He was born into one of Prussia’s most distinguished families in 1847.
He served in the military for 45 years, rising to the rank of general before retiring to his sizeable estate in 1911.
He was recalled in 1914, given command of the Eighth Army and tasked with defending East Prussia from a Russian offensive.
He was elected president of the German republic in 1925, by a people nostalgic for nationalism, strong leadership and military strength.
It was as president that he committed his greatest folly: appointing Adolf Hitler as chancellor of the republic in January 1933.
