Walter von Loë Friedrich Karl Walter Degenhard ( 1828 - 1908 ) , Baron Walter von Loë , was a Prussian soldier and aristocrat . Loë had the distinction of being one of the few Roman Catholics to reach the rank of Generalfeldmarschall , or field marshal . Early life and military career . Loë was born into the Westphalian aristocracy on September 9 , 1828 in Allner . His wealthy , Catholic family held a baronial title , and his father sent him to be educated at the Ritterakademie in Bedburg . In 1845 , Loë served his required year in the military , allowing him to enter the reserves . After graduating from the academy , he studied at Bonn University . Loë was not to stay at the university for long , however , as war with Denmark broke out over a border dispute known as the Schleswig - Holstein Question . The duchies of Schleswig and Holstein , located along the Danish border , were claimed by both Prussia and Denmark . When German Schleswig - Holsteiners rebelled , Prussia and other German states sent forces to intervene . Loë served as a lieutenant of German cavalry during the conflict , eventually transferring to the Prussian Third Hussars . In 1851 , the war with Denmark concluded with an agreement , the 1852 London Protocol , which allowed the Danes to retain Schleswig - Holstein . Loë remained in the military , however , fighting rebels in Baden before becoming adjutant of Prussia ' s Army Riding School . A major by 1861 , Loë became an aide to William I of Prussia , serving in this capacity for one year , upon which he accompanied the King ' s brother Albert to the Caucasus . In 1863 , Loë was appointed military attaché to the French army in Algeria . While in North Africa , he participated in a French campaign against Arab rebels . Returning to Prussia , Loë was promoted , first to lieutenant colonel ( 1867 ) and then to full colonel ( 1868 ) , and commanded the Seventh Hussars during the Franco - Prussian War , after which Germany was united under King William , now Emperor of the entire German nation . Loë ' s forces performed satisfactorily during the war , and he advanced to the level of brigade commander . Serving in both command and staff roles , Loë ( now Baron Loë after succeeding to his father ' s title ) rose to major general and then to lieutenant general . He became the commander of the 5th Division in 1879 . From 1880 to 1884 , Loë was the Prussian adjutant general . After leaving this position in 1884 , he was given command of the VIII Army Corps . In 1893 , Loë was sent to Rome in a diplomatic capacity . While in the Italian city , he met with Pope Leo XIII . Upon successful completion of this mission , Loë was made Colonel General of the Cavalry . After spending two years in charge of the cavalry branch , he was promoted to field marshal , becoming one of the few Catholics to receive this highest rank after service in the Protestant - dominated Prussian army . Loë was given the position of Governor of Berlin along with his new rank . In 1897 , the ailing field marshal submitted his resignation , although he accepted a diplomatic mission in 1900 . He died on July 6 , 1908 in the city of Bonn . Personal life . In 1859 , Loë married Countess Franziska von Hatzfeld , who had three children of her own from a previous marriage . The couple had three children of their own : Helen and twins Margaret and Hubert . Loë ' s brother was Otto von Loë , a legislator . Loë was given an honorary doctorate by the Rheinische Friedrich - Wilhelms University in 1907 . Catholic faith . Loë ' s promotion to field marshal was exceptional in that this honor was rarely given to Catholics . Traditionally a Protestant state , Prussia allowed few Catholics to rise that high in rank . Although a believer in Catholicism , Loë supported practices such as dueling , often embracing the traditions of Prussian Protestant officers .