Paul von Hindenburg, the well-known German statesman and Generalfeldmarschall (German title for field marshal), was born in the middle of the 19th century in the Kingdom of Prussia into an aristocratic family. From his childhood, he was ingrained with the love for his fatherland. At the age of 18, he began his career as a second lieutenant, serving his country for the next 46 years with integrity and honor before retiring as a general of the Infantry at 64. But as the First World War broke out, he was recalled to duty at the age 67, eventually being promoted to the post of the Chief of the General Staff at the age of 69. Hailed as a national hero for winning the Battle of Tannenbereven, he remained equally popular even after Germany lost the war. At the age of 78, he was elected as the second President of Weimar Republic, as the government of Germany was then known, and served his country with veracity until his death at the age of 87. But during his second term as the president, he was forced by circumstances to appoint Adolf Hitler as the Chancellor and thus unknowingly became instrumental in the rise of the Nazi Party in Germany.