RISING THROUGH THE RANKS
Born in the West Prussian town of Graudenz on April 16, 1855, Julius Friedrich Riemann studied philosophy at the University of Berlin. At twenty-one, he entered the Prussian Army as a one-year volunteer with the Second Foot Guards Regiment… holding the rank of second lieutenant. Riemann was soon transferred to the 3rd Kurhessisches “von Wittich” Infantry Regiment Number 83 in Kassel.
After being promoted to first lieutenant in mid-June 1886, Riemann joined the Great General Staff and became a captain in March 1890. Over the next fifteen years, he would earn three promotions: major in September 1895, lieutenant colonel in April 1902, and a full colonel in mid-March 1905.
Eighteen months later (September 1906), Riemann was promoted yet again to major general. He was also given command of the Seventh Lorraine Infantry Regiment Number 158 based in Paderborn. In the early spring of 1909, Riemann became head of the 32nd Infantry Brigade in Saarbrücken. A little over three years later (April 9, 1912), he was named commander of the 15th Infantry Division based in Cologne. Riemann would attain the rank of lieutenant general thirteen days after taking the post. While in this capacity, he received the Order of the Crown, Second Class with Star.
THE GREAT WAR
Imperial Germany mobilized for war in the summer of 1914. General Julius Riemann’s 15th Infantry Division became subordinate to VIII Corps, which was attached to the German Fourth Army under General Albrecht, Duke of Württemberg. Riemann’s unit marched into neutral Belgium via Luxembourg. Two months into the hostilities (October 5th), Riemann replaced General Erich Tülff von Tschepe und Weidenbach as commander of VIII Corps.
On the 56th birthday of Kaiser Wilhelm II (January 27, 1915), Riemann was promoted to General der Infanterie. Meanwhile, his troops remained engaged in heavy fighting in the region of the Champagne near Perthes. The Kaiser himself visited the area in mid-March 1915. He personally presented Riemann with Imperial Germany’s highest military decoration (the Pour le Mérite) for outstanding leadership during the Winter Battle of Champagne.
By April 1915, the fighting had died down. Riemann’s VIII Corps was soon transferred to the Artois to support German Sixth Army HQ during the springtime battles at La Bassée and Arras. Then in September, his men became subordinate to the German Seventh Army led by General Josias von Heeringen. Together, they fought in the trenches along the Aisne River.
Shortly before Christmas 1916, Riemann left for the Eastern Front to replace Georg von der Marwitz as head of VI Corps. This unit would support Army Group Linsingen in the Pripyat Swamp region near Stochid in the Ukraine. In September 1917, VI Corps moved north to Latvia. There, Riemann’s soldiers assisted the German Eighth Army (under General der Infanterie Oskar von Hutier) in the successful Riga Offensive. For his service, Riemann was awarded the Order of the Red Eagle, First Class with Oak Leaves and Swords. Just two days before Christmas, Riemann was named Offizier von der Armee.
RETIREMENT AND DEATH
As 1918 dawned, Julius Riemann was placed on reserve status. He remained in that capacity until officially retiring in early March. Mere days after the signing of the peace treaty with the Russians at Brest-Litovsk, Riemann was named commander (à la suite) of the Fifth Rhenish Infantry Regiment Number 65.
The highly-decorated general passed away in Wiesbaden on June 15, 1935 at the age of eighty. Three years later, the army barracks in Düren were named in Riemann’s honor.
