 |
Friedrich KleistCount, Prussian Field Marshal.
Date of Birth: 09.04.1762
Country:  Germany |
Content:
- Friedrich Heinrich Ferdinand Emil, Graf von Kleist
- Military Education and Service
- Napoléonic Wars
- Victories and Honors
- Awards and Honors
Friedrich Heinrich Ferdinand Emil, Graf von Kleist
Friedrich Heinrich Ferdinand Emil, Graf von Kleist, was a Prussian general field marshal born into a noble family with a history of military service. In 1777, he joined Bülow's infantry regiment as an officer and fought in the War of the Bavarian Succession.
Military Education and Service
After the war, Kleist attended the Berlin Military Academy. In 1790, he returned to the active army and fought against the Austrians. During the 1792-1793 campaign, he served on the staff of General Hohenlohe. In 1799, he became aide-de-camp to Generalfeldmarschall Möllendorff, commander of the Rhine Army. He was promoted to major and given command of a combined grenadier battalion.
Napoléonic Wars
Kleist served as King Frederick William III's adjutant-general in 1803. After the Battle of Auerstädt (1806), he negotiated with Napoleon for peace. He retired after the Treaty of Tilsit but rejoined the army in 1808, appointed as general-major and commander of the Lower Silesian Brigade. From 1809, he served as commandant of Berlin.
In the 1812 campaign, Kleist commanded the infantry of General Yorck's Prussian auxiliary corps. He fought in the invasion of Russia and was awarded the French Legion of Honour by Napoleon. In the Battle of Bautzen (1813), he defended the Spree River crossing with a small force. At Dresden, he led an offensive column and later intervened at the Battle of Kulm, turning the tide in favor of the Allies.
Victories and Honors
Kleist's victories at Laon (1814) and Paris (1814) were instrumental in the Allied success against Napoleon. He accompanied the king to England and commanded the 3rd German Corps in Aachen. Kleist was entrusted with a Prussian corps (26,000 men) along the Moselle River in the 1815 campaign but could not participate due to illness.
After the war, he commanded the 4th Corps (Magdeburg) but resigned in 1820 due to his health. He lived in Berlin and was appointed State Councilor in 1822 and Chief of Cabinet in 1823.
Awards and Honors
Order of the Black Eagle (1813)Order of the Red Eagle, 1st Class (1813)
Pour le Mérite (1792)
Iron Cross, 1st Class (1813)
Order of Saint John
Order of Saint George, 2nd Class (Russia, 1813)
Order of Saint Vladimir, 2nd Degree (Russia, 1813)
Order of Saint Alexander Nevsky (Russia, 1813)
Legion of Honour (France, 1812)
