Richard von Conta (General, 1856)

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Richard from Conta
Richard von Conta with commanding generals of the Battle of Tannenberg (photo from 1924)

Richard Heinrich Karl von Conta (* 24. November 1856 in Tuchel , † 30th January 1941 in Frankfurt (Oder) ) was a Prussian general of the infantry in the First World War .

Life

origin

He was the son of the later Prussian Major General Richard von Conta and his wife Coelestine Adelheid, born von Kahlden (1832-1893). His younger brother Alfred (1858-1927) also embarked on a military career and made it up to lieutenant general.

Military career

Richard von Conta at the Arys military training area on May 26, 1914

Coming from the Cadet Corps , Conta joined the 1st Westphalian Infantry Regiment No. 13 of the Prussian Army on July 23, 1874 as a characterized ensign . Here he was promoted to secondary lieutenant on October 12, 1875 , and from mid-August 1878 to early June 1885 served as adjutant of the 2nd battalion in Münster . As a prime lieutenant he then worked in the 3rd Company and was transferred to the 37th Infantry Brigade as an adjutant on March 22, 1889. There he was promoted to captain on January 27, 1891 . From February 14, 1891 to March 21, 1897, Conta was initially chief of the 5th Company of the 6th Thuringian Infantry Regiment No. 95 in Hildburghausen , and later of the 2nd Company in Gotha . He then became an adjutant at the General Command of the XVII. Army Corps . On January 27, 1898 Conta was leaving in this position while promotion to Major in the Infantry Regiment. 98 is added. With the appointment as commander of the 1st Battalion of the Guard Grenadier Regiment No. 5 Conta returned to the troop service. As a lieutenant colonel on January 27, 1905, he was transferred to the staff of the infantry regiment "Kaiser Wilhelm" (2nd Grand Ducal Hessian) No. 116 in Giessen . Promoted to colonel on April 14, 1907 , Conta was as such from May 21, 1907 to March 19, 1911 commander of the fusilier regiment "von Gersdorff" (Kurhessisches) No. 80 . He was then appointed commander of the 18th Infantry Brigade while being promoted to major general . Conta gave this command on December 31, 1913 and became lieutenant general and commander of the 1st division in Königsberg .

Conta led his division in the 8th Army on the Eastern Front when the First World War broke out . In August he distinguished himself under General von Francois in the Battle of Tannenberg ( Battle of Usdau ) and in September 1914 in the Battle of the Masurian Lakes . Between November 25 and 29, his division fought near Łódź and advanced towards Łowicz- Sanniki in early December 1914 . At the turn of the year 1915 his division was in position in the Bolimow area on the Rawka - Bzura . In January 1915, Conta's division moved to the Carpathian Front and was placed under the command of the Southern Army under General Linsingen at the Verecke Pass . On March 23, 1915, Conta's division was subordinated to Corps Bothmer , and together with the 3rd Guard Division , they stormed the Zwinin on April 9 . At the end of June 1915 his troops crossed the Dniester , in mid-July he fought near Hrubieszow and at the beginning of August his division reached Chelm . On May 14, 1915, Conta was awarded the command of the Royal House Order of Hohenzollern with Swords for his services .

At the beginning of March 1916, the 1st Division was transferred to the Western Front and used in the Battle of Verdun . On August 7, 1916, Conta became the commanding general of the IV Reserve Corps ( Carpathian Corps ) in the Association of the German Southern Army. For the achievements of his troops in the defense of the Brusilov offensive , Conta was awarded the order Pour le Mérite on October 15, 1916 . In the spring of 1918 the IV. Reserve Corps moved to the Western Front, initially stood in the promontory of St. Mihiel and was then assigned to the 18th Army Hutier for the Michael company . For the success of his corps, Conta received the Oak Leaves for the Order Pour le Mérite on March 26, 1918. For the third battle of the Aisne , the IV. Reserve Corps was added to the 7th Army . In June 1918, the Conta Corps faced fresh US naval units as they marched on the Marne in Belleau Forest . At the end of July, due to strong counter-attacks by the French, the evacuation of the Marne arch became necessary and his troops were brought back to their old positions. In August 1918 he was awarded the Order of the Crown, 1st Class with Swords on the Ring.

After the end of the war , Conta led his troops back home. After the demobilization of his general command, he submitted his departure and was retired from military service on January 6, 1919.

family

Conta had married Katharine von Hennig (1861-1909) on May 31, 1882 in Thorn. The following children were born from the marriage:

  • Horst (* 1883), Prussian captain
  • Mathilde (* 1885), head nurse of the Red Cross
  • Richard (* 1888), businessman
  • Gottlieb (* 1897), Prussian lieutenant

literature

Individual evidence

  1. ^ Kurt von Priesdorff : Soldatisches Führertum . Volume 10, Hanseatische Verlagsanstalt Hamburg, undated [Hamburg], undated [1942], DNB 986919810 , p. 38, no. 3065.
personal data
SURNAME Conta, Richard of
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Conta, Richard Heinrich Karl von (full name)
BRIEF DESCRIPTION Prussian general of the infantry in the First World War
DATE OF BIRTH November 24, 1856
PLACE OF BIRTH Tuchel
DATE OF DEATH January 30, 1941
Place of death Frankfurt (Oder)