Karl Friedrich Erdmann von Kracht

Karl Friedrich Erdmann von Kracht (1776-1856)

Karl Friedrich Erdmann von Kracht (born April 19, 1776 in Helmsdorf , Sorau district , † September 9, 1856 in Charlottenburg ) was a Prussian lieutenant general and lord of Roggow in the Regenwalde district in Pomerania .

Life

origin

His parents were the heir to Oberhelmsdorf and Kochsdorf as well as the Prussian captain in the “von Thun” dragoon regiment Ernst Ferdinand von Kracht (* May 12, 1745 - June 15, 1785) and his wife Charlotte Erdmuthe, born von Bose († November 29, 1805 ) from the Mylau house.

Military career

Kracht visited the Knights Academy in Legnica and took effect on 1 September 1793 as Junker in the Dragoon Regiment "of Wylich and Lottum" the Prussian army one. In the First Coalition War he fought in the battles near Kaiserslautern and Pirmasens as well as the battles near Zweibrücken and Hermersberg. By the beginning of April 1797, Kracht had advanced to secondary lieutenant . Already at that time his hearing was so bad that his commander recommended him for forest service in vain . During the Fourth Coalition War he fought in the Battle of Prussian Eylau .

After the Peace of Tilsit , Kracht became adjutant of the Brandenburg Dragoons Regiment No. 2 on October 16, 1807 . In the campaign of 1812 he fought near Eckau and for Garossenkrug he received the order Pour le Mérite on October 18, 1812 . On March 10, 1813 he was promoted to prime lieutenant and was appointed adjutant to Colonel von Juergaß . During the Wars of Liberation Kracht took part in the battle near Haynau , where he was wounded three bayonet wounds and was awarded the Iron Cross, 2nd class. In the battle of the Katzbach he suffered 14 wounds. He also fought in the battles near Großgörschen and Paris , where he was wounded again. For the battle at Coulommiers Kracht received the Iron Cross First Class and the Order of St. Vladimir . At that time he was on May 17, 1813 staff assistant master and already on June 30, 1813 Rittmeister . On December 2, 1813, he was transferred to squadron chief in the East Prussian National Cavalry Regiment , where he was promoted to major on January 15, 1814 with a patent from September 28, 1813 . On February 21, 1815, he was transferred to the Guard Hussar Regiment .

After the war, Kracht was appointed commander of the 7th Uhlan Regiment (Rheinisches) on March 26, 1817 and promoted to lieutenant colonel on March 30, 1817 . On April 12, 1817, he was transferred to the 3rd Uhlan Regiment (Brandenburg) as commander. There he became colonel on March 30, 1824 with a patent from April 2, 1824 . The following year he received the service cross and on June 14, 1829 the Order of St. Anne II. Class. On June 14, 1832 Kracht got his farewell as a major general with a pension of 1760 thalers. On December 29, 1846 he was given the character of lieutenant general. He died on September 9, 1856 in Charlottenburg and was buried on September 12, 1856 in the garrison cemetery.

General Marwitz wrote in his assessment in 1821: “Keeps his regiment in proper practice and discipline. Spread a military spirit in it. Is suitable for this and also for higher command, has quite correct terms of field service and war. Has been hard of hearing from youth and has 23 wounds, but by no means invalid. "

family

Kracht married Franziska von Podewils (* August 9, 1796 - September 18, 1873) in Potsdam in 1816 , daughter of Christoph Samuel Friedrich von Podewils on Podewils and Friederike Luise von Damitz . His wife was buried in the garrison cemetery on September 22, 1873. The couple had several children:

• Rudolf (born October 10, 1817)
• Rudolf Ernst Karl Hans (born January 16, 1819 - † July 15, 1843), second lieutenant in the 3rd Uhlan Regiment
• Bertha Thusnelda Johanna (* December 8, 1823; † November 30, 1886) ⚭ 1841 Bernhard Joseph Friedrich von Dewitz (* March 11, 1808; † July 12, 1851)
• Ernst (1833–1862), gentleman on Roggow

literature

• Kurt von Priesdorff : Soldier leadership . Volume 5, Hanseatische Verlagsanstalt Hamburg, undated [Hamburg], undated [1938], DNB 367632802 , pp. 163-165, no. 1479.
• Gothaisches genealogical pocket book of noble houses . Seventh year, Justus Perthes , Gotha 1906, p. 419.