Job von Witzleben
Encyclopedia
Karl Ernst Job-Wilhelm von Witzleben (born 20 July 1783 in Halberstadt
; died 9 July 1837 in Berlin
) was a Prussian Lieutenant General, Adjutant-General to the King and Minister of War.
Witzleben became a squire to King Frederick William II in 1793, and then an Ensign
in the personal body guard in 1799. He became a Second Lieutenant in 1802, and was captured in the Battle of Jena in 1806, but was exchanged in August 1807. His work Ideas on the Reorganisation of the Light Infantry, caught the attention of Gerhard von Scharnhorst
, so that he was transferred in December 1808 to the newly formed Garde-Jäger-Bataillon as a Stabskapitän
. In early 1812 he was promoted to Major and fought on 2 May 1813 in the Battle of Lützen
. During the war in France he was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel. In spring 1815 he joined the general staff of the army of Field Marshal Blücher and was then made a Colonel.
Having been made a Lieutenant General in 1821, he was appointed the successor of Minister of War Karl Georg Albrecht Ernst von Hake
upon his resignation in 1833. He worked to integrate the standing army and the Landwehr
. He also managed the introduction of the needle gun
, and revised the military criminal code.
Job von Witzleben retired due to severe illness in 1835.
Halberstadt
Halberstadt is a town in the German state of Saxony-Anhalt and the capital of the district of Harz. It is located on the German Half-Timbered House Road and the Magdeburg–Thale railway....
; died 9 July 1837 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...
) was a Prussian Lieutenant General, Adjutant-General to the King and Minister of War.
Witzleben became a squire to King Frederick William II in 1793, and then an Ensign
Ensign (rank)
Ensign is a junior rank of a commissioned officer in the armed forces of some countries, normally in the infantry or navy. As the junior officer in an infantry regiment was traditionally the carrier of the ensign flag, the rank itself acquired the name....
in the personal body guard in 1799. He became a Second Lieutenant in 1802, and was captured in the Battle of Jena in 1806, but was exchanged in August 1807. His work Ideas on the Reorganisation of the Light Infantry, caught the attention of Gerhard von Scharnhorst
Gerhard von Scharnhorst
Gerhard Johann David Waitz von Scharnhorst was a general in Prussian service, Chief of the Prussian General Staff, noted for both his writings, his reforms of the Prussian army, and his leadership during the Napoleonic Wars....
, so that he was transferred in December 1808 to the newly formed Garde-Jäger-Bataillon as a Stabskapitän
Stabskapitän
Stabskapitän is a historic military rank, used in the Prussian and Russian armies. It ranked between the Premierleutnant and Hauptmann/Rittmeister in the Prussian army, and between lieutenant and captain in the Russian army...
. In early 1812 he was promoted to Major and fought on 2 May 1813 in the Battle of Lützen
Battle of Lützen (1813)
In the Battle of Lützen , Napoleon I of France lured a combined Prussian and Russian force into a trap, halting the advances of the Sixth Coalition after his devastating losses in Russia. The Russian commander, Prince Peter Wittgenstein, attempting to undo Napoleon's capture of Leipzig, attacked...
. During the war in France he was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel. In spring 1815 he joined the general staff of the army of Field Marshal Blücher and was then made a Colonel.
Having been made a Lieutenant General in 1821, he was appointed the successor of Minister of War Karl Georg Albrecht Ernst von Hake
Karl Georg Albrecht Ernst von Hake
Karl Georg Albrecht Ernst von Hake was a Prussian general and Minister of War.Hake was born on the estate of Flatow in the Margraviate of Brandenburg. He entered the Prussian Army in 1785...
upon his resignation in 1833. He worked to integrate the standing army and the Landwehr
Landwehr
Landwehr, or Landeswehr, is a German language term used in referring to certain national armies, or militias found in nineteenth- and early twentieth-century Europe. In different context it refers to large scale, low strength fortifications...
. He also managed the introduction of the needle gun
Needle gun
The Dreyse needle-gun was a military breechloading rifle, famous as the main infantry weapon of the Prussians, who adopted it for service in 1848 as the Dreyse Zündnadelgewehr, or Prussian Model 1848...
, and revised the military criminal code.
Job von Witzleben retired due to severe illness in 1835.
Decorations
- Iron CrossIron CrossThe Iron Cross is a cross symbol typically in black with a white or silver outline that originated after 1219 when the Kingdom of Jerusalem granted the Teutonic Order the right to combine the Teutonic Black Cross placed above a silver Cross of Jerusalem....
, second (1813) and first class (1814) - Order of the Red EagleOrder of the Red EagleThe Order of the Red Eagle was an order of chivalry of the Kingdom of Prussia. It was awarded to both military personnel and civilians, to recognize valor in combat, excellence in military leadership, long and faithful service to the kingdom, or other achievements...
, third class (1817) - Order of Stanislaus, first class (1818)
- Order of the Red Eagle, second class with oak leaf cluster (1820)
- Order of the Zähringer LionOrder of the Zähringer LionThe Order of the Zähringer Lion was instituted on 26 December 1812 by Karl, Grand Duke of Baden, in memory of the Dukes of Zähringen from whom he was descended.-Classes:It had five classes.*Grand Cross*Commander, 1st Class*Commander, 2nd Class...
(1822) - Service Award CrossService Award CrossA Service Award Cross was an award for long-time service as a civil servant or member of the military. Prussia had a service cross for 25-years service for officers as well as service awards in the form of buckles for nine-, 15 - and 25-years' service in the active Army.In addition, there was a...
(1825) - Commander of the Military William Order of the NetherlandsNetherlandsThe Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
(1825) - BrilliantBrilliant (diamond cut)A brilliant is a diamond or other gemstone, cut in a particular form with numerous facets so as to have exceptional brilliance. The shape resembles that of a cone and provides maximized light return through the top of the diamond....
to the Order of Stanislaus, first class (1829) - Star to the Order of the Red Eagle, second class (1830)
- Order of the Red Eagle, first class with oak leaf cluster (1832)
- Order of Alexander NevskyOrder of Alexander NevskyThe Order of Alexander Nevsky is an order of merit bestowed by the Russian Federation. It is named in honour ofAlexander Nevsky's struggle with the Teutonic Knights....
(1834) - Diamond to the Russian Order of Alexander Nevsky (1835)
- LudwigsordenLudwigsordenThe "Ludwigsorden" , was an order of the Grand Duchy of Hesse which was awarded to meritorious soldiers and civilians from 1807 to 1918.-History:...
, Grand CrossGrand CrossThe phrase Grand Cross is used to denote the highest grade in many orders of knighthood. Sometimes the holders of the highest grade are referred to "knights grand cross" or just "grand crosses"; in other cases the actual insignia itself is called "the grand cross".Alternatively, in some other...
(1835)