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Johann von Kirchbach auf Lauterbach

Johann was born 7 September 1858 in Kronstadt, Transylvania.  He was the younger brother of General Karl von Kirchbach. In February 1901, Obst Johann Freiherr von Kirchbach auf Lauterbach was made chief of staff for the XIV. Corps.  He was the successor to Obst Erwin Ritter von Krismanic.  Kirchbach retained this position until November 1906, when he was replaced by Oberleutnant Josef Schneider Edler von Manns-Au.   At the beginning of the war, FML Johann Kirchbach was in command of the 8. Infantry Division.  He surrendered this to GM Ludwig Fabini in September 1914.  Kirchbach in turn replaced GdI Blasius Schemua in the command of the II. Corps.  Johann Kirchbach held this position for one year, after which time he was replaced by FML Julis Kaiser. J. H. Verdun's timeline of Kirchbach's career:       1875 attended Military College of St. Polten       1879 graduated Maria Theresa Academy and made lieutenant in the Feldjagers       1885 Oberleutnant       1888 Major       1891 Instructor of tactics at Maria Theresa Academy       1894 Chief of Staff XXV. Inf. Div.       1914 Cdr VIII. Inf. Div.       1914 Cdr II. Corps       1916-1918 Cdr Vienna Garrison Johann von Kirchbach died in Vienna on 3 October 3 1920. GWS, 3/02

Orders of Battle:  Podolian Front, August 1914 III. Armee, Gen. d. Kav. Rudolf Ritter von Brudermann XIV. Korps, Gen. der Infanterrie Erzherzog Josef Ferdinand   VIII. inf. div., Feldmlt. J. von Kirchbach Orders of Battle:  Galician Front, Mid-November 1914 Immediately preceding the battle for Krakau 1. Armee, GdK Viktor Dankl      II. Korps, FML Johann Freiherr v. Kirchbach auf Lauterbach           2. kav. div., FML Emil Ritter v. Ziegler           25. inf. div., FML Erzherzog Peter Ferdinand           4. inf. div., FML Rudolf v. Stöger-Steiner From the beginning of November, desperate preparations were being made west of Germany’s territory of Upper Silesia. The main enemy was Russia’s III. Caucasian Corps, which pushed to within a few miles of Upper Silesia.  The II. Corps blocked the most direct route into the industrial heart of Silesia, and the critical coal mines of Tarnowitz and Rybnik were only 10 miles from the fighting.  Furtermore, the three divisions defended a section of the critical Czenstochau-Bendzin railway, which ran parallel to the whole front, and was the most important supply route for the Austrian 1. Army and Army Group Woyrsch.  Peter Ferdinand’s forces were centered on the small town of Wlodowice, and Stöger-Steiner defended Kromotów. By the end of the month, the Russians could battle no closer to Silesia and their focus shifted to Krakau, relieving the Czenstochau sector after a full month of fighting. GWS, 9/04 Orders of Battle:  Polish Front, January 1915 I. Armee, Gen. d. Kav. Dankl II. Korps, Feldmarschalleutnant Johann von Kirchbach   XXV. inf. div., Feldmlt. Erzherzog Peter Ferdinand   IV. inf. div., Feldmlt. Stöger-Steiner von Steinstätten Orders of Battle:  Eastern Front, May 1915 Immediately preceding the Dunajec offensive I. Armee, Gen. d. Kav. Viktor Dankl    II. Korps, Feldmlt. Johann Frh. v. Kirchbach    Chief of Staff, Oberst Gf. Szeptycki        25. inf. div.,  Feldmlt. Archduke Peter Ferdinand           49. inf. brig., Genmj. Edl. v. Severus           50. inf. brig., Genmj. Ritt. v. Bolberitz           25. field art. brig., Genmj. v. Jemrich        4. inf. div.,  Genmj. Anton Bellmond Edl. v. Alderhorst           8. inf. brig., Oberst Mietzl           4. field art. brig., Oberst Machaczek           1. brig. d. poln. Legion: Oberst Josef Pilsudski Orders of Battle:  Volhynian Front, September 1915 I. Armee, Feldz. von Puhallo II. Korps, Gen. d. Inf. J. von Kirchbach   XXV. inf. div., Genmj. Poleschensky

Oskar Bruch's 1915 lithograph of General Johann von Kirchbach