Hugo von Kirchbach
Encyclopedia
Hugo Ewald Graf von Kirchbach (23 May 1809 - 26 October 1887) was a Prussian general who commanded the Prussian V Corps during the Franco-Prussian War
.
Born in 1809 at Neumarkt
in Silesia, von Kirchbach entered the cadet school in 1824. In 1826 he was named an ensign in the Regiment Fürst Leopold von Anhalt-Dessau. In 1827 he becama a sub-lieutenant. From 1831 to 1834 he studied at the Prussian Military Academy, which was a prerequisite to joining the General Staff
. In 1838 he joined the Prussian General Staff's topography
division. He was promoted to lieutenant in 1840, captain in 1845 and major in 1850. From 1855 to 1858 he was a divisional chief on the General Staff. In 1859 von Kirchbach became commander of the 36th Infantry Regiment. Before being promoted to major general in 1863, von Kirchbach served as the chief of staff of the 3rd Army corps in Berlin
.
During the Second Schleswig War von Kirchbach was given command of the 21st Infantry brigade. At the start of the Austro-Prussian War
in 1866 von Kirchbach was promoted to lieutenant general and given command of the 1st Infantry division. He distinguished himself in the battle of Nachod
, and in engagements at Skalitz and Schweinschädel. For these actions he was awarded the Pour le Mérite
. His division was not engaged at Königgrätz
When the Franco-Prussian War
errupted in 1870 von Kirchbach was promoted to General der Inafanterie
and given command of the Prussian V Corps. He played a prominent role in the early battles of the war at Wissembourg and Wörth. At Sedan
von Kirchbach and his V Corps were tasked with closing the ring on the northern side around the French Army of Châlons
trapped at Sedan
. During the siege of Paris
, V Corps occupied positions to the southwest of the city. Von Kirchbach was able to repel all French attempts to break through his positions at Mont Valerien
. On 18 February 1871 he was given the oak leaves to his Pour le Mérite. In February 1871 V Corps was send to Orléans
and in March to Vesoul
.
In 1872 he was given 100.000 thaler
and an estate in Niesky
. In 1880 von Kirchbach was ennobled as a count. Hugo von Kirchbach died in 1887 in Niesky, Oberlausitz. His son Günther von Kirchbach
was a colonel general during the First World War.
Franco-Prussian War
The Franco-Prussian War or Franco-German War, often referred to in France as the 1870 War was a conflict between the Second French Empire and the Kingdom of Prussia. Prussia was aided by the North German Confederation, of which it was a member, and the South German states of Baden, Württemberg and...
.
Born in 1809 at Neumarkt
Sroda Slaska
Środa Śląska is a town in Lower Silesian Voivodeship, in south-western Poland. It is the seat of Środa Śląska County, and of the smaller administrative district called Gmina Środa Śląska. Prior to 1945 it was in Germany...
in Silesia, von Kirchbach entered the cadet school in 1824. In 1826 he was named an ensign in the Regiment Fürst Leopold von Anhalt-Dessau. In 1827 he becama a sub-lieutenant. From 1831 to 1834 he studied at the Prussian Military Academy, which was a prerequisite to joining the General Staff
German General Staff
The German General Staff was an institution whose rise and development gave the German armed forces a decided advantage over its adversaries. The Staff amounted to its best "weapon" for nearly a century and a half....
. In 1838 he joined the Prussian General Staff's topography
Topography
Topography is the study of Earth's surface shape and features or those ofplanets, moons, and asteroids...
division. He was promoted to lieutenant in 1840, captain in 1845 and major in 1850. From 1855 to 1858 he was a divisional chief on the General Staff. In 1859 von Kirchbach became commander of the 36th Infantry Regiment. Before being promoted to major general in 1863, von Kirchbach served as the chief of staff of the 3rd Army corps in Berlin
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...
.
During the Second Schleswig War von Kirchbach was given command of the 21st Infantry brigade. At the start of the Austro-Prussian War
Austro-Prussian War
The Austro-Prussian War was a war fought in 1866 between the German Confederation under the leadership of the Austrian Empire and its German allies on one side and the Kingdom of Prussia with its German allies and Italy on the...
in 1866 von Kirchbach was promoted to lieutenant general and given command of the 1st Infantry division. He distinguished himself in the battle of Nachod
Battle of Nachod
The Battle of Nachod on 27 June 1866 was the first major action of the Austro-Prussian War. The advance guard of General Karl Friedrich von Steinmetz's 5th Corps occupied some high ground near Nachod as part of a Prussian advance into Bohemia from Silesia...
, and in engagements at Skalitz and Schweinschädel. For these actions he was awarded 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....
. His division was not engaged at Königgrätz
Battle of Königgrätz
The Battle of Königgrätz , also known as the Battle of Sadowa, Sadová, or Hradec Králové, was the decisive battle of the Austro-Prussian War, in which the Kingdom of Prussia defeated the Austrian Empire...
When the Franco-Prussian War
Franco-Prussian War
The Franco-Prussian War or Franco-German War, often referred to in France as the 1870 War was a conflict between the Second French Empire and the Kingdom of Prussia. Prussia was aided by the North German Confederation, of which it was a member, and the South German states of Baden, Württemberg and...
errupted in 1870 von Kirchbach was promoted to General der Inafanterie
General of the Infantry (Germany)
General of the Infantry is a rank of general in the Imperial Army, Reichswehr or Wehrmacht - the second-highest regular rank. The same rank spread to the Imperial Russian Army and the Defence forces of Finland between the world wars...
and given command of the Prussian V Corps. He played a prominent role in the early battles of the war at Wissembourg and Wörth. At Sedan
Battle of Sedan
The Battle of Sedan was fought during the Franco-Prussian War on 1 September 1870. It resulted in the capture of Emperor Napoleon III and large numbers of his troops and for all intents and purposes decided the war in favour of Prussia and its allies, though fighting continued under a new French...
von Kirchbach and his V Corps were tasked with closing the ring on the northern side around the French Army of Châlons
Army of Châlons
The Army of Châlons was a French army which took part in the Franco-Prussian War of 1870–71. It was formed in August 1870 from parts of the Army of the Rhine not blockaded at Metz...
trapped at Sedan
Sedan
A sedan or saloon car is a passenger car in a three-box configuration with A, B & C-pillars and principal volumes articulated in separate compartments for engine, passenger and cargo...
. During the siege of Paris
Siege of Paris
The Siege of Paris, lasting from September 19, 1870 – January 28, 1871, and the consequent capture of the city by Prussian forces led to French defeat in the Franco-Prussian War and the establishment of the German Empire as well as the Paris Commune....
, V Corps occupied positions to the southwest of the city. Von Kirchbach was able to repel all French attempts to break through his positions at Mont Valerien
Battle of Buzenval
The Battle of Buzenval, also known as the Battle of Mont Valerien, was part of the siege of Paris during the Franco-Prussian War. On January 19 1871, the day after Wilhelm I was proclaimed German Emperor, Louis Jules Trochu attacked the Germans west of Paris in Buzenval Park...
. On 18 February 1871 he was given the oak leaves to his Pour le Mérite. In February 1871 V Corps was send to Orléans
Orléans
-Prehistory and Roman:Cenabum was a Gallic stronghold, one of the principal towns of the Carnutes tribe where the Druids held their annual assembly. It was conquered and destroyed by Julius Caesar in 52 BC, then rebuilt under the Roman Empire...
and in March to Vesoul
Vesoul
Vesoul is a commune in the Haute-Saône department in the region of Franche-Comté in eastern France.The town is the capital of the department, its inhabitants are known in French as Vésuliens.-Notable people:...
.
In 1872 he was given 100.000 thaler
Thaler
The Thaler was a silver coin used throughout Europe for almost four hundred years. Its name lives on in various currencies as the dollar or tolar. Etymologically, "Thaler" is an abbreviation of "Joachimsthaler", a coin type from the city of Joachimsthal in Bohemia, where some of the first such...
and an estate in Niesky
Niesky
Niesky is a small town in Upper Lusatia in eastern the Free State of Saxony, Germany. It has a population of about 11,000 and is part of the district of Görlitz....
. In 1880 von Kirchbach was ennobled as a count. Hugo von Kirchbach died in 1887 in Niesky, Oberlausitz. His son Günther von Kirchbach
Günther von Kirchbach
Günther Emanuel Graf von Kirchbach was a German colonel general who served during the First World War.Günther von Kirchbach was born in Erfurt in 1850 the son of Hugo von Kirchbach. Von Kirchbach entered the Prussian army in April 1868 as a second lieutenant in the Garde-Füsilier-Regiment. He...
was a colonel general during the First World War.