Background
The son of a Prussian officer, Heye joined the Army in 1888 and subsequently became a member of the German General Staff.
The son of a Prussian officer, Heye joined the Army in 1888 and subsequently became a member of the German General Staff.
During the First World War he served on both the East and Western fronts, eventually becoming the last chief of the operations department at the Oberste Heeresleitung (Supreme Army Command). After the end of the war he assisted Hans von Seeckt in organising the new Reichswehr, serving as the second Chief of the Truppenamt and later commander of the Wehrkreis I (Military District I). In 1926 he replaced Seeckt as Chief of Army Command, and held that position until retiring in 1930.