Georgii Stackelberg
Encyclopedia
Baron Georgii Karlovich Stackelberg (July 30, 1851–1913) was a cavalry general in the Imperial Russian Army
during the late 19th century and early 20th century.
noble family
and graduated from the Nicholas General Staff Academy
in 1862.
As a commander in the 1st Semirechye Cossacks from 1874–1876, Stackelberg distinguished himself during the Russian conquest of the Khanate of Khiva
and the Kokand expedition of 1875 under General Konstantin von Kaufman. He was wounded in combat, and although nominated for numerous awards, he refused to accept any.
From August 18, 1886 to December 5, 1890 Stackelberg commanded the 25th Dragoon Regiment at Kazan
. He was then assigned to command the Trans-Caspian Cossacks until December 3, 1897, followed by the 15th Cavalry Division to May 31, 1899.
Stackelberg was commander of the Russian 10th Cavalry Division during the suppression of the Boxer Rebellion
in China and Russian occupation of Manchuria
. Afterwards, he was assigned command of the 2nd Siberian Army Corps from April 25, 1901 to February 11, 1902. He was then commander of the 1st Cavalry Corps from February 11, 1902 to February 3, 1904.
From April 5, 1904, during the Russo-Japanese War
, Stackelberg was commander of the Russian 1st Siberian Corps, which played a major role in the Battle of Te-li-Ssu
. Hampered by orders from Russian commander-in-chief General Kuropatkin not to commit his entire reserves, and to fight a defensive battle rather than push forward in an offense, his forces were decisively defeated by the Second Japanese Army under General Oku Yasukata
. In the subsequent Battle of Sandepu
, Stackelberg chose to ignore Kuropatkin’s orders and made gains against entrenched Japanese positions, albeit with heavy casualties, but was forced to withdraw when reinforcements were denied. Relieved of his command for insubordination, he was sent back to St Petersburg after the battle, where he was awarded the Order of St. George
(4th class) for his actions.
Imperial Russian Army
The Imperial Russian Army was the land armed force of the Russian Empire, active from around 1721 to the Russian Revolution of 1917. In the early 1850s, the Russian army consisted of around 938,731 regular soldiers and 245,850 irregulars . Until the time of military reform of Dmitry Milyutin in...
during the late 19th century and early 20th century.
Biography
Stackelberg was from a Baltic GermanBaltic German
The Baltic Germans were mostly ethnically German inhabitants of the eastern shore of the Baltic Sea, which today form the countries of Estonia and Latvia. The Baltic German population never made up more than 10% of the total. They formed the social, commercial, political and cultural élite in...
noble family
Russian nobility
The Russian nobility arose in the 14th century and essentially governed Russia until the October Revolution of 1917.The Russian word for nobility, Dvoryanstvo , derives from the Russian word dvor , meaning the Court of a prince or duke and later, of the tsar. A nobleman is called dvoryanin...
and graduated from the Nicholas General Staff Academy
General Staff Academy (Imperial Russia)
The General Staff Academy was a Russian military academy, established in 1832 in St.Petersburg. It was first known as the Imperial Military Academy , then in 1855 it was renamed Nicholas General Staff Academy and in 1909 - Imperial Nicholas Military Academy The General Staff Academy was a...
in 1862.
As a commander in the 1st Semirechye Cossacks from 1874–1876, Stackelberg distinguished himself during the Russian conquest of the Khanate of Khiva
Khanate of Khiva
The Khanate of Khiva was the name of a Uzbek state that existed in the historical region of Khwarezm from 1511 to 1920, except for a period of Persian occupation by Nadir Shah between 1740–1746. It was the patrilineal descendants of Shayban , the fifth son of Jochi and grandson of Genghis Khan...
and the Kokand expedition of 1875 under General Konstantin von Kaufman. He was wounded in combat, and although nominated for numerous awards, he refused to accept any.
From August 18, 1886 to December 5, 1890 Stackelberg commanded the 25th Dragoon Regiment at Kazan
Kazan
Kazan is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Tatarstan, Russia. With a population of 1,143,546 , it is the eighth most populous city in Russia. Kazan lies at the confluence of the Volga and Kazanka Rivers in European Russia. In April 2009, the Russian Patent Office granted Kazan the...
. He was then assigned to command the Trans-Caspian Cossacks until December 3, 1897, followed by the 15th Cavalry Division to May 31, 1899.
Stackelberg was commander of the Russian 10th Cavalry Division during the suppression of the Boxer Rebellion
Boxer Rebellion
The Boxer Rebellion, also called the Boxer Uprising by some historians or the Righteous Harmony Society Movement in northern China, was a proto-nationalist movement by the "Righteous Harmony Society" , or "Righteous Fists of Harmony" or "Society of Righteous and Harmonious Fists" , in China between...
in China and Russian occupation of Manchuria
Manchuria
Manchuria is a historical name given to a large geographic region in northeast Asia. Depending on the definition of its extent, Manchuria usually falls entirely within the People's Republic of China, or is sometimes divided between China and Russia. The region is commonly referred to as Northeast...
. Afterwards, he was assigned command of the 2nd Siberian Army Corps from April 25, 1901 to February 11, 1902. He was then commander of the 1st Cavalry Corps from February 11, 1902 to February 3, 1904.
From April 5, 1904, during the Russo-Japanese War
Russo-Japanese War
The Russo-Japanese War was "the first great war of the 20th century." It grew out of rival imperial ambitions of the Russian Empire and Japanese Empire over Manchuria and Korea...
, Stackelberg was commander of the Russian 1st Siberian Corps, which played a major role in the Battle of Te-li-Ssu
Battle of Te-li-Ssu
The Battle of Te-li-ssu , also called Battle of Wafangou after the nearby railway station, was a land battle of the Russo-Japanese War. It was fought at a hamlet some north of Port Arthur, Manchuria. The hamlet is known today as Delisi, and is located just north of Wafangdian, Liaoning Province,...
. Hampered by orders from Russian commander-in-chief General Kuropatkin not to commit his entire reserves, and to fight a defensive battle rather than push forward in an offense, his forces were decisively defeated by the Second Japanese Army under General Oku Yasukata
Oku Yasukata
- Notes :...
. In the subsequent Battle of Sandepu
Battle of Sandepu
The Battle of Sandepu, was a major land battle of the Russo-Japanese War. It was fought within a group of villages about 36 miles southwest of Mukden, Manchuria.-Background:...
, Stackelberg chose to ignore Kuropatkin’s orders and made gains against entrenched Japanese positions, albeit with heavy casualties, but was forced to withdraw when reinforcements were denied. Relieved of his command for insubordination, he was sent back to St Petersburg after the battle, where he was awarded the Order of St. George
Order of St. George
The Military Order of the Holy Great-Martyr and the Triumphant George The Military Order of the Holy Great-Martyr and the Triumphant George The Military Order of the Holy Great-Martyr and the Triumphant George (also known as Order of St. George the Triumphant, Russian: Военный орден Св...
(4th class) for his actions.