Hans Friedrich von Rochow

Hans Friedrich II von Rochow (born 1698 in Plessow, now part of Werder (Havel); died 1787 in Brandenburg an der Havel) was a Prussian army officer. He reached the rank of lieutenant general and served as the commander of Berlin during the Seven Years' War.
Life
Hans Friedrich von Rochow was the first in his family to study at the Knight's Academy in Brandenburg Cathedral, along with his brother Gottfried Christian. He began his military career in King Frederick William I’s “Long Regiment,” later serving in Magdeburg and becoming commandant of the fortress of Neisse in 1744 with the rank of colonel. Before the Seven Years' War, he retired as a major general. In 1733, he married Gottlieb Eleonore von Bredow, who died in 1750. They had five children, but only their daughter Sophie Maria Luise survived to adulthood and had descendants through her marriage to Hans Ernst von Arnim.
Military career
Hans Friedrich von Rochow returned to military service when the war began but was unfit for front-line duty because of back problems. He became commandant of Berlin and was promoted to lieutenant general. In 1757, when Austrian troops approached Berlin, he failed to organize its defense. After the Austrians captured part of the city, he fled to Spandau, saying he needed to protect the queen. When he returned, angry citizens attacked him, but he kept his position. In 1760, he heard about a Russian plan to attack Berlin and became very anxious. Other generals took charge of the defense instead of him. Later that year, Russians and Austrians captured Berlin again. Rochow negotiated the city’s surrender and was taken prisoner. He was released in 1764, retired, and lived peacefully in Brandenburg until his death.

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Category:1698 births
Category:1787 deaths
Category:Prussian military people