Lieth-Thomsen, Hermann

From OnAirpower.org

von der Lieth-Thomsen, Hermann

Name:	von der Lieth-Thomsen, Hermann
Years:	1867-1942
Rank:	General
Nationality:	German
Remarks:	German aviation pioneer and Luftstreitkräfte Chief of Staff during World War I

1 Biography
2 Timeline
3 Sources
4 References

[edit] Biography

In 1907, Lieth-Thomsen was assigned to the Engineer and Fortress Department of the General Staff, which was one of the Prussian military agencies responsible for observing development in aviation^[1].

In January, 1908 the German General Staff created a technical section to follow foreign and domestic progress in aviation, motorized transport, and telegraphy and appointed Capt. von der Lieth-Thomsen to head it. In October, 1908 the section was assigned to the mobilization department headed by Capt. Erich Ludendorff^[2].

Lieth-Thomsen officially retired from military service in 1919 with the disbanding of the Luftstreitkräfte^[3], yet he would later return to serve the German air forces in a more covert way.

In 1924 Lieth-Thomsen became the head of "Moscow Centre", a covert German liaison office in Moscow whose purpose was to coordinate with Soviet officials to support secret German military activities in the Soviet Union, including operation of the Lipetsk Airfield. He served in that position until 1928^[4].

[edit] Timeline

March 10, 1867 German World War I air commander Hermann von der Lieth-Thomsen is born^[5].

March 11, 1915 Col. Hermann von der Lieth-Thomsen becomes Chief of Field Air Forces (Chef des Feldflugwesens) of the German Army^[3].

October 8, 1916 Col. Hermann von der Lieth-Thomsen is named Chief of Staff to the newly created Commanding General of the Luftstreitkräfte, Ernst von Höppner^[3].