Wilhelm Heinrich Friedrich von Kleist

Wilhelm Heinrich Friedrich von Kleist (born September 19, 1785 in Stettin , † September 15, 1867 in Stargard ) was a Prussian major general .

Life

origin

He was a member of the Pomeranian noble family von Kleist and son of the Prussian major and postmaster in Schlawe Hans Georg Wedig von Kleist (1750-1816) and Constance Friederike Juliane Hille (1760-1833).

Career

Kleist began his career in the Prussian army in 1797 as a private corporal in the "von Owstien" infantry regiment . In 1800 he was promoted to ensign , in 1803 to secondary lieutenant , and in 1806 was adjutant of the 1st battalion. In the same year he took part in the Fourth Coalition War. After he was captured near Lübeck , he was made inactive.

In 1811 Kleist was aggregated with the 1st Pomeranian Infantry Regiment , was classified in 1812 and rose to prime lieutenant in 1813 . In the wars of liberation he took part in the crossing near Wartenburg , where he was wounded, and the siege of Magdeburg. He also fought near Wittenberg , Wesel, Soissons , Maubeuge, Philippeville and in combat near Thießen. Before Hoogstraeten, Kleist was wounded again and received the Iron Cross, 2nd class. He also took part in the battles near Großbeeren , Leipzig and Ligny , where he received the Iron Cross 1st class. In the end he also fought in Belle Alliance .

His ascent continued, so he became staff captain in 1814 , captain and company commander in 1815 , major and commander of the III. Battalion of the 14th Landwehr Regiment. Kleist also advanced to battalion commander in the 30th Infantry Regiment in 1836 and a quarter of a year later to serve in the same position in the 14th Infantry Regiment . In 1838 he was promoted to lieutenant colonel, entrusted with the leadership of the 1st Infantry Regiment and confirmed as regimental commander at the beginning of 1839. In 1840 he was promoted to colonel and received the Order of the Red Eagle III in the same year . Class with a bow. In 1851 Kleist resigned from active service with the character of a major general and the statutory pension.

family

Kleist married Albertine Ernestine Friederike von Ploetz (1789–1859), daughter of General Landschaftsrat Christian Friedrich von Ploetz and Anna Caroline von Ramin in 1816 . The marriage resulted in four sons:

1. Carl Friedrich Wilhelm (* 1817)
2. Wedig Gustav Albert (1822-1825)
3. Rudolph Heinrich Reimar (* 1826), Prussian first lieutenant a. D. ∞ Olga of Dolgorucka
4. Otto Ewald Ernst (1829–1899), Prussian Colonel ∞ Hedwig Friederike Ottilie von Maltzahn (1836–1895)

literature

• Georg Heinrich Kypke : The history of the Kleist family. Volume III, Berlin 1885, 3rd Division, No. 730, pp. 324-325. (Digitized version)
• Kurt von Priesdorff : Soldier leadership . Volume 6, Hanseatische Verlagsanstalt Hamburg, undated [Hamburg], undated [1938], DNB 367632810 , p. 34, no. 1674.