Hans Von Seeckt - Later Years

Later Years

From 1930-1932 Seeckt sat in the Reichstag as a member of the DVP, after failing to be adopted as a candidate for the Centre Party. In the presidential election of 1932 he wrote to his sister, urging her to vote for Hitler. In October 1933, Seeckt arrived in China to head the German military mission. At the time of his arrival, Sino-German relations were in a bad state owing to the racial arrogance of the Germans, and Chiang Kai-shek was considering firing the Germans and bringing in a French military mission. In order to save the military mission, Seeckt ordered the German officers to behave with more tact towards the Chinese and to start showing some respect for Chinese sensibilities. In this way, Seeckt saved Germany's position in China. From 1934-1935 he served as an adviser to Chiang Kai-shek and helped to establish a new basis for Sino-German cooperation. But on returning to Germany from China he became disillusioned with Hitler.

Von Seeckt died in Berlin on December 27, 1936 and was buried at Invalidenfriedhof.

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