Hermann von Melchior

Ludwig Heinrich Wilhelm Hermann Melchior , since 1872 von Melchior (born February 28, 1828 in Bielefeld , † March 9, 1902 in Wiesbaden ) was a Prussian lieutenant general and commander of the 1st division .

Life

Hermann was a son of the Prussian major Lucian Melchior (1786-1840) and his wife Karoline, born von Viebahn (1791-1849). Carl von Viebahn was his mother's brother.

After attending the grammar school in Cologne and the cadet houses in Bensberg and Berlin , Melchior was transferred as a second lieutenant to the 35th Infantry Regiment (3rd Reserve Regiment) of the Prussian Army in Mainz on May 27, 1845 . As such, on September 18, 1849, he was involved in the suppression of the revolutionary unrest in the Free Imperial City of Frankfurt . After a month-long command the 8th pioneer department Melchior was the beginning of July 1852 adjutant of the First Battalion, 1856 rose in late May to the regimental adjutant of his now in Luxembourg stationed Association and promoted by the end of May 1859 Captain . From mid-June 1859 he was initially assigned to the occupation brigade and the commandant's office for three months , and then assigned to the governorate of the fortress of Luxembourg in the same capacity . In August / September 1863 he accompanied General von Brauchitsch on a visit to the federal contingents of Kurhessen , Nassau and Luxembourg .

During the war against Denmark he returned on April 5, 1864 as a company commander in the Brandenburg Fusilier Regiment No. 35 and took part in the transition to Alsen . In the war against Austria he led his 10th company near Münchengrätz and Königgrätz and received the Order of the Red Eagle, IV class with swords , for his work . Promoted to major in mid-November 1867, Melchior was commanded to lead the 2nd battalion in Oranienburg on May 1, 1868 , and at the end of November 1868 he was commander of the III. Battalion in Brandenburg an der Havel . In this capacity he participated in the war against France in 1870/71 in the battles at Vionville , Gravelotte , Neuville-aux-Bois , Coulomiers , Azay-Mazange, the Braye Bach, Montaille, Artenay , Change, Orleans and Le Mans as well as the Siege of Metz .

Awarded both classes of the Iron Cross , Melchior was elevated to the hereditary Prussian nobility on April 27, 1872 by Kaiser Wilhelm I in recognition of his services .

On March 22, 1873 he was promoted to lieutenant colonel and was appointed commander of the Magdeburg Jäger Battalion No. 4 . With a position à la suite , Melchior was commissioned on June 1, 1875, initially with the command of the 6th Baden Infantry Regiment, and a fortnight after his appointment as regimental commander he was promoted to colonel . In position à la suite of his regiment, he was appointed brigade commander on March 15, 1881 with the leadership of the 56th Infantry Brigade in Rastatt and on October 18, 1881 as major general. On January 15, 1887, he was promoted to lieutenant general and transferred as commander of the 1st division to Königsberg . Melchior was awarded in mid-September 1887 with the star for Red Eagle II. Class with oak leaves and swords on rings and on 3 July 1888 in approval of his leave request with board for disposition made.

After his departure, Kaiser Wilhelm II honored him on January 31, 1896 with the Order of the Crown, First Class. He died unmarried on March 9, 1902 in Wiesbaden.

General von Alvensleben wrote in his assessment in 1872: “Major Melchior has always distinguished himself in the most varied of circumstances and has found recognition even among enemies. This is the result of his intelligence, his military disposition and his good upbringing, resulting in tactful behavior. He will be a very good regimental commander. "

literature

• [Gustav] Florian: Master list of officers of the 6th Baden Infantry Regiment Kaiser Friedrich III. No. 114. From October 26, 1867–1. June 1904. Reuss & Itta, Konstanz 1904, p. 50.
• Kurt von Priesdorff : Soldier leadership . Volume 9, Hanseatische Verlagsanstalt Hamburg, undated [Hamburg], undated [1941], DNB 986919780 , pp. 413-414, no. 2976.

Individual evidence

1. ^ Gothaisches Genealogisches Taschenbuch der Briefadeligen houses. 1909. Third year, Justus Perthes, Gotha 1908, p. 849.