Friedrich Wilhelm Gottfried Arnd von Kleist

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Friedrich Wilhelm Gottfried Arndt von Kleist

Friedrich Wilhelm Gottfried Arnd von Kleist called: the green Kleist (born August 29, 1724 in Potsdam , † August 28, 1767 in Jeschkendorf near Liegnitz ) was a royal Prussian officer, most recently in the rank of major general . During the Seven Years' War he organized and commanded the Kleist Freikorps .

family

Friedrich Wilhelm Gottfried Arnd von Kleist came from the von Kleist family , was the fourth son of the royal Prussian colonel and heir to Schmenzin and Stavenow, Andreas Joachim von Kleist (1678–1738) and Marie Elisabeth von Hake (1700–1758). He remained unmarried himself, had 15 siblings and appointed his youngest brother, Major General Hans Reimar von Kleist (1736–1806), as a universal heir.

Life

Honor plaque for Kleist on the obelisk of Rheinsberg Castle

Kleist began his career at the age of 20 with the Gensdarmes Cuirassier Regiment in Berlin. In 1756 he was appointed major by the king and transferred to the Szekely Hussar Regiment .

In the Seydlitz hussar battle near Gotha on September 19, 1757, Kleist distinguished himself and received the order Pour le Mérite . 1760 to the Oberst was promoted from a boss 22 squadrons Husaren and dragoons existing so-called Croatenbataillon and a Fußjägerkorps composite free corps .

As early as 1759 he became chief of the green hussars and remained so until his death. In 1762 he was promoted to major general.

Kleist, respected by friends and enemies because of his character traits and his military skills, was honored with his figure on the base of the equestrian statue of Frederick the Great in Berlin, next to the equestrian figure of Duke Ferdinand of Braunschweig . Prince Heinrich of Prussia dedicated a plaque on his Rheinsberg obelisk to him .

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