Eduard von Bonin Eduard von Bonin ( 7 March 1793 – 13 March 1865 ) was a Prussian general officer who served as Prussian Minister of War from 1852 – 54 and 1858 - 59 . Life . Bonin of the Bonin noble family of Pomerania and East Prussia was born in Stolp in Farther Pomerania . In 1806 he entered the regiment of Frederick William , Duke of Brunswick - Wolfenbüttel . During the Fourth Coalition against Napoleon Bonaparte , he participated in Gebhard Leberecht von Blücher ' s retreat to Lübeck , where he was taken prisoner . Released after giving his word of honor , Bonin studied at the gymnasium in the garrison town of Prenzlau . In August 1809 , Bonin entered the 1st " Garderegiment " as a " Fähnrich " . Promoted to " Leutnant " in 1810 , he was made an " Adjutant " of the Gardebrigade during the battles of 1813 and 1814 . At Paris , he received the Iron Cross , 1st Class . Bonin was successively promoted to " Hauptmann " in 1817 , " Major " of the Alexanderregiment in 1829 , " Oberst " in 1842 , and Commanding Officer of the 16th Infantry Brigade in 1848 . Bonin took command of the Prussian Brigade of the Line on 26 March 1848 , during the First Schleswig War . He distinguished himself in battles at Schleswig and Düppel . After the armistice of Malmö , Bonin was named commanding officer of the army of the united duchies of Schleswig and Holstein , which he reorganized and strengthened during the winter of 1848 – 49 . He fought successfully at Kolding on 20 April and 22 April 1849 , but was unable to capture Fredericia and his forces were thrown back on 6 July . After the second armistice between Prussia and Denmark , Bonin resigned his command of the Schleswig - Holstein army and returned to the Prussian Army in April 1850 . At first the commander of Berlin , Bonin became the commanding officer of the 16th Division in Trier . Bonin was promoted to " Generalleutnant " and named Minister of War in March 1852 . He advocated greater tactical mobility for infantry , which he provided with improved weapons . Bonin presided over the merger of the " Landwehr " with front - line troops through the creation of mixed line and " Landwehr " brigades . He also tried to improve the organization of the " Landwehr " cavalry . Opposed to the Russian influence on Prussian politics during the Crimean War , Bonin was dismissed in 1854 after high - ranking officers alleged that he had tried " to create a schism in the Prussian army " through anti - Russian comments . He received command of the 12 . Division in Neisse in 1854 . He then became Vice - Governor of Mainz on 20 March 1856 . After the ministry of Otto von Manteuffel was dismissed on 6 November 1858 , Bonin returned to the War Ministry upon the request of Prince - Regent William . Bonin thus joined a more liberal ministry opposed to the reactionary politics of the previous eight years . He was more favorable to constitutional politics than many high - ranking officers . As War Minister , Bonin insisted that " he be consulted on all military matters , that he be allowed to counter - sign all important military orders and that all royal communications to the commanding generals pass through his hands . " Albrecht von Roon wanted to merge the " Landwehr " militia into the professional line army ; Bonin , a disciple of the Napoleonic reformer Hermann von Boyen , favored the " Landwehr " and thought that Roon ' s plan would " separate the army from the country " . Rather than directly confronting Roon , Bonin tried to delay Roon ' s plan through procrastination and appeals to William . However , concerned about war in Italy , William wanted to expand and reform the body . Influenced by Bonin ' s rival , Edwin von Manteuffel , William hand - picked a special military commission led by Roon to draft a reform bill in September 1859 . Furious that the Ministry of War was bypassed by William ' s actions , Bonin criticized the proposed reforms and pointed out the infeasibility of its budget . Realizing that William had lost patience with him , Bonin resigned in November . He was replaced as Minister of War a month later by Roon . Bonin was subsequently made commanding general of the VIII . Armeekorps in Koblenz , where he later died .