Karl von Gersdorff (General, 1765)

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Karl Friedrich Wilhelm von Gersdorff

Karl Friedrich Wilhelm von Gersdorff (born February 16, 1765 in Glossen , † September 15, 1829 in Dresden ) was a Saxon lieutenant general and military writer and owner of the manors Neukirchen and Steinbach near Nossen.

Life

origin

His parents were the monastery administrator Friedrich Rudolf von Gersdorff (1737–1772) and his wife Caroline, née von Dieskau (1739–1793).

Military career

After the early death of his father, Gersdorff came to live with relatives in Zangenberg near Zeitz, attended the Princely School in Grimma and studied at the University of Leipzig and at the University of Wittenberg until 1785 . He then joined the Saxon cavalry as a non-commissioned officer. He came as a prime lieutenant in the Cheveaulegers cavalry regiment, Duke Albert of Saxe-Teschen. His military achievements and his organizational skills enabled him to advance rapidly. As early as 1805 he was a general staff officer in the mobile Saxon corps and rose to major by 1807 .

Gersdorff fought in the Fourth Coalition War in 1806 with Prussia against Napoleon and in 1807 with Napoleon against Prussia. Then he was involved in building the army of the Duchy of Warsaw . In the Fifth Coalition War he fought against Austria and was appointed major general during this time . In Dresden he was a member of the Masonic lodge "To the golden apple". He published his findings. In 1810 he became Chief of the General Staff, reorganized the Saxon Army in this function and was promoted to Lieutenant General on June 30, 1812. From then on he was military advisor to the Saxon King Friedrich August I of Saxony and came into contact with Napoléon Bonaparte . After the losses of the Saxon army in the Russian campaign, he was again involved in the reconstruction and was appointed commander of the Legion of Honor for his work . After the Battle of the Nations near Leipzig , he was captured. Gersdorff was accused of corruption, but three investigations also failed to reveal any misconduct. After his return to the army, he was appointed inspector of the reserve army in 1817 and commander of the cadet corps on September 16, 1822 . Under his direction, it became an institution that was regarded as exemplary in its time.

He died unmarried on September 15, 1829 in Dresden and was buried in the Neustädter Friedhof.

literature

personal data
SURNAME Gersdorff, Karl von
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Gersdorff, Karl Friedrich Wilhelm von (full name)
BRIEF DESCRIPTION Saxon lieutenant general and military writer
DATE OF BIRTH February 16, 1765
PLACE OF BIRTH Glosses
DATE OF DEATH September 15, 1829
Place of death Dresden