Ludwig von Wohlgemuth

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Ludwig Freiherr von Wohlgemuth, lithograph by Joseph Kriehuber 1849

Ludwig Freiherr von Wohlgemuth (born May 25, 1788 in Vienna , † April 18, 1851 in Budapest ) was an Austrian general and commander of the Maria Theresa Order .

Life

At the age of eight he entered the Theresian Military Academy in Wiener Neustadt . After completing his training, he became an ensign in the Imperial and Royal Infantry Regiment No. 56 in 1805. He participated as a subaltern officer in the campaigns of 1809 and 1813/15. From 1814 he was professor of mathematics at the Wiener Neustädter Akademie. His excellent teaching methods caught the attention of Archduke Johann . In 1821 he became a captain and in 1831 a major. After further service in the troops, he was promoted to colonel in 1836 and appointed commander of the Imperial and Royal Infantry Regiment No. 40. In 1844 he became major general and brigadier in the 1st Army Corps in Milan .

When war broke out in northern Italy in March 1848, Wohlgemuth had the opportunity to demonstrate his special military talent. He asserted himself during the five days of street fighting in Milan , on March 22nd covered Radetzky's retreat with the rearguard and finally moved into outpost positions on the Mincio near Goito and Valeggio. After resisting superior Piedmontese forces for several hours on April 8, he had to withdraw his brigade from the Mincio to the western ridge of the Verona fortress .

His brigade successfully participated in the battles at Pastrengo (April 28/30), Curtatone (May 29), Goito (May 30), Vicenza (June 10) and the battle of Custozza ( May 25). July). For the success of his troops at Valeggio and Pastrengo , he was awarded the Order of Maria Theresa . Finally, before the end of the year, he was promoted to field marshal lieutenant and raised to the rank of baron.

In March 1849, by securing the southern flank of Radetzky's main army, his division had a decisive influence on the course of the battle in the battles of Mortara and Novara, and he was awarded the Commander's Cross of the Order of Maria Theresa . He was then sent to Slovakia against the rebellious Hungarians, but on April 19, 1849 he was defeated by the Hungarians at Nagysalló . He was given command of the IV Army Corps and won on June 21 in association with the Russians at Pered . With the capture of the Raab fortress (June 28th) and after participating in the Battle of Ács and the Third Battle of Komorn (July 2nd and 11th), which were decided by the intervention of his troops, he ended his military activity. In 1849 he became the owner of the Imperial and Royal Infantry Regiment No. 16 and civil and military governor of Transylvania . In 1851 he was made an honorary citizen of Sibiu . He fell ill on a trip to Vienna and died in Budapest.

Works (selection)

literature

personal data
SURNAME Wohlgemuth, Ludwig von
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Wohlgemuth, Ludwig Freiherr von
BRIEF DESCRIPTION Austrian general
DATE OF BIRTH May 25, 1788
PLACE OF BIRTH Vienna
DATE OF DEATH April 18, 1851
Place of death Budapest