Hans Joachim von Zieten
Encyclopedia
Hans Joachim von Zieten also known as Zieten aus dem Busch, was a cavalry
general
in the Prussian Army
. He served in numerous wars and battles during the reign of Frederick the Great
.
(now part of Fehrbellin
) in the Margraviate of Brandenburg
. He began his military career as a volunteer in an infantry regiment, retired after ten years' service, but soon afterwards became a lieutenant of dragoons. Being involved in some trade transactions of his squadron-commander, he was cashiered, but managed to obtain reinstatement, and was posted to a hussar
corps, then a new arm. At that time light cavalry work was well known only to the Austrians
, and in 1735 Rittmeister (Captain) von Zieten participated in the Rhine campaign
under the Austrian general Baranyai (Baronay).
and defeated him at the Battle of Rothschloss. The chivalrous Austrian sent him a complimentary letter a few days later, and General Hans Karl von Winterfeldt
, who had been in command at Rothschloss, reported upon his conduct so favourably that Zieten was marked out by King Frederick the Great for future higher command. Within a year he was colonel of the newly formed Hussar Regiment, and thereafter his advance was rapid. In the Moravia
n foray of the following year, Zieten and his hussars penetrated almost to Vienna
, and in the retreat to Silesia
he was constantly employed with the rearguard. Zieten received the Pour le Mérite
for his success during the war.
and at Katholisch-Hennersdorf, the hussars covered themselves with glory, shadowing the enemy waiting to pounce on them. Hennersdorf and Kesselsdorf ended the Second Silesian War, but the Prussian army did not rest on its laurels, and their training during the ten years peace was careful and unceasing.
broke out in 1756, Zieten had just been made lieutenant-general. At Reichenberg
and at Prague, he held important commands, and at the disastrous Battle of Kolin
(June 18, 1757) his left wing of cavalry was the only victorious corps of troops. At Leuthen
, one of the most brilliant battles of the 18th century, Zieten's cavalry began the fighting and completed the rout of the Austrians. In June 1758 he was sent to protect a convoy with supplies for the army besieging Olmütz
, but could not prevent it from being completely destroyed at Domstadtl
. Despite that he continued, during the whole of the war, to be one of Frederick's most trusted generals.
One of the few errors committed by Zieten in his military career was his misdirection of the frontal attack at Torgau
, but he made up for this mistake by his assault on the Siptitz heights, which eventually decided the day.
After the Seven Years' War, Zieten went into retirement, the hero alike of the army and the people. During the War of the Bavarian Succession, Frederick the Great forbade him to go, so he retired to his estate at Wustrau with his niece, Leopoldine von Blumenthal, whose son was serving in his regiment. During this period she gathered his reminiscences for a famous biography of him. Six years after Zieten's death in Berlin
, Frederick's successor, King Frederick William II of Prussia
, erected a column to his memory on the Wilhelmplatz
in Berlin.
Cavalry
Cavalry or horsemen were soldiers or warriors who fought mounted on horseback. Cavalry were historically the third oldest and the most mobile of the combat arms...
general
General
A general officer is an officer of high military rank, usually in the army, and in some nations, the air force. The term is widely used by many nations of the world, and when a country uses a different term, there is an equivalent title given....
in the Prussian Army
Prussian Army
The Royal Prussian Army was the army of the Kingdom of Prussia. It was vital to the development of Brandenburg-Prussia as a European power.The Prussian Army had its roots in the meager mercenary forces of Brandenburg during the Thirty Years' War...
. He served in numerous wars and battles during the reign of Frederick the Great
Frederick II of Prussia
Frederick II was a King in Prussia and a King of Prussia from the Hohenzollern dynasty. In his role as a prince-elector of the Holy Roman Empire, he was also Elector of Brandenburg. He was in personal union the sovereign prince of the Principality of Neuchâtel...
.
Character
Zieten was a man of very small stature and had a very light voice, and these factors would lead him to have a quick temper as other men were quick to insult him. He liked to drink and was extremely defensive about his shortcomings, purportedly engaging in 74 separate duels, although it is unlikely that he actually killed all 74 of his opponents.Beginnings
Zieten was born in WustrauFehrbellin
Fehrbellin is a municipality in Germany, located 60 km NW of Berlin. It has 9310 inhabitants as of 2005.-History:In 1675, the Battle of Fehrbellin was fought there, in which the troops of Brandenburg defeated those of occupying Sweden...
(now part of Fehrbellin
Fehrbellin
Fehrbellin is a municipality in Germany, located 60 km NW of Berlin. It has 9310 inhabitants as of 2005.-History:In 1675, the Battle of Fehrbellin was fought there, in which the troops of Brandenburg defeated those of occupying Sweden...
) in the Margraviate of Brandenburg
Margraviate of Brandenburg
The Margraviate of Brandenburg was a major principality of the Holy Roman Empire from 1157 to 1806. Also known as the March of Brandenburg , it played a pivotal role in the history of Germany and Central Europe....
. He began his military career as a volunteer in an infantry regiment, retired after ten years' service, but soon afterwards became a lieutenant of dragoons. Being involved in some trade transactions of his squadron-commander, he was cashiered, but managed to obtain reinstatement, and was posted to a hussar
Hussar
Hussar refers to a number of types of light cavalry which originated in Hungary in the 14th century, tracing its roots from Serbian medieval cavalry tradition, brought to Hungary in the course of the Serb migrations, which began in the late 14th century....
corps, then a new arm. At that time light cavalry work was well known only to the Austrians
Habsburg Monarchy
The Habsburg Monarchy covered the territories ruled by the junior Austrian branch of the House of Habsburg , and then by the successor House of Habsburg-Lorraine , between 1526 and 1867/1918. The Imperial capital was Vienna, except from 1583 to 1611, when it was moved to Prague...
, and in 1735 Rittmeister (Captain) von Zieten participated in the Rhine campaign
War of the Polish Succession
The War of the Polish Succession was a major European war for princes' possessions sparked by a Polish civil war over the succession to Augustus II, King of Poland that other European powers widened in pursuit of their own national interests...
under the Austrian general Baranyai (Baronay).
Promotion
In 1741, recently promoted lieutenant-colonel, Zieten met his old teacher in battle during the First Silesian WarSilesian Wars
The Silesian Wars were a series of wars between Prussia and Austria for control of Silesia. They formed parts of the larger War of the Austrian Succession and Seven Years' War. They eventually ended with Silesia being incorporated into Prussia, and Austrian recognition of this...
and defeated him at the Battle of Rothschloss. The chivalrous Austrian sent him a complimentary letter a few days later, and General Hans Karl von Winterfeldt
Hans Karl von Winterfeldt
Hans Karl von Winterfeldt , Prussian general, was born at Vanselow Castle in Swedish Pomerania, he was Lord of several estates. His education was imperfect, and in later life he always regretted his want of familiarity with the French language...
, who had been in command at Rothschloss, reported upon his conduct so favourably that Zieten was marked out by King Frederick the Great for future higher command. Within a year he was colonel of the newly formed Hussar Regiment, and thereafter his advance was rapid. In the Moravia
Moravia
Moravia is a historical region in Central Europe in the east of the Czech Republic, and one of the former Czech lands, together with Bohemia and Silesia. It takes its name from the Morava River which rises in the northwest of the region...
n foray of the following year, Zieten and his hussars penetrated almost to Vienna
Vienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
, and in the retreat to Silesia
Silesia
Silesia is a historical region of Central Europe located mostly in Poland, with smaller parts also in the Czech Republic, and Germany.Silesia is rich in mineral and natural resources, and includes several important industrial areas. Silesia's largest city and historical capital is Wrocław...
he was constantly employed with the rearguard. Zieten received the Pour le Mérite
Pour le Mérite
The Pour le Mérite, known informally as the Blue Max , was the Kingdom of Prussia's highest military order for German soldiers until the end of World War I....
for his success during the war.
Distinguishment and valor
Still more distinguished was Zieten's part in the Second Silesian War. In the short peace, the hussars, like the rest of the Prussian cavalry, had undergone a complete reformation. To their discipline they had added the dash and skirmishing qualities of the best irregulars, and the Prussian hussars were considered the best of their kind in Europe. Zieten fought the brilliant action of Moldau Tein almost on the day he received his commission as major-general. In the next campaign he led the famous Zietenritt (Zietenride) around the enemy's lines with the object of delivering the king's order to a distant detachment. At Hohenfriedberg (Striegau)Battle of Hohenfriedberg
The Battle of Hohenfriedberg or Hohenfriedeberg, also known as the battle of Striegau, now Dobromierz, was one of the crowning achievements of Frederick the Great...
and at Katholisch-Hennersdorf, the hussars covered themselves with glory, shadowing the enemy waiting to pounce on them. Hennersdorf and Kesselsdorf ended the Second Silesian War, but the Prussian army did not rest on its laurels, and their training during the ten years peace was careful and unceasing.
Seven Years' War
When the Seven Years' WarSeven Years' War
The Seven Years' War was a global military war between 1756 and 1763, involving most of the great powers of the time and affecting Europe, North America, Central America, the West African coast, India, and the Philippines...
broke out in 1756, Zieten had just been made lieutenant-general. At Reichenberg
Battle of Reichenberg
The Battle of Reichenberg was a battle of the Seven Years' War, fought on April 21, 1757 near the town of Reichenberg in Bohemia....
and at Prague, he held important commands, and at the disastrous Battle of Kolin
Battle of Kolin
-Results:The battle was Frederick's first defeat in this war. This disaster forced him to abandon his intended march on Vienna, raise his siege of Prague, and fall back on Litoměřice...
(June 18, 1757) his left wing of cavalry was the only victorious corps of troops. At Leuthen
Battle of Leuthen
In the Battle of Leuthen or Lissa, fought on 5 December 1757, Frederick the Great's Prussian army used maneuver and terrain to decisively defeat a much larger Austrian army under Charles of Lorraine, thus ensuring Prussian control of Silesia during the Seven Years' War.- Background :While Frederick...
, one of the most brilliant battles of the 18th century, Zieten's cavalry began the fighting and completed the rout of the Austrians. In June 1758 he was sent to protect a convoy with supplies for the army besieging Olmütz
Olomouc
Olomouc is a city in Moravia, in the east of the Czech Republic. The city is located on the Morava river and is the ecclesiastical metropolis and historical capital city of Moravia. Nowadays, it is an administrative centre of the Olomouc Region and sixth largest city in the Czech Republic...
, but could not prevent it from being completely destroyed at Domstadtl
Battle of Domstadtl
The Battle of Domstadtl, also spelled Domstadt, Czech Domašov, was a battle between Habsburg Monarchy and Kingdom of Prussia at a Moravian village Domašov nad Bystřicí during the Seven Years' War on 30 June 1758, preceded by a minor clash at Guntramovice on 28 June...
. Despite that he continued, during the whole of the war, to be one of Frederick's most trusted generals.
One of the few errors committed by Zieten in his military career was his misdirection of the frontal attack at Torgau
Battle of Torgau
In the Battle of Torgau on 3 November 1760, King Frederick the Great's Prussian army fought a larger Austrian army under the command of Field Marshal Leopold Josef Graf Daun. The Prussians won a costly victory in one of the bloodiest battles of the Seven Years' War.-Background:In August, Daun...
, but he made up for this mistake by his assault on the Siptitz heights, which eventually decided the day.
Retirement
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
, Frederick's successor, King Frederick William II of Prussia
Frederick William II of Prussia
Frederick William II was the King of Prussia, reigning from 1786 until his death. He was in personal union the Prince-Elector of Brandenburg and the sovereign prince of the Principality of Neuchâtel.-Early life:...
, erected a column to his memory on the Wilhelmplatz
Wilhelmplatz
Wilhelmplatz is a former square in the Mitte district of Berlin, Germany at the corner of Wilhelmstrasse and Voßstraße. The square also gave its name to a Berlin U-Bahn station which has since been renamed Mohrenstraße...
in Berlin.