Oskar von Lettow-Vorbeck

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Hans Oskar von Lettow-Vorbeck (born December 21, 1839 in Treptow , † March 28, 1904 in Oldenburg ) was a Prussian major general and military writer.

Life

origin

Oskar came from the Pomeranian noble family Lettow-Vorbeck . He was the son of the Prussian higher regional judge Heinrich von Lettow-Vorbeck (1803-1870) and his second wife Minna, née Schütz (1813-1887).

Military career

Lettow-Vorbeck joined the 4th Infantry Regiment of the Prussian Army on April 25, 1857 and was promoted to Second Lieutenant in mid-January 1859 . After serving as a battalion adjutant, he graduated from the War Academy and took part in the battles near Trautenau , Königgrätz and Tobitschau during the war against Austria in 1866 . After the war Lettow-Vorbeck rose to prime lieutenant and was commanded in the General Staff . In the war against France in 1870 he and his regiment were used in the enclosure and siege of Metz until Lettow-Vorbeck was seriously wounded in the battle of Noisseville . As a captain and awarded the Iron Cross 2nd class, he taught tactics at the war school in Anklam from 1872 to 1877 after the peace treaty . This was followed by a job as a company commander in the 4th Queen Grenadier Regiment in Koblenz . Lettow-Vorbeck rose to major in mid-October 1879 and in November 1881 came to the 7th Pomeranian Infantry Regiment No. 54 in Kolberg as a regular staff officer . On June 12, 1883, he was first assigned to the secondary budget of the Great General Staff and transferred here a month later under position à la suite of his regiment. On January 17, 1884, he joined the General Staff, where he was given the rank and duties of department head on March 22, 1886, and was promoted to lieutenant colonel in March 1887 . Lettow-Vorbeck also acted as a teacher at the War Academy. On February 16, 1889, he was appointed commander of the Oldenburg Infantry Regiment No. 91 . Leaving his previous uniform in place, Lettow-Vorbeck was transferred to the army officers on March 24, 1890, and on April 17, 1890, he was allowed to leave with the statutory pension .

After his departure, Grand Duke Peter II honored him by awarding him the Honorary Commander's Cross of the Oldenburg House and Merit Order of Duke Peter Friedrich Ludwig . On January 18, 1901, Lettow-Vorbeck received the character of Major General through Wilhelm II . He was an honorary knight of the Order of St. John .

Lettow-Vorbeck had already worked as a military writer during his active service. He published a. a. in the military weekly and wrote the writings The War of 1806 and 1807 in four volumes (1891-1896) and the history of the war of 1866 in Germany in three volumes (1897-1902).

He had an accident while cycling and drowned in the Hunte-Ems Canal .

family

Lettow-Vorbeck married Elsbeth Freiin von Bonseri (* 1845) in Berlin on May 5, 1871. The marriage had three children:

  • Irmgard (* 1872)
  • Son (* / † 1872)
  • Kurt (* 1876), Prussian officer

literature

Individual proof

  1. ^ Military weekly paper . No. 21 of March 7, 1891, p. 533.
personal data
SURNAME Lettow-Vorbeck, Oskar von
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Lettow-Vorbeck, Hans Oskar von (full name)
BRIEF DESCRIPTION Prussian major general and military writer
DATE OF BIRTH December 21, 1839
PLACE OF BIRTH Treptow
DATE OF DEATH March 28, 1904
Place of death Oldenburg