August Karl von Goeben August Karl von Göben ( 10 December 1816 – 1880 ) was a Prussian infantry general . He was awarded the Iron Cross for his service in the Franco - Prussian War . Early career . Born at Stade 30 km west of Hamburg in the Kingdom of Hannover , he aspired from his earliest years to the Prussian service rather than that of his own country , and at the age of seventeen , obtained a commission in the 24th Regiment of Prussian infantry . But there was little scope for the activities of a young and energetic subaltern . Leaving the service in 1836 , he enlisted in the Carlist army fighting the First Carlist War in Spain . In the five campaigns in which he served Don Carlos , he had many turns of fortune . He had not fought for two months when he fell , severely wounded , into the hands of the Spanish royalist troops . After eight months ' detention , he escaped , but it was not long before he was captured again . This time his imprisonment was long and painful , and on two occasions , he was compelled to draw lots for his life with his fellow captives . When released , Göben served until 1840 with distinction . In that year , he made his way back , a man without means , to Prussia . The Carlist lieutenant colonel was glad to be re - admitted into the Prussian service as a second lieutenant , but he was still young , and few subalterns could claim five years meritorious war service at the age of twenty - four . In a few years , he was a captain on the Great General Staff , and in 1848 , he was transferred to the staff of the IV Army Corps , where his immediate superior being Major Helmuth Graf von Moltke . The two men became fast friends , and their mutual esteem was never disturbed . In the Baden insurrection , Göben distinguished himself on the staff of Prince William , the future emperor . He alternated staff and regimental duty in the Prussian service for some years after this , until in 1863 , he was promoted to major - general commanding the 26th Infantry Brigade . In 1860 , he was present with the Spanish troops in Morocco , and took part in the Battle of Tetuan . Military Commands . In the first of Prussia ' s great wars , the 1864 Danish - Prussian War , he distinguished himself at the head of his brigade at Rackebull and Sonderburg . In the 1866 Austro - Prussian War , Lieutenant - General von Goeben commanded the 13th Division , of which his old brigade formed part , and , in this higher sphere , once more displayed the qualities of a born leader and skilful tactician . He held almost independent command with conspicuous success in the actions of Dermbach ( in Wartburgkreis ) , Laufach ( in Aschaffenburg ) , Kissingen , Aschaffenburg , Gerchsheim , Tauberbischofsheim and Würzburg . The mobilization of 1870 at the start of the Franco - Prussian War placed him at the head of the VIII ( Rhineland ) Army Corps , forming part of the First Army under von Steinmetz . It was his resolute and energetic leading that contributed mainly to the victory at the Spicheren on 6 August , and von Goeben won the only laurels gained on the Prussian right wing at Gravelotte on 18 August . Under Manteuffel , the VIII Corps took part in the operations about Amiens and Bapaume , and on 8 January 1871 , Goeben succeeded that general in the command of the First Army . A fortnight later , he brought the campaign in northern France to a brilliant conclusion , by the decisive victory at the Battle of St . Quentin ( 19 January 1871 ) . The close of the Franco - Prussian War left Goeben one of the most distinguished men in the victorious army . He was colonel of the 28th Infantry , and was awarded the Grand Cross of the Iron Cross . He commanded the VIII Corps at Coblenz until his death in 1880 . Writings . General von Goeben left many writings . His memoirs are to be found in his works : Legacy and honors . The former French fort de Queuleu at Metz was renamed Goeben after him , and the 28th Infantry bears his name . A statue of Goeben by Fritz Schaper was erected at Coblenz in 1884 . The , a of the Kaiserliche Marine ( German Navy ) launched in 1911 , was also named after him .