Dietrich von Hülsen-Haeseler
Encyclopedia
Dietrich Graf von Hülsen-Haeseler (born February 13, 1852 in Berlin
, Germany
; died November 14, 1908 in Donaueschingen
, Baden-Württemberg
, Germany) was an infantry general of the German Empire
.
The son of a Prussian
general, Dietrich in 1870 became a lieutenant in the Prussian Emperor Alexander
4th Guards Grenadiers. He attended the War College and was attached to the German General Staff
in 1882. Then, in 1889, he was made aide de camp to Kaiser
Wilhelm II
In 1894 he was named military attaché
at the German
embassy in Vienna. In 1897, now a colonel, he returned to Berlin as commander of a guards regiment. In 1899 he was promoted to major general, made chief of general staff in the Guards Corps, and then given command of the 2nd Guards Infantry Brigade.
From May 1901 until his death in November 1908 he served as Chief of the German Imperial Military Cabinet
, during which time he rose to General of Infantry
.
and dancing for the Kaiser. (James, Harold, A German Identity: 1770 - 1990, New York: Routledge, 1989; p. 82) The circumstances were covered up by the officer corps so as not to further inflame public pressure over the homosexually
themed Harden-Eulenburg Affair
. Ironically, it was von Hülsen-Haeseler who had organized the cover up of that scandal.
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...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
; died November 14, 1908 in Donaueschingen
Donaueschingen
Donaueschingen is a German town in the Black Forest in the southwest of the federal state of Baden-Württemberg in the Schwarzwald-Baar Kreis. It stands near the confluence of the two sources of the river Danube ....
, Baden-Württemberg
Baden-Württemberg
Baden-Württemberg is one of the 16 states of Germany. Baden-Württemberg is in the southwestern part of the country to the east of the Upper Rhine, and is the third largest in both area and population of Germany's sixteen states, with an area of and 10.7 million inhabitants...
, Germany) was an infantry general of the German Empire
German Empire
The German Empire refers to Germany during the "Second Reich" period from the unification of Germany and proclamation of Wilhelm I as German Emperor on 18 January 1871, to 1918, when it became a federal republic after defeat in World War I and the abdication of the Emperor, Wilhelm II.The German...
.
The son of a Prussian
Prussia
Prussia was a German kingdom and historic state originating out of the Duchy of Prussia and the Margraviate of Brandenburg. For centuries, the House of Hohenzollern ruled Prussia, successfully expanding its size by way of an unusually well-organized and effective army. Prussia shaped the history...
general, Dietrich in 1870 became a lieutenant in the Prussian Emperor Alexander
Emperor Alexander
Emperor Alexander may refer to:* Alexander Severus , was a Roman emperor of the Severan dynasty* Domitius Alexander, Roman usurper who declared himself emperor in 311* Alexander Emperor Alexander may refer to:* Alexander Severus (208–235), was a Roman emperor (222-235) of the Severan dynasty*...
4th Guards Grenadiers. He attended the War College and was attached to the German 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 1882. Then, in 1889, he was made aide de camp to Kaiser
Kaiser
Kaiser is the German title meaning "Emperor", with Kaiserin being the female equivalent, "Empress". Like the Russian Czar it is directly derived from the Latin Emperors' title of Caesar, which in turn is derived from the personal name of a branch of the gens Julia, to which Gaius Julius Caesar,...
Wilhelm II
In 1894 he was named military attaché
Military attaché
A military attaché is a military expert who is attached to a diplomatic mission . This post is normally filled by a high-ranking military officer who retains the commission while serving in an embassy...
at the German
German Empire
The German Empire refers to Germany during the "Second Reich" period from the unification of Germany and proclamation of Wilhelm I as German Emperor on 18 January 1871, to 1918, when it became a federal republic after defeat in World War I and the abdication of the Emperor, Wilhelm II.The German...
embassy in Vienna. In 1897, now a colonel, he returned to Berlin as commander of a guards regiment. In 1899 he was promoted to major general, made chief of general staff in the Guards Corps, and then given command of the 2nd Guards Infantry Brigade.
From May 1901 until his death in November 1908 he served as Chief of the German Imperial Military Cabinet
German Imperial Military Cabinet
The Prussian Military Cabinet or the German Military Cabinet was a military institution under the direct command authority of the Prussian king and German emperor for handling personnel matters of the army officer corps....
, during which time he rose to General of Infantry
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...
.
Death
In November 1908, Dietrich Graf von Hülsen-Haeseler died of a heart attack while on a hunting trip in honor of the Kaiser. At the time of his death he was dressed as a ballerinaBallerina
A ballerina is a title used to describe a principal female professional ballet dancer in a large company; the male equivalent to this title is danseur or ballerino...
and dancing for the Kaiser. (James, Harold, A German Identity: 1770 - 1990, New York: Routledge, 1989; p. 82) The circumstances were covered up by the officer corps so as not to further inflame public pressure over the homosexually
Homosexuality
Homosexuality is romantic or sexual attraction or behavior between members of the same sex or gender. As a sexual orientation, homosexuality refers to "an enduring pattern of or disposition to experience sexual, affectional, or romantic attractions" primarily or exclusively to people of the same...
themed Harden-Eulenburg Affair
Harden-Eulenburg Affair
The Harden-Eulenburg affair, often simply Eulenburg affair, was the controversy surrounding a series of courts-martial and five civil trials regarding accusations of homosexual conduct, and accompanying libel trials, among prominent members of Kaiser Wilhelm II's cabinet and entourage during...
. Ironically, it was von Hülsen-Haeseler who had organized the cover up of that scandal.