Otto von Bernhardi

Otto Heinrich Wilhelm von Bernhardi (born December 6, 1818 in Saalfeld , † September 2, 1897 in Wiesbaden ) was a Prussian general of the cavalry .

Life

origin

Otto was the son of the Prussian lieutenant colonel Christian von Bernhardi (1783-1859) and his wife Luise, née Eytelwein (1794-1869). His father was last in the 5th Cuirassier Regiment and was Knight of the Iron Cross, 2nd class.

Military career

Bernhardi attended high schools in Marienwerder and Elbing . On June 6, 1835, he joined the 5th Cuirassier Regiment of the Prussian Army and was promoted to Second Lieutenant by mid-February 1838 . From September 1847 to mid-April 1850 Bernhardi was part of the III. Commanded battalion in the 4th Landwehr Regiment in Graudenz , in the meantime rose to Prime Lieutenant and then became adjutant of the 7th Division in Magdeburg . Upon release from this command, he became a captain on February 7, 1854 and was from March to October 1854 squadron leader in the 5th heavy Landwehr cavalry regiment. This was followed by his appointment as squadron chief . Bernhardi came to the General Staff at the end of January 1858 and on November 2, 1858, when he was promoted to Major in Erfurt, to the General Staff of the 8th Division . With the appointment as commander of the Litthauische Dragoon Regiment No. 1 (Prince Albrecht of Prussia) Bernhardi returned to the troop service on September 16, 1862 and in this position was promoted to colonel until June 1866 . In the same year he led his association during the war against Austria in the battles near Trautenau , Königgrätz and Tobitschau . For his behavior with the Order of the Crown III. Awarded a class with swords, Bernhardi was transferred to the officers of the army on March 22, 1868 with his previous uniform and his duties, and on April 18, he was assigned to represent the sick commander of the 10th Cavalry Brigade in Poznan . After the brigade commander Hermann von Krosigk died, Bernhardi was appointed commander of the 10th Cavalry Brigade on April 30, 1868, with the position à la suite of his regiment.

With the beginning of the war against France , Bernhardi was given command of the 9th Cavalry Brigade for the duration of the mobile relationship . He became major general on July 26, 1870 and led his brigade as part of the 4th Cavalry Division in the battles at Weißenburg , Wörth , Loigny , Beaugency and Le Mans . For the successful attack near Orléans on French Guard Dragons and Saphis , Bernhardi received the Iron Cross First Class. After the peace treaty , he was awarded the Grand Commander of the Bavarian Order of Military Merit and again commander of the 10th Cavalry Brigade. Bernhardi was transferred to the army officers on January 18, 1875, and eight days later with the rank and salary of divisional commander. From May 12, 1875 to April 11, 1879 he was commander of the 2nd division in Danzig and then he was put up for disposal under the award of the Order of the Red Eagle, 1st class with oak leaves .

After his adoption , he received on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the Battle of Le Mans on 12 January 1896 the character as a cavalry general.

family

Bernhardi married Albertine Auguste Eytelwein (1820-1919) on May 20, 1842 in the New Church in Berlin. She was a daughter of the government building inspector Friedrich Albert Eytelwein. The daughter Marie (1857–1879) emerged from the marriage.

literature

• Kurt von Priesdorff : Soldier leadership . Volume 8, Hanseatische Verlagsanstalt Hamburg, undated [Hamburg], undated [1941], DNB 367632837 , pp. 281–283, no. 2603.