Alexander von Kluck

A sculpture of the German General, Alexander Heinrich Rudolph von Kluck (1846-1934), dressed in military uniform , resting on his sword. During the First World War, von Kluck commanded the German First Army, notably in the 'Schlieffen Plan' offensive against Paris at the beginning of the war in August 1914. Von Kluck's role in the plan was to command the extreme right of the German forces in attacking the left flank of the French Army and encircling Paris, bringing a rapid conclusion to the war. He was seriously wounded in March 1915, retired from active service in October 1916 and died in Berlin, October 1934. The statue was purchased by Captain Mills of the British Red Cross in Berlin in 1919 and subsequently donated to the War Memorial. The iron sculpture was cast by the Germany foundry H Gladenbeck und Sohn. Gladenbeck and Sohn (and Son) were a German foundry, founded by Carl Gustav Hermann Gladenbeck in Berlin, Germany in 1851. The foundry often cast metal sculptures and underwent various name changes. In 1887 it moved to Friedrichshagen and in 1888 was incorporated as Aktien-Gesellschaft H.Gladenbeck und Sohn . The company went bankrupt in 1926.