Background
Gallwitz grew up in a Catholic family in Breslau.
Gallwitz grew up in a Catholic family in Breslau.
Later, he began the First World War as a corps commander (Guards Reserve Corps) on the Western Front, but was almost immediately transferred east to join the Eighth Army under Hindenburg. In 1915 he took command of Armee-Gruppe Gallwitz (later redesignated Twelfth Army) and participated in the Galicia offensive alongside Mackensen, who commanded the Eleventh Army. Towards the end of 1915 he succeeded Mackensen as commander of the Eleventh Army, as the latter campaigned against Serbia.
He took over command of 2nd Army and of Heeresgruppe Gallwitz - Somme controlling 1st and 2nd Armies.
From 1916-1918 he commanded the Fifth Army in the west, most notably engaging the Americans during the Battle of Saint-Mihiel. Following his retirement from the army, Gallwitz served as a deputy in the Reichstag (1920-1924) for the German National People"s Party.
In 1916 Gallwitz moved back to the Western Front and defended against the British attack in the Battle of the Somme.
