Hans von Gronau

Johann Karl Hermann Gronau, from 1913 von Gronau, commonly known as Hans von Gronau (6 December 1850 in Alt Schadow – 22 February 1940 in Potsdam) was a Prussian officer, and General during World War I.

World War I

At the outbreak of World War I, Gronau was recalled from retirement to take command of the newly formed IV Reserve Corps as part of the 1st Army, which was on the right wing of the forces that invaded France and Belgium as part of the Schlieffen Plan offensive in August 1914. It played a significant part in the First Battle of the Marne.

In September 1915, Gronau was appointed to command of XXXXI Reserve Corps (swapping places with Generalleutnant Arnold von Winckler). The Corps was upgraded to form Armee-Gruppe Gronau on 20 September 1915. Gronau remained in concurrent command of the Corps and the Armee-Gruppe. It served with the Army of the Bug throughout its existence. On 18 September 1916 it was raised to the status of an Armee-Abteilung (Army Detachment). It remained on the Eastern Front until dissolved on 27 March 1918.