Karl Bernhard von Reitzenstein

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Karl Bernhard Freiherr von Reitzenstein (born May 18, 1809 in Oberkotzau , † October 15, 1885 in Stuttgart ) was a Württemberg lieutenant general .

origin

His parents were the Württemberg Major Karl Christoph von Reitzenstein and his wife Christinae Charlotte Auguste Wilhelmine von Kotzau (born June 9, 1782).

Life

Karl Bernhard came from the Zoppaten line of the Franconian noble family von Reitzenstein. He joined the 5th Infantry Regiment of the Württemberg Army as a regimental pupil at the age of 15 . In 1829 he was promoted to lieutenant , in 1836 to first lieutenant and in 1846 to captain . The next steps in the career ladder followed in 1857 the rank of major and in 1860 that of lieutenant colonel .

After Reitzenstein was promoted to colonel in 1865 , he went to war against Prussia the following year at the head of the 8th Infantry Regiment . In 1868 he was appointed major general in the 1st Infantry Brigade stationed in Stuttgart, consisting of the 1st Infantry Regiment "Queen Olga" , the 7th Infantry Regiment and the 2nd Jäger Battalion. As the 1st Württemberg field brigade, he led this large association into the war against France in 1870/71 . The brigade reached the suburbs of Paris without having entered a battle . The defeat of the French under Auguste-Alexandre Ducrot on November 30, 1870 led to the Battle of Villiers . Despite being numerically inferior, the Württemberg people withstood the attack with the support of the Saxon Army . When, around noon on November 30th, there was a danger of a French breakthrough, Major General von Reitzenstein dared to step out of the defense despite the small number of forces available to him. With the help of the Saxons, part of the German troops were thrown against the French, who were forming the general main attack. Due to the surprising German counter-attack, the attacking French gained the impression that the arrival of further strong opposing formations was imminent. This incorrect impression decided the battle in favor of the Germans. In the second battle near Villiers on December 2, 1870, Reitzenstein led his brigade with the same calculation. On March 4, 1872 he was entrusted with the leadership of the newly formed 26th (1st royal Württemberg) division and on August 6 of this year was appointed lieutenant general and commander of the division. He retired on June 29, 1874.

family

Karl Bernhard von Reitzenstein was married to Eleonore, geb. Freiin Holzschuher von Harrlach (born June 26, 1819). The only son from this marriage, Freiherr Carl Friedrich Sigmund Felix von Reitzenstein , was major z. D. and stable master of King Karl von Württemberg and later lieutenant colonel z. D., wing adjutant and chief steward of Queen Charlotte . The son's name was the inspiration when his widow Helene had the Reitzenstein villa built in Stuttgart in 1910 .

Honors

literature

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Court and State Handbook of the Kingdom of Württemberg 1866. P. 49.
personal data
SURNAME Reitzenstein, Karl Bernhard von
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Reitzenstein, Karl Freiherr von
BRIEF DESCRIPTION Württemberg Lieutenant General
DATE OF BIRTH May 18, 1809
PLACE OF BIRTH Oberkotzau
DATE OF DEATH October 15, 1885
Place of death Stuttgart