Hans von Kretschmann

Hans von Kretschmann around 1897

Hans Alfred Konstantin von Kretschmann (born August 21, 1832 in Charlottenburg , † March 30, 1899 in Berlin ) was a Prussian infantry general .

Life

origin

Hans was the son of Ernst Karl von Kretschmann (1802–1847) and his wife Emilie, née Vogel (1806–1885). The father was Rittmeister of the Landwehr , Herr auf Schönau as well as a higher regional court assessor.

Military career

Kretschmann received his education in Bunzlau as well as at the high schools in Brieg and Guben . He then joined on 1 April 1849 as musketeer into the Body Guard Grenadiers Regiment. 8 of the Prussian army one. From October 1, 1856 to June 30, 1859, Kretschmann was a teacher at the division school in Frankfurt (Oder) and was promoted to prime lieutenant on May 31, 1859 . He then graduated from the War Academy from October 1, 1860 to February 10, 1863 . Kretschmann had to leave this prematurely before the end of his training, however, because he was promoted to captain on February 10, 1863 and at the same time appointed company commander in the 2nd Magdeburg Infantry Regiment No. 27 in Halberstadt . On July 14, 1865, he was placed à la suite and began teaching at the Neisse War School . At the beginning of the German War Kretschmann returned to his regiment and took over the 8th Company as a leader. With this he fought at Gitschin and at the Battle of Königgrätz , where Kretschmann was seriously wounded by a shot in the left lower leg. For his achievements he was awarded the Red Eagle Order IV class with swords on September 20, 1866. After the end of the war he resumed teaching and taught at the Potsdam War School. On February 16, 1869 he was promoted to major , set à la suite of the General Staff of the Army and at the same time appointed director of the Neisse War School.

With the beginning of the Franco-Prussian War , Kretschmann was General Staff Officer at III. Army Corps under its commanding General Constantin von Alvensleben . During the war he took part in the fighting at Spichern , Vionville , Gravelotte , Noisseville , Beaune-la-Rolande , Orléans and Le Mans , the siege of Metz and the battles at Courcelles, Bellevue, Neuville-aux-Bois , Gien and Vendôme and Artenay . On September 20, 1870, he received the Iron Cross, 2nd class, and on November 5, 1870, the Cross, 1st class.

After the end of the war, Kretschmann was again director of the Neisse War School from May 9th to October 24th, 1871, before he was transferred to Karlsruhe to the general staff of the XIV Army Corps . After two and a half years he was transferred to the General Staff in Berlin as head of department, and here on September 19, 1874 he was promoted to lieutenant colonel .

Since March 15, 1883, he commanded the 34th Infantry Brigade (Grand Ducal Mecklenburg) in Schwerin . On March 15, 1890 Kretschmann was awarded the character as General of Infantry with board for disposition made.

For his services he received the Order of the Crown, 1st Class, from King Wilhelm II on January 18, 1891, and the Order of the Red Eagle, 1st Class with oak leaves and swords on the ring, on January 18, 1896 .

After his death, Kretschmann was buried on April 2, 1899 in the Berlin garrison cemetery in the Hasenheide .

family

Kretschmann married Jenny Auguste Frieda Karoline von Gustedt (1843-1903) on May 3, 1864 in Halberstadt . The later writer and women's rights activist Lily Braun emerged from the marriage.

Works

• War letters from the years 1870/71. Meyer & Jessen, Berlin 1910.

literature

• Kurt von Priesdorff : Soldier leadership . Volume 10, Hanseatische Verlagsanstalt Hamburg, undated [Hamburg], undated [1942], DNB 986919810 , pp. 349-351, no. 3258.