Eduard Vogel von Falckenstein Eduard Ernst Friedrich Hannibal Vogel von Fal ( c ) kenstein ( 5 January 1797 – 6 April 1885 ) was a Prussian General der Infanterie . Vogel von Falckenstein was born in Breslau in Prussian Silesia as the son of Hannibal Vogel von Falckenstein ( 1750 – 1808 ) . On 9 April 1829 , he married Luise Gärtner ( 21 January 1813 – 24 August 1892 ) in Treuenbrietzen . His oldest son , Maximilian , also became a Prussian general . After a preliminary education , Falckenstein entered the Prussian Army as a volunteer Jäger in 1813 during the Sixth Coalition , distinguishing himself at Montmirail . Promoted to major in 1841 , he was wounded during street fighting in Berlin during the revolutions of 1848 . Falckenstein fought in Holstein during the First Schleswig War , becoming the commander of the Garde - Schützen - Bataillon . He was named Chief of Staff of the III . Armeekorps in 1850 . Falckenstein was promoted to Oberst in 1851 and major general in 1855 . He served as Director of the Military Economics Department from 1856 – 58 ; in the latter year he was promoted to lieutenant general , and placed in command of the V . Armeekorps . At the beginning of the Second Schleswig War , Falckenstein served as Friedrich Graf von Wrangel ' s chief of staff , but was replaced by Helmuth von Moltke after Edwin Freiherr von Manteuffel pressured the Prussian Minister of War , Albrecht von Roon . He was awarded the Pour le Mérite on 22 April 1864 , and named Governor of Jutland on 30 April . He received chief command of the VII . Armeekorps after the war and was promoted to general in 1865 . The Austro - Prussian War broke out in 1866 , and Falckenstein commanded Prussia ' s forces in western Germany . While the bulk of the Prussian Army invaded Saxony and Bohemia to fight the Austrian Empire , Falckenstein ' s troops were to deal with Austria ' s allies : north of the Main River were troops of Hanover and Hesse - Kassel , while south of the Main were forces of Bavaria , Baden , Württemberg , and Hesse - Darmstadt . At his disposal , Falckenstein had three divisions of troops , many of whom were not front - line soldiers , consisting instead of Prussian Landwehr , garrison troops , or north German allies . Beginning on 15 June , the " Corps Manteuffel " division and the Goeben Division invaded Hanover , while Beyer Division at Wetzlar invaded Hesse - Kassel . While the cities of Hanover and Kassel fell to the Prussians , the armies of each state fled in an attempt to unite with the Bavarians , who were slowly advancing northward and reluctant to cross the Main . Falckenstein ' s leadership was mediocre during the campaign . The Hanoverian and Hessian troops systematically destroyed the railways during their retreat , while Falckenstein delayed in pursuing them , preferring instead to let his troops rest in Hanover . He eventually directed his three divisions to Göttingen , even after learning that Austria ' s allies had abandoned the city . Moltke ordered Falckenstein to finish off the Hanoverian army , but Falckenstein wanted to let a lack of supplies force Major General Friedrich von Arentschildt and King George V of Hanover to surrender . After losing contact with the Hanoverians on 22 June and upon the advice of Otto von Bismarck , Falckenstein began marching south to Frankfurt to prevent a union of the disorganized forces of the German Confederation . Moltke and King William I of Prussia were furious with Bismarck ' s interference and Falckenstein ' s slowness , ordering the general to attack the Hanoverians vigorously . Arentschildt ' s army suffered greatly from their lack of supplies , however , and were cornered at Langensalza in Prussian Saxony by the advance of Falckenstein ' s three divisions from the north and , organized by Moltke , 9 , 000 troops under General Eduard von Flies from Gotha to the south . Falckenstein began preparing to attack Arentschildt ' s Hanoverian army after receiving a royal directive from William I . Flies , however , despite being outnumbered two to one , advanced on his own initiative against Arenttschildt on 27 June . Flies ' Prussians were defeated in the Battle of Langensalza , but the Hanoverians were unable to capitalize on their victory . Falckenstein ' s troops arrived the following day , and Arentschildt was forced to flee eastward into territory ringed by Prussian railways , leading to Hanover ' s surrender at Nordhausen on 29 June . Falckenstein ' s forces fought a series of engagements against south German states and entered Frankfurt on 16 July . Because of differences with the Prussian General Staff , he was forced to relinquish command to General Edwin von Manteuffel and instead was made General Governor of Bohemia . In 1867 , Falckenstein was chosen as a representative of Königsberg to the Reichstag of the North German Confederation . During the Franco - Prussian War of 1870 - 71 , Falckenstein was " Generalgouverneur der deutschen Küstenlande " ( General Governor of the German Coastal Lands ) and resided in Hanover . He organized the German coastal defenses and created a volunteer Seewehr . Falckenstein retired in 1873 . He died at Schloss Dolzig in the Province of Brandenburg .