Wilhelm von Massow (General)

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Wilhelm Karl von Massow (1815–1899)

Wilhelm Karl von Massow (born August 10, 1815 in Schmarse, Züllichau district , † February 22, 1899 in Naumburg (Saale) ) was a Prussian infantry general .

Life

origin

Wilhelm was a son of the Prussian major and lord on Schmarse Friedrich von Massow (1786-1859) and his wife Karoline, née von Sydow (1795-1881). His brother Hermann (1812–1881) was a Prussian politician, his brother Benno (1827–1904) became a Prussian lieutenant general .

Military career

Massow attended the pedagogy in Züllichau and joined the 23rd Infantry Regiment of the Prussian Army after his graduation on July 1, 1834 . By mid-March 1837, he was promoted to redundant second lieutenant , before he was assigned to the regiment three months later. From April 15 to September 30, 1841 Massow was commanded to the Infantry Training Battalion. He served from the end of March 1842 to the end of August 1851 as adjutant of the 2nd Battalion and took part in the occupation of the city in 1846 after the riots in Krakow . In mid-September 1851 he was promoted to Prime Lieutenant and from the end of March 27, 1852 he was a company commander in the 1st Battalion in the 23rd Landwehr Regiment in Neisse . Massow was appointed captain on August 10, 1854 and on August 10, 1857 company commander in his main regiment. On March 10, 1861 he was transferred to the 4th Upper Silesian Infantry Regiment . After his promotion to major, he was first on the staff before he was given command of the 2nd Battalion in Groß-Strehlitz on April 20, 1864 . During the German War , his battalion initially strengthened the Neisse fortress. After the battle of Königgrätz the regiment moved to Moravia , but did not take part in any significant fighting there.

After the peace treaty he was promoted to lieutenant colonel on September 20, 1866 and transferred to Opole as commander of the fusilier battalion . Insinuation à la suite commissioned to Massow on June 13, 1868, first with the leadership of the 1st East Prussian Grenadier Regiment. 1 "Crown Prince" in Konigsberg and appointed him on July 7, 1868 regimental commander. In this capacity he was promoted to colonel on July 23, 1868 .

During the Franco-Prussian War he fought at Colombey and Noisseville , where he earned the Iron Cross 2nd class. He also fought at Saint-Quentin and the siege of Metz . He was also in the battles of Servigny, Villers, Ornme, Nouille, Mey, Goupilliers, Lauvalier, Romery, Mahon, Harcy, Rimogne, Nassandres, Robert la Diable, Orival, Moulineaux and Poeuilly. During this time he became leader of the 2nd Infantry Brigade on November 24, 1870 and the 1st Infantry Brigade on January 6th . On January 6, 1871, he joined the 3rd Infantry Brigade as a leader and was awarded the Iron Cross 1st Class. On March 12, 1871 he came back as a leader in the 1st Infantry Brigade, where he remained until the peace treaty and then returned to his peacetime position as commander of the "Kronprinz" grenadier regiment (1st East Prussian) No. 1.

After the war he received the order Pour le Mérite on January 19, 1873 and was transferred to Hanover on March 8, 1873 under position à la suite of his regiment as commander of the 39th Infantry Brigade and promoted to major general on March 22, 1873 . On February 5, 1878, he was awarded as commandant of Magdeburg and on March 22, 1878 with the star for the Crown Order II. Class. On June 11, 1878, he was promoted to lieutenant general. On April 4, 1882, Massow was transferred to the army officers and commanded as governor of Ulm fortress to Württemberg . In this position received the Grand Cross of the Order of Frederick and the Duke of Saxony-Ernestine House Order . On June 14, 1883, he was appointed governor of Strasbourg and on June 1, 1884, on the occasion of his 50th anniversary in service, he was awarded the Order of the Red Eagle 1st class with oak leaves and the number "50". Given the character of General of the Infantry, Massow was put up for disposal on August 2, 1884 with the statutory pension .

He died on February 22, 1899 in Naumburg (Saale).

In his proposal for the award of the Order Pour le Merite, General von Goeben wrote in 1871: “Colonel von Massow was in command of the strong combined brigade of the 1st Army Corps on January 18, 1871, when General von Memerty was seriously wounded at the beginning of the battle accepted. He did the same during the battle of 19.1. led, and he has excelled in the most praiseworthy manner through circumspection and determination, and rendered excellent service under difficult circumstances. I am therefore taking the liberty of recommending this good officer as a matter of fact. "

family

Massow married on November 15, 1846 in Reisewitz Hedwig Jenny Freiin von Rottenberg (1827-1914). The daughter Jenny (* 1847) emerged from the marriage and in 1873 she married the later lieutenant colonel Rudolf von Hocke († 1895)

literature
personal data
SURNAME Massow, Wilhelm von
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Massow, Wilhelm Karl von (full name)
BRIEF DESCRIPTION Prussian general of the infantry
DATE OF BIRTH August 10, 1815
PLACE OF BIRTH Schmarse, Züllichau district
DATE OF DEATH February 22, 1899
Place of death Naumburg (Saale)