Konstantin Bernhard von Voigts-Rhetz
Konstantin Bernhard von Voigts-Rhetz (16 July 1809 – 14 April 1877) was a Prussian general who served in the Austro-Prussian War and the Franco-Prussian War. Biography. Voights-Rhetz was borned in Seesen in the Duchy of Brunswick, then part of the short-lived Kingdom of Westphalia. He entered the Adolfinum-Gymnasium in Bückeburg at the age of 10, and would excell in math, science, history and description of the earth. Voigts-Rhetz entered the Prussian 9th Infantry Regiment in 1827 and was made an officer in 1829. Between 1833 and 1835 Voigts-Rhetz  attended the Prussian Military Academy. In 1837 he was attached to the topography division. He joined the General Staff in 1839 and was promoted to captain in 1841 and major in 1847. Voigts-Rhetz joined the staff of the V Corps in 1847. When revolutions broke out in 1848 he helped suppress the insurrection in Posen. After the insurrection was quelled Voigts-Rhetz engaged in a dispute with the royal commissioner for Posen, General Karl Wilhelm von Willisen. Both Voigts-Rhetz and Willisen used the press to justify their actions. In 1852 Voigts-Rhetz became chief of staff of the  V Corps. After being promoted to colonel in 1855 he was given command of the 9th Infantry Brigade in 1858, with the rank of a major-general. In 1859 he became a director in the Prussian War ministry. In 1860 he was given command of the Fortress of the German Confederation in Luxembourg. In 1863 he was promoted to lieutenant-general and given command of the 7th Infantry Division. In 1864 he became commander in chief of the garrison at Frankfurt am Main. During the Austro-Prussian War Voigts-Rhetz served as chief of staff of the First Army, led  by Prince Friedrich Karl of Prussia. Voights-Rhetz was an opinionated soldier and critical of Chief of Staff Helmuth von Moltke, however was intelligent and courageous. In this function he contributed to the Prussian victories at Münchengrätz, Gitschin and Sadowa. After the war he was made governor-general of the newly annexed Province of Hanover and commander of the newly established X Corps. During the Franco-Prussian War Voigts-Rhetz‘s X Corps became part of the 2nd Army, again led by Prince Friedrich Karl. With these troops Voigts-Rhetz took part in the battles at Mars-la-Tour and Gravelotte . After Gravelotte, X Corps was part of the troops besieging Metz. After the fall of Metz Voigts-Rhetz and X Corps were sent to the Loire, where he was victorious at Beaune-la-Rolande. After the end of the war he remained in command of the Corps until he retired in 1873 due to health reasons. He was given a donation of 150.000 thalers for his services during the war. Literature. Howard, Michael, "The Franco-Prussian War: The German Invasion of France 1870–1871", New York: Routledge, 2001. . Wawro, Geoffrey, "The Franco-Prussian War: The German Conquest of France in 1870 -1871", Cambridge University Press, 2005, Wawro, Geoffrey, "The Austro-Prussian War: Austria's War with Prussia and Italy in 1866", Cambridge University Press, 1997,