark proper in northern Europe and two autonomous constituent countries, the Faroe Islands in the North Atlantic and Greenland in North America. Denmark is the hegemonial part, where the...
and incorporated into Prussia
Kingdom of Prussia
The Kingdom of Prussia was a German kingdom from 1701 to 1918. Until the defeat of Germany in World War I, it comprised almost two-thirds of the area of the German Empire...
. Lieth-Thomsen joined the Prussian Army in 1887, serving first as a pioneer officer.
In January 1908 the German General Staff
German General Staff
The German General Staff was an institution whose rise and development gave the German armed forces a decided advantage over its adversaries. The Staff amounted to its best "weapon" for nearly a century and a half....
established a technical staff to monitor foreign and domestic progress in aviation, motorized transport and telegraphy. Captain Thomsen was appointed as its head, serving under Erich Ludendorff
Erich Ludendorff
Erich Friedrich Wilhelm Ludendorff was a German general, victor of Liège and of the Battle of Tannenberg...
. Thomsen served on the General Staff until February 1914 when he was transferred to the staff of the 2nd Railway Regiment. However, he was soon transferred again and at the start of August Thomsen took up post as the Investigation Officer for Airship Guidance at Posen.
World War I
In March 1915 Thomsen was appointed Chief of Field Air Forces (Chef des Feldflugwesens) for the entire German Army. At this stage he held the rank of major which was far more junior than the rank of his opposite numbers in the Royal Flying CorpsRoyal Flying Corps
The Royal Flying Corps was the over-land air arm of the British military during most of the First World War. During the early part of the war, the RFC's responsibilities were centred on support of the British Army, via artillery co-operation and photographic reconnaissance...
. In October the following year, with the reorganization of the German Army Air Services into the Luftstreitkräfte
Luftstreitkräfte
The Deutsche Luftstreitkräfte , known before October 1916 as Die Fliegertruppen des deutschen Kaiserreiches , or simply Die Fliegertruppen, was the air arm of the Imperial German Army during World War I...
, Thomsen, by now a lieutenant-colonel, was named Chief of Staff to Ernst von Hoeppner
Ernst von Hoeppner
General of Cavalry Ernst Wilhelm von Hoeppner was a German cavalry officer who served as the Commanding General of the German Air Service during World War I.-Early life and military career:...
, the newly appointed Commanding General of the Air Service. He served as the Luftstreitkräfte Chief of Staff until after the end of World War I.
In 1917 Thomsen was awarded the Pour le Mérite
Pour le Mérite
The Pour le Mérite, known informally as the Blue Max , was the Kingdom of Prussia's highest military order for German soldiers until the end of World War I....
even though as a senior commander he was not directly involved in air combat. The award was resented by some of his junior officers.
His son, Joachim von der Lieth-Thomsen
Joachim von der Lieth-Thomsen
Joachim von der Lieth-Thomsen was a German Pilot of the First World War.- Life :Joachim Thomsen was born in Metz, where his father, Hermann von der Lieth-Thomsen, was stationed. He followed his father's footsteps into the Imperial Army...
, was hit by a ship, while he was flying over the Thames Estuary, and ended the war as a POW.
Inter-war years
After close of World War I, Germany was required to disestablish her Air Services. Lieth-Thomsen served in the Aviation Department of the Prussian War Ministry during January and February 1919 and was then assigned to other duties at the War Ministry. However, he resigned his position and retired from military service as a colonelColonel
Colonel , abbreviated Col or COL, is a military rank of a senior commissioned officer. It or a corresponding rank exists in most armies and in many air forces; the naval equivalent rank is generally "Captain". It is also used in some police forces and other paramilitary rank structures...
in August 1919.
In the 1920s Lieth-Thomsen actively participated in the German efforts to build a secret Air Force in the Soviet Union. In 1923 he first made contact with the Soviets and in 1925 he was instrumental in establishing the German military mission in the Soviet Union.
During the 1920s he developed serious eye problems which eventually led to his blindness. In 1928 he moved back to the island of Sylt
Sylt
Sylt is an island in northern Germany, part of Nordfriesland district, Schleswig-Holstein, and well known for the distinctive shape of its shoreline. It belongs to the North Frisian Islands and is the largest island in North Frisia...
in his native Schleswig.
Luftwaffe service
Despite his blindness, when the LuftwaffeLuftwaffe
Luftwaffe is a generic German term for an air force. It is also the official name for two of the four historic German air forces, the Wehrmacht air arm founded in 1935 and disbanded in 1946; and the current Bundeswehr air arm founded in 1956....
was established in 1935 under Hermann Göring
Hermann Göring
Hermann Wilhelm Göring, was a German politician, military leader, and a leading member of the Nazi Party. He was a veteran of World War I as an ace fighter pilot, and a recipient of the coveted Pour le Mérite, also known as "The Blue Max"...
, Lieth-Thomsen re-entered military service as Head of the Military Science at the Reich Air Ministry
Reich Air Ministry
thumb|300px|The Ministry of Aviation, December 1938The Ministry of Aviation was a government department during the period of Nazi Germany...
. He was granted the rank of major general
Major General
Major general or major-general is a military rank used in many countries. It is derived from the older rank of sergeant major general. A major general is a high-ranking officer, normally subordinate to the rank of lieutenant general and senior to the ranks of brigadier and brigadier general...
. He held this post until his death in 1942, receiving promotions to lieutenant general
Lieutenant General
Lieutenant General is a military rank used in many countries. The rank traces its origins to the Middle Ages where the title of Lieutenant General was held by the second in command on the battlefield, who was normally subordinate to a Captain General....
and General of Flying (General der Flieger) before the outbreak of World War II.
Hermann von der Lieth-Thomsen died on 5 May 1942 in Sylt and was buried in the Invalidenfriedhof Cemetery
Invalidenfriedhof Cemetery
The Invalids' Cemetery is one of the oldest cemeteries in Berlin. It was the traditional resting place of the Prussian Army, and is regarded as particularly important as a memorial to the German Wars of Liberation of 1813-15.-History:...
in Berlin.