Franz von Kleist

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Gustav Franz Wilhelm von Kleist (born September 19, 1806 in Körbelitz ; † March 26, 1882 in Berlin ) was a Prussian engineer officer, most recently a lieutenant general .

Life

origin

Gustav Franz Wilhelm was the illegitimate son of Wilhelm Franz von Kleist (* 1765, † June 15, 1817 in Wittenberg ), a lieutenant colonel in the engineering corps of the Prussian Army . His mother was a born butcher. The father's marriage to the widowed Henriette Dorothea Tetzmar, née Lilien, remained childless. The father later legitimized him, but could not transfer the nobility to him.

Military career

Kleist attended the cathedral school in Magdeburg and on October 1, 1823 joined the 3rd pioneer department in Magdeburg . From October 1, 1824 to July 15, 1827 he was sent to the United Artillery and Engineering School for training . In 1829 he became a second lieutenant and incorporated into the engineering corps. From 1829 to 1832 he served in the 2nd pioneer department. It was used in the fortress construction service from 1833 to 1839 in Küstrin and from 1840 to 1842 in Spandau . In 1843 he was promoted to Prime Lieutenant and was then adjutant of the 2nd Fortress Inspectorate from May 1843 to October 1847 . On October 26, 1847, he was promoted to captain . From 1848 to 1850 he served in the fortification in Stettin . At the end of 1850 he was appointed square engineer for Stettin and Alt-Damm.

In 1852 Kleist was appointed fortress construction director in Swinoujscie , where he was promoted to major in the staff of the engineering corps in 1856 . He was left in his position in the Swinoujscie fortress and in 1857 transferred to Königsberg in East Prussia in the same capacity . On July 1, 1860, he was promoted to lieutenant colonel. In Swinoujscie and Königsberg he implemented the principles of the New Prussian fortification manner . In recognition of his services in fortress construction, he was raised to the nobility on October 8, 1860 by King Friedrich Wilhelm IV .

In October 1861 he was appointed inspector of the 7th fortress inspection and a little later promoted to colonel . In November of the same year he became a member of the examination committee for officers of the engineering corps. In 1865 he was appointed inspector of the 2nd fortress inspection.

On June 8, 1866, he was appointed major general and in the same year took part in the German-Austrian war under Karl Friedrich von Steinmetz as first engineer officer at the General Command of the V Army Corps . He was involved in the battles near Nachod , Schweinschädel and Königgrätz . On September 20, 1866, he was awarded the Order of the Red Eagle, 2nd Class with Oak Leaves and Swords on the Ring, for his achievements .

In October 1867 he was appointed inspector of the 1st Engineer Inspection in Berlin and in November of the United Artillery and Engineering School. From July 18, 1870 Kleist acted as deputy general inspector of the engineer and pioneer corps in the main headquarters. In this position he was promoted to lieutenant general on July 26, 1870. As such, he took part in the Franco-German War in 1870/71 at the Battle of Gravelotte . He initially represented the otherwise deployed General Georg von Kameke during the advance at the siege of Metz and the battle of Sedan . He commanded the work necessary to enclose the French capital until Kameke took over the command of the engineer attack during the siege of Paris . Kleist was awarded the Iron Cross 2nd class on October 7, 1870 and the Grand Commander of the Bavarian Order of Military Merit on November 19, 1870 . On December 23, 1870 he was then made available to the king as an engineer general. In March 1871 he returned to Berlin for health reasons. There he received the Grand Cross of the Order of Frederick with Swords in the same month . On March 29, 1871 Kleist was reinstated in his peace position. In May, he was given three months' leave to restore his health. Kleist did not come more into the service back but was on September 16, 1871 Board for disposition made.

He died in Berlin in 1882 in the house of his son-in-law, General Hans Alexis von Biehler, and was buried on March 29, 1882 in the military cemetery in the Hafenheide.

family

Kleist married Charlotte Emilie Gundelach (born November 20, 1819 in Küstrin, † April 16, 1877 in Berlin) on June 4, 1835 in Küstrin . She was the daughter of the pharmacist Georg Wilhelm Gundelach and his wife Charlotte Wilhelmine, née Weigelt.

literature

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ H. Kypke: History of the Kleist family. 3rd part, 3rd section biographies of the Muttrin-Damenschen line. Trowitzsch and Sons, Berlin 1885, p. 267 ( digitized version ).
personal data
SURNAME Kleist, Franz von
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Gustav Franz Wilhelm von Kleist (full name)
BRIEF DESCRIPTION Prussian engineer officer, lieutenant general
DATE OF BIRTH September 19, 1806
PLACE OF BIRTH Körbelitz
DATE OF DEATH March 26, 1882
Place of death Berlin