Fedor von Kleist

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Fedor Benno Constantin von Kleist (born April 26, 1812 in Reichenau , † June 25, 1871 in Rheinfeld ) was a Prussian major general .

Life

origin

Fedor belonged to the Kowalk-Warmin branch of his old Pomeranian nobility. He was the son of the Prussian Rittmeister Christian Friedrich Heinrich von Kleist (1769-1812), lord of Groß-Boldekow and Geitberg, and his wife Charlotte Sophie, née Ehrlich (1779-1849).

Military career

After attending high school in Gdansk Kleist joined on April 1 in 1829 as an ensign in the 8th Cuirassiers of the Prussian army and advanced to 1838 to second lieutenant . This was followed by 19 years of service as a regimental adjutant under three different regimental commanders. He became captain and after two more years after 25 years of service he was squadron chief in Wohlau . From now on the advancement went faster: in 1858 he became a regular staff officer in the 8th Uhlan Regiment in the new garrison in Riesenberg . Just one year later, the king gave him the leadership of the 8th Landwehr Uhlan Regiment and on July 5, 1860 he became the commander of the 4th Uhlan Regiment . He led this regiment for six years.

In 1863 he led his regiment to the Prussian-Russian border because Polish nationalists had sparked an uprising against Russian domination in Russian Poland . The task of his regiment and other Prussian troops was to prevent the Polish uprising from spreading to the predominantly Polish- populated areas of Prussia, especially in the province of Posen , which they succeeded. After bloody suppression of the Polish uprising against Russia Tsar awarded him Alexander II. The Order of Saint Stanislaus II. Class with crown and King Wilhelm I of Prussia the Red Eagle III. Class. In the German-German War of 1866 Kleist's regiment was assigned to the 1st Army under Prince Carl of Prussia . The regiment formed the division cavalry of the 4th Infantry Division and took part in the battle of Münchengrätz . In the battle of Königgrätz , Kleist stood out, advancing with his regiment from Sadowa. From a hill he noticed how Austrian cuirassiers had thrown back two Prussian cavalry regiments and were now pursuing them. Without waiting for an order, Kleist attacked the Austrians, advancing his regiment. These, surprised by the unexpected attack, were thrown and disintegrated. Kleist himself was seriously wounded in this attack by a sword blow over the head. King Wilhelm and the Prussian Crown Prince Friedrich Wilhelm congratulated the wounded man for his initiative and his guts and awarded him the Order of the Crown III. Class with swords.

After the end of the war, Kleist was appointed commander of the 22nd Cavalry Brigade in Kassel , with his regiment à la suite . It soon turned out, however, that the wound from the saber cut had been more severe than assumed. He was ailing and especially dizzy. He therefore had to ask for his departure and was put up for disposition on July 7, 1868, conferring the character of major general . On January 23, 1870 Kleist received the Order of the Red Eagle, 2nd class with oak leaves. His health deteriorated further, he suffered a stroke and died on June 25, 1871 in Rheinfeld.

family

He was married to Rosamunde von Kleist (1827–1875), daughter of District Administrator Georg von Kleist, since October 10, 1847 . From the marriage the future general of the cavalry Georg von Kleist and the daughter Mathilde (1859-1929) emerged, who in 1878 married the later Prussian lieutenant general Felix Viktor von Hepke .

literature

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Rychnowo - Reichenau at ostpreussen.net
  2. ^ A b c d e Gustav Kratz : The story of the Kleist family. Volume III, No. 796, pp. 582-585.
  3. ^ Gustav Kratz: The story of the Kleist family. Volume III, No. 671, p. 582.
  4. ^ Gustav Kratz: The story of the Kleist family. Volume II, No. 214, p. 85.
personal data
SURNAME Kleist, Fedor von
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Kleist, Fedor Benno Constantin von (full name)
BRIEF DESCRIPTION Prussian major general
DATE OF BIRTH April 26, 1812
PLACE OF BIRTH Reichenau
DATE OF DEATH June 25, 1871
Place of death Rheinfeld