The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1934-08-02
Won HINDENBURG
DIES THIS MORNING
(Continued from Page one

Va EAlSuNAtCn GDCAts AAot pL~SI-
dent of the republic, caused grave
concern among the proponents of
that form of government. They,
as well as the conservatives, re-
ceived with CONSERVATION the an
nouncement that Won Hindenberg
had consented to run for presi-
dent.
The old warrior, upon taking
office and in a short time there
after, not only convinced the
skeptical that their fears were
groundless, but proved a disap-
pointment to the monarchists and
die-hards.
Well Liked As President
As President Won Hindenburg
he was the type of man who APP
pealed to patriotic Germans by
reason of their belief that he en-
bodied all the stern Germanic vir-
tues-virile strength combined
with an answering devotion to
duty and great singleness of pur-
pose. 1t was said of him that not
since the days of Bismarck, the
Iron Chancellor, had there been in
German public life personality
so popular, respected and dominat-
ing.
Paul Ludwig Hans Anton Won
Beneckendorf und Won linden.
burg was born at Posen, formerly
in Prussia, now Poznan in Poland,
October 2, ls47, the son of y
Prussian army officer and of q
family mostrof whose sons had for
over 800 years adopted a military
career. M sa,
! Young Paul. went to the army
as a matter of course, and when
at 80 he received his commission
as a captain on the general staff,
he married Gertrud Won Sperling,
a girl of Is. The union was
happy one, the youthful bride be-
coming an ideal officers wife. She
died in 1921. A son, Oscar, and
two daughters, Irmengard and
Annemarie. were born to them.
Oscar also entered the army, and
both daughters married officers.
President Won Hindenburg was a
grandfather many times over.
Had Wide Experience
Won Hindenburg's actual ex-
perience in battle previous to the
great world conflict was gained in
the Austro-P russian and the
Franco-Prussian wars.
In addition to the national hon
ors that were conferred upon him
for his great victory at Tannen-
berg in the World War, Won Hin
denburg received honorary de-
grees from nine German univer
sites and was made freeman Of
as many university towns.
Koenigsberg, the capital of the
liberated province of East Prussia,
conferred upon him doctorate in
all four faculties for "having COM
pletely defeated and expelled the
MuscOvite hordes, thereby saving
the German people from barbarism
and achieving imperishable fame. :"
Tannenberg was followed q
! week later by the battle of the
Mazurian Lakes which definitely
disposed of the Russian menace
to Germany's eastern border. Then
by series of skillful moves, he
defeated the Russians again at
LODI, Poland.
Americans Explode Hope
German hopes rose high when,
in 1916, placed in supreme com
mand of the German armies, he
turned his attention to the west
crn front, where he was to meet
his master. His, name was given
to the famous "Hindenburg line"
"a system of communicating
trenches and concrete fortifica-
tions which long withstood as
gsaults by the allied, armies. But
the American. support of the AL
lied offensive after four years of
attTition made resistance hopeless.
On October 3, 1918, Won linden
burg was called to Berlin and at
tended the Council at which Prince
Macmillan of Baden was made
chancellor. There the victor of
Tannenberg presented the facts
that resulted in the armistice pro-
pOsal to the Allies by Germany,
and it was he who conducted the
difficult task of withdrawing the
disspirited German forces back
home and placed the army at the
disposal of the revolutionary gov
eminent.
Spoke Mind Openly
There has been much gossip
about personal friction between
Won Hindenburg and the ex-kaiser.
A kinsman, Herbert Won linden
burg, in an article, admitted that
there was little love lost between
the former War Lord and the
peoples idol.
The old field marshal spoke his
mind in plain language which did
not always please the "all high
pst ~ hnt ha navar Shirkad YoSnOY,