Franz Hermann Günther von Etzel (December 14, 1862 – January 21, 1948) was a career soldier and general in the Imperial German Army, active in World War I.

On September 19, 1901, he was promoted to the rank of major and was sent on May 29, 1902 as military attache to the German Embassy in Tokyo, Japan.

During the Russo-Japanese War of 1904–1905, he was embedded within the Imperial Japanese Army and an official military observer.

[2] After his return to Germany, he was promoted to lieutenant colonel on May 18, 1908 and assigned to the Kurmärkische Dragoon Regiment No.

[3][4] He was later commander of the Guards Cavalry Division and promoted to lieutenant general on January 27, 1918.