Konstantin Bernhard von Voigts-Rhetz
Encyclopedia
Konstantin Bernhard von Voigts-Rhetz (16 July 1809 – 14 April 1877) was a Prussian general who served in the Austro-Prussian War
and the Franco-Prussian War
.
Voigts-Rhetz entered the Prussian 9th Infantry Regiment in 1827 and was made an officer in 1829. Between 1833 and 1835 Voigts-Rhetz attended the Prussian Military Academy. In 1837 he was attached to the topography
division. He joined the General Staff
in 1839 and was promoted to captain in 1841 and major in 1847.
Voigts-Rhetz joined the staff of the V Corps in 1847. When revolutions
broke out in 1848 he helped suppress the insurrection at Posen. After the insurrection was quelled Voigts-Rhetz engaged in a dispute with the royal commissioner for Posen, General Karl Wilhelm von Willisen
. Both Voigts-Rhetz and Willisen used the press to justify their actions.
In 1852 Voigts-Rhetz became chief of staff oft he V Corps. After being promoted to colonel in 1855 he was given command of the 9th Infantry Brigade in 1858, with the rank of a major-general. In 1859 he became a director in the Prussian War ministry
. In 1860 he was given command of the Fortress of the German Confederation
in Luxembourg
. In 1863 he was promoted to lieutenant-general and given command of the 7th Infantry Division. In 1864 he became commander in chief of the garrison at Frankfurt am Main.
During the Austro-Prussian War Voigts-Rhetz served as chief of staff of the 1st Army, lead by Prince Friedrich Karl of Prussia. In this function he contributed to the Prussian victories at Münchengrätz
, Gitschin and Sadowa
. After the war he was made governor-general oft he newly annexed Province of Hanover
and commander of the newly established X Corps.
During the Franco-Prussian War Voigts-Rhetz‘s X Corps became part of the 2nd Army, again lead by Prince Friedrich Karl. With these troops Voigts-Rhetz took part in the battles at Mars-la-Tour
and Gravelotte
. After Gravelotte, X Corps was part of the troops besieging Metz. After the fall of Metz
Voigts-Rhetz and X Corps were sent to the Loire, where he was victorious at Beaune-la-Rolande
. After the end of the war he remained in command of the Corps until he retired in 1873 due to health reasons. He was given a dotation of 150.000 thaler for his services during the 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...
and 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...
.
Voigts-Rhetz entered the Prussian 9th Infantry Regiment in 1827 and was made an officer in 1829. Between 1833 and 1835 Voigts-Rhetz attended the Prussian Military Academy. In 1837 he was attached to the topography
Topography
Topography is the study of Earth's surface shape and features or those ofplanets, moons, and asteroids...
division. He joined 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 1839 and was promoted to captain in 1841 and major in 1847.
Voigts-Rhetz joined the staff of the V Corps in 1847. When revolutions
Revolutions of 1848 in the German states
The Revolutions of 1848 in the German states, also called the March Revolution – part of the Revolutions of 1848 that broke out in many countries of Europe – were a series of loosely coordinated protests and rebellions in the states of the German Confederation, including the Austrian Empire...
broke out in 1848 he helped suppress the insurrection at Posen. After the insurrection was quelled Voigts-Rhetz engaged in a dispute with the royal commissioner for Posen, General Karl Wilhelm von Willisen
Karl Wilhelm von Willisen
Karl Wilhelm Freiherr von Willisen was a Prussian general.-Biography :Willisen was born in Staßfurt as the third son of the mayor of Staßfurt, Karl Wilhelm Hermann von Willisen and his wife Friederike von Trotha .- Early career :Willisen was educated in the Prussian Cadet Corps and joined the...
. Both Voigts-Rhetz and Willisen used the press to justify their actions.
In 1852 Voigts-Rhetz became chief of staff oft he V Corps. After being promoted to colonel in 1855 he was given command of the 9th Infantry Brigade in 1858, with the rank of a major-general. In 1859 he became a director in the Prussian War ministry
Prussian Minister of War
The Prussian War Ministry was gradually established between 1808 and 1809 as part of a series of reforms initiated by the Military Reorganization Commission created after the disastrous Treaty of Paris. The War Ministry was to help bring the army under constitutional control, and, along with the...
. In 1860 he was given command of the Fortress of the German Confederation
Fortresses of the German Confederation
Under the term of the 1815 Peace of Paris, France was obliged to pay for the construction of a line of fortresses to protect the German Confederation against any future aggression by France.Section C...
in Luxembourg
Luxembourg
Luxembourg , officially the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg , is a landlocked country in western Europe, bordered by Belgium, France, and Germany. It has two principal regions: the Oesling in the North as part of the Ardennes massif, and the Gutland in the south...
. In 1863 he was promoted to lieutenant-general and given command of the 7th Infantry Division. In 1864 he became commander in chief of the garrison at Frankfurt am Main.
During the Austro-Prussian War Voigts-Rhetz served as chief of staff of the 1st Army, lead by Prince Friedrich Karl of Prussia. In this function he contributed to the Prussian victories at Münchengrätz
Battle of Münchengrätz
The Battle of Münchengrätz was fought on June 28, 1866 during the Austro-Prussian War. It ended in an Prussians victory over the Austrian Empire.- References :...
, Gitschin and Sadowa
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...
. After the war he was made governor-general oft he newly annexed Province of Hanover
Province of Hanover
The Province of Hanover was a province of the Kingdom of Prussia and the Free State of Prussia from 1868 to 1946.During the Austro-Prussian War, the Kingdom of Hanover had attempted to maintain a neutral position, along with some other member states of the German Confederation...
and commander of the newly established X Corps.
During the Franco-Prussian War Voigts-Rhetz‘s X Corps became part of the 2nd Army, again lead by Prince Friedrich Karl. With these troops Voigts-Rhetz took part in the battles at Mars-la-Tour
Battle of Mars-La-Tour
The Battle of Mars-La-Tour was fought on 16 August 1870 during the Franco-Prussian War near the town of Mars-La-Tour in northeast France. Two Prussian corps encountered the entire French Army of the Rhine in a meeting engagement, and with the surprise entailed, successfully forced the Army of the...
and Gravelotte
Battle of Gravelotte
The Battle of Gravelotte was a battle of the Franco-Prussian War named after Gravelotte, a village in Lorraine between Metz and the former French–German frontier.-Terrain and armies:...
. After Gravelotte, X Corps was part of the troops besieging Metz. After the fall of Metz
Metz
Metz is a city in the northeast of France located at the confluence of the Moselle and the Seille rivers.Metz is the capital of the Lorraine region and prefecture of the Moselle department. Located near the tripoint along the junction of France, Germany, and Luxembourg, Metz forms a central place...
Voigts-Rhetz and X Corps were sent to the Loire, where he was victorious at Beaune-la-Rolande
Battle of Beaune-la-Rolande
The Battle of Beaune-la-Rolande on 28 November 1870 was a battle of the Franco-Prussian War, won by Prussia. In an attempt to relieve the Siege of Paris, French General Crouzat's XX Corps launched an attack against three Prussian brigades resting in Beaune-la-Rolande...
. After the end of the war he remained in command of the Corps until he retired in 1873 due to health reasons. He was given a dotation of 150.000 thaler for his services during the war.