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In the entire World War there was never another battle like Tannenberg. The Germans, trusting to their information that Rennekampf would not move, flung practically their whole force against Samsonov, trapping this rash Russian hopelessly in East Prussia's swamps and forests. Within a week after Hindenburg had left his placid home, 20,000 Russians had been slain or wounded, 92,000 captured, and Samsonov had committed suicide amid the remnants of his beaten host while the Germans turned on Rennekampf. "Your old man," wrote Hindenburg to his wife, "is going to be famous."
From the colossal triumph of Tannenberg grew the legend that soon made Hindenburg the greatest name in Germany. "When I drive through the Brandenburg Gate," stormed the Kaiser, "am I to be greeted with shouts of 'HINDENBURG'?"
Most emphatically he was. The fact that Hindenburg in pre-War days had explored and studied the Masurian Lakes district until he became known as "General Mud" was cited to explain the debacle of the Russians. By his uncanny wisdom of East Prussian geography Old Paul had lured them to their doom, the German in the street believed. Inevitably, when the German steamroller in the Western Front slowed down, it was HINDENBURG with Ludendorff who was rushed thither to win. "Our purpose is not to hold on," he said, "but to conquer." In that purpose he failed, but after holding the Hindenburg Line until it too became a legend he went home amid the welter of defeat, still calm, majestic, head and shoulders above the fleeing Kaiser.
Last week a handsome portrait of General Ludendorff still hung prominently in the Feldmarschalls study when he died. But in Munich General Ludendorff boiled with spleen at the fact that Old Paul will always receive most of the credit for what his Chief of Staff likes to call "My victories." Erich Ludendorff hung out no flag after the President's death, snapped, "I have no comment to make. You can understand why."
Life No. 3. With his aging wife who was soon to die and his spry young dachshund, Feldmarschall von Hindenburg settled down after the War, positive that he had fulfilled his duty to the Fatherland. No irony is greater than that in 1925 he, who always remained an avowed Monarchist, should have been persuaded that it was his duty to run for President of the Republic.
The years of his first Presidency brought the Warrior-President into piquant juxtaposition with Peaceman Gustav Stresemann. In 1927 he cautiously asked Dr. Stresemann if there would be any objection to his denouncing "the German War guilt lie" at a Tannenberg celebration.
"I am an old man now, Dr. Stresemann," said the President, "and may soon be called before the throne of God. I don't want the Almighty God to point a finger at me and say, 'What have you done to absolve Germany from the terrible charge of responsibility for the World War'?"
With Dr. Stresemann's consent, the speech, then considered daring, was pronounced by President von Hindenburg at Tannenberg on Sept. 18, 1927. "With clean hearts we started out in defense of our Fatherland," he cried, "and with clean hands the German Army wielded the sword."