Wilhelm von Schmeling

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Friedrich Wilhelm von Schmeling (born November 4, 1811 in Hohenwalde ; † January 5, 1879 in Berlin ) was a Prussian lieutenant general .

Life

origin

He was the third eldest son of Otto von Schmeling (1762-1839), Herr auf Hohenwalde, and his wife Konstanze Beate, née von Beerfelde (1776-1863).

Military career

Schmeling visited the cadet schools in Potsdam and Berlin. On July 29, 1829 he joined the 14th Infantry Regiment of the Prussian Army as an ensign and on February 22, 1831 he became a second lieutenant . From 1834 to 1836 he was posted to the General War School . On April 19, 1845 he was promoted to Adjutant in the staff of the 4th Infantry Brigade and on November 13, 1847 to Prime Lieutenant. In 1848 he participated with the brigade in the fight against Polish insurgents . On September 19, 1850 he was promoted to adjutant of the 5th Division and on October 14, 1851 to captain . On June 18, 1853, he joined the General Command of the III. Army Corps . On June 6, 1857 he was promoted to major and transferred to the Landwehr battalion in Wriezen . On July 1, 1860, he became battalion commander in the Brandenburg Fusilier Regiment No. 35 and rose there on October 18, 1861 to lieutenant colonel . On January 9, 1864 he was commander of the Pomeranian Fusilier Regiment No. 34 and on June 25, 1864 was promoted to colonel . In 1866 Schmeling led his regiment in the 16th Division during the German War and was involved in the battles near Münchengrätz and Königgrätz .

On May 18, 1867, he was entrusted with the command of the 28th Infantry Brigade in Düsseldorf and on August 10, he was appointed commander. On March 22, 1868 he was promoted to major general . In the Franco-Prussian War , command of the newly established 4th Reserve Division from the East Prussian Landwehr, which was assigned to the XIV Army Corps . At the beginning of October the 4th Reserve Division was brought across the Rhine near Neuchâtel to besiege the fortresses Schlettstadt and Neu-Breisach . Schlettstadt was handed over on October 24th, Neu-Breisach surrendered after nine days of bombardment on November 10th.

On January 15, 16 and 17, 1871, Schmeling's division covered Werder's left wing near Montbéliard in the Battle of the Lisaine . After the peace agreement , Schmeling, who had been awarded both classes of the Iron Cross and the Commander's Cross First Class of the Order of the Zähringer Löwen for his achievements during the war , was promoted to lieutenant general on August 18, 1871. On January 13, 1872, he was appointed commander of the 4th Division in Bromberg . Under awarded the Red Eagle , First Class with oak leaves Schmeling was on December 4, 1873 Pension for disposition made.

After his death he was buried in the old garrison cemetery in Berlin. Schmeling was a knight of the Order of St. John .

family

He married Luise von Ploetz (1824–1903) in Stargard in Pomerania on October 1, 1842 . The later major general August von Schmeling (1843-1910) emerged from this marriage .

literature
personal data
SURNAME Schmeling, Wilhelm von
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Schmeling, Friedrich Wilhelm von (full name)
BRIEF DESCRIPTION Prussian lieutenant general
DATE OF BIRTH November 4, 1811
PLACE OF BIRTH Hohenwalde
DATE OF DEATH January 5, 1879
Place of death Berlin