NationMaster - Encyclopedia: Helmuth von Moltke the Elder

Helmuth Karl Bernhard von Moltke
October 26, 1800 – April 24, 1891
Count von Moltke
Nickname	"Moltke the Elder"
Place of birth	Mecklenburg-Schwerin
Place of death	Berlin
Allegiance	Prussia (later Germany)
Years of service	1822 – 1888
Rank	Field Marshal
Battles/wars	Austro-Prussian War, Franco-Prussian War

onmouseover="pv(event, 15)" onmouseout="unpv(15)" style="">Generalfeldmarschall Helmuth, Graf von Moltke (known as Helmuth Karl Bernhard von Moltke before 1870) (October 26, 1800 – April 24, 1891), was a German Field Marshal, thirty years chief of the staff of the Prussian army, widely regarded as one of the great strategists of the latter half of the 1800s, and the creator of a new, more modern method, of directing armies in the field. He is often referred to as Moltke the Elder to distinguish him from his nephew Helmuth Johann Ludwig von Moltke, who commanded the German army at the outbreak of World War I. October 26 is the 299th day of the year (300th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 66 days remaining. ... 1800 (MDCCC) was an exceptional common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar, but a leap year starting on Sunday of the Julian calendar. ... April 24 is the 114th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (115th in leap years). ... 1891 (MDCCCXCI) was a common year starting on Thursday (see link for calendar). ... Helmut von Moltke; see Helmuth Karl Bernhard von Moltke. ... Mecklenburg-Schwerin was a Duchy (from 1815 a Grand Duchy) in northeastern Germany, formed by a partition of the Duchy of Mecklenburg. ... Berlin is the capital city and a state of Germany. ... Coat of Arms of the Kingdom of Prussia, 1701-1918 Prussia (German: ; Latin: Borussia, Prutenia; Lithuanian: ; Polish: ; Old Prussian: PrÅ«sa) was, most recently, a historic state originating in East Prussia, an area which for centuries had substantial influence on German and European history. ... 1822 (MDCCCXXII) was a common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Thursday of the 12-day-slower Julian calendar). ... 1888 (MDCCCLXXXVIII) is a leap year starting on Sunday (click on link for calendar) of the Gregorian calendar or a leap year starting on Tuesday of the Julian calendar. ... Shoulder boards of a Generalfeldmarschall Generalfeldmarschall ( â–¶(?)) (General Field Marshal, usually translated simply as Field Marshal, and sometimes written only as Feldmarschall) was a rank in the armies of several German states, the Holy Roman Empire, and Austrian Empire. ... Combatants Austria, Saxony, Bavaria, Baden, WÃ¼rttemberg, Hanover and some minor German States (formerly as the Deutscher Bund) Prussia, Italy and some minor German States Strength 600,000 Austrians and German allies 500,000 Prussians and German allies 300,000 Italians Casualties 20,000 dead or wounded 37,000 dead... Combatants Second French Empire North German Confederation allied with south German states (later German Empire) Commanders Napoleon III Helmuth von Moltke Strength 500,000[citation needed] 550,000[citation needed] Casualties 150,000 dead or wounded 284,000 captured 350,000 civilian [citation needed] 100,000 dead or wounded 200... Shoulder boards of a Generalfeldmarschall Generalfeldmarschall ( â–¶(?)) (General Field Marshal, usually translated simply as Field Marshal, and sometimes written only as Feldmarschall) was a rank in the armies of several German states, the Holy Roman Empire, and Austrian Empire. ... October 26 is the 299th day of the year (300th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 66 days remaining. ... 1800 (MDCCC) was an exceptional common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar, but a leap year starting on Sunday of the Julian calendar. ... April 24 is the 114th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (115th in leap years). ... 1891 (MDCCCXCI) was a common year starting on Thursday (see link for calendar). ... Shoulder boards of a Generalfeldmarschall Generalfeldmarschall ( â–¶(?)) (General Field Marshal, usually translated simply as Field Marshal, and sometimes written only as Feldmarschall) was a rank in the armies of several German states, the Holy Roman Empire, and Austrian Empire. ... Helmuth von Moltke Chief of the General Staff Helmuth Johann Ludwig von Moltke (May 25, 1848â€“June 18, 1916), also known as Moltke the Younger, was a nephew of Field Marshal Count Moltke and served as the Chief of the German General Staff from 1906 to 1914. ... Combatants Allied Powers: United Kingdom France Italy Russia United States Serbia Central Powers: Austria-Hungary Bulgaria Germany Ottoman Empire Commanders Douglas Haig John Jellicoe Ferdinand Foch Georges Clemenceau Nicholas II Aleksei Brusilov Woodrow Wilson John Pershing Wilhelm II Reinhard Scheer Franz Josef I Conrad von HÃ¶tzendorf Ä°smail Enver Ferdinand...

1 Early life
2 As a Young Officer
3 Service with the Ottoman Empire
4 Chief of the German General Staff
5 War with Denmark
6 Moltke's Theory of War
7 The War with Austria
8 The Franco-Prussian War
9 Final Years
10 Assessment
11 As a Person
12 Bibliography
13 Further reading
14 See also

Early life

Helmuth was born in Parchim, Mecklenburg-Schwerin to a German family of ancient nobility. His father in 1805 settled in Holstein and became a Danish subject, but about the same time was impoverished by the burning of his country house and the plunder by the French of his town house in Lübeck, where his wife and children were (see Napoleonic Wars#The Fourth Coalition). Young Moltke therefore grew up in straitened circumstances. At the age of nine he was sent as a boarder to Hohenfelde in Holstein, and at the age of eleven to the cadet school at Copenhagen, being destined for the Danish army and court. In 1818 he became a page to the king of Denmark and second lieutenant in a Danish infantry regiment. Parchim is a town located in the German Bundesland of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. ... Mecklenburg-Schwerin was a Duchy (from 1815 a Grand Duchy) in northeastern Germany, formed by a partition of the Duchy of Mecklenburg. ... Holstein (Hol-shtayn) (Low German: Holsteen, Danish: Holsten, Latin and historical English: Holsatia) is the southern part of Schleswig-Holstein in Germany, between the rivers Elbe and Eider. ... LÃ¼beck ( pronunc. ... Combatants Allies: â€¢ Great Britain (until 1801)/United Kingdom(from 1801) â€¢ Prussia â€¢ Austria â€¢ Sweden â€¢ Russia â€¢ Portugal â€¢ Spain â€¢ and others â€¢ France â€¢ Denmark-Norway â€¢ Poland Casualties Full list The Napoleonic Wars comprised a series of global conflicts fought during Napoleon Bonapartes rule over France (1799 - 1815). ... Copenhagen (IPA: , rhyming with pagan (the way the Danes themselves pronounce the name of the capital when saying it in English), or , with a as in spa; Danish IPA: ) is the capital of Denmark and the countrys largest city (metropolitan population 1,211,542 (2006)), at present made up...

At twenty-one he resolved to enter the Prussian service, in spite of the loss of seniority. In 1822 he became second lieutenant in the 8th Infantry Regiment stationed at Frankfurt. At twenty-three, he was allowed to enter the general war school (later called the Prussian Military Academy), where he studied the full three years and passed in 1826. 1822 (MDCCCXXII) was a common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Thursday of the 12-day-slower Julian calendar). ... Frankfurt (Oder) ( Sorbian/Lusatian: Frankobord ) is a city in Brandenburg, Germany located on the Oder River, on the German-Polish border directly opposite the city of SÅ‚ubice. ... Fassade Unter den Linden 74, erbaut 1845/25 von Karl Friedrich Schinkel als vereinte Artillerie- und Ingenieurschule Fassade des LehrgebÃ¤udes an der DorotheenstraÃŸe 58/59, entworfen von Franz Schwechten (1883) Lageplan der Kriegsakademie mit dem LehrgebÃ¤ude an der DorotheenstraÃŸe und dem aufgrund der vornehmen Lage 1878... The oldest surviving photograph, NicÃ©phore NiÃ©pce, circa 1826 1826 (MDCCCXXVI) was a common year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Tuesday of the 12-day-slower Julian calendar). ...

As a Young Officer

For a year Moltke had charge of a cadet school at Frankfort-on-Oder, then he was for three years employed on the military survey in Silesia and Posen. In 1832 he was seconded for service on the general staff at Berlin, to which he was transferred in 1833 on promotion to first lieutenant. He was at this time regarded as a brilliant officer by his superiors, and among them by Prince William, then a lieutenant-general, afterwards king and emperor. Prussian Silesia, 1871, outlined in yellow; Silesia at the close of the Seven Years War in 1763, outlined in cyan (areas now in the Czech Republic were Austrian-ruled at that time) Silesia (Czech: ; German: ; Polish: ; Silesian: Åšlonsk / ÅšlÃ³nsk) is a historical region in central Europe. ... Posen (Polish: Poznań): is the German name of the city of Poznań, Poland. ... 1832 was a leap year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar). ... Berlin is the capital city and a state of Germany. ... 1833 was a common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar). ...

He was well received at court and in the best society of Berlin. His tastes inclined him to literature, to historical study and to travel. In 1827 he had published a short romance, The Two Friends. In 1831 he wrote an essay entitled Holland and Belgium in their Mutual Relations, from their Separation under Philip II to their Reunion under William I. A year later he wrote An Account of the Internal Circumstances and Social Conditions of Poland, a study based both on reading and on personal observation of Polish life and character. In 1832 he contracted to translate Gibbons The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire into German, for which he was to receive 75 marks, his object being to earn the money to buy a horse. In eighteen months he had finished nine volumes out of twelve, but the publisher failed to produce the book and Moltke never received more than 25 marks. Naval Battle of Navarino by Carneray 1827 was a common year starting on Monday (see link for calendar). ... Leopold I 1831 (MDCCCXXXI) was a common year starting on Saturday (see link for calendar). ... The History of The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, a major literary achievement of the Eighteenth Century, was written by the English historian, Edward Gibbon. ...

Service with the Ottoman Empire

Statue of Helmuth von Moltke the Elder, Tiergarten, Berlin

In 1835 on his promotion as captain he obtained six months leave to travel in south-eastern Europe. After a short stay in Constantinople he was requested by the Sultan Mahmud II to help modernize the Ottoman Empire army, and being duly authorized from Berlin he accepted the offer. He remained two years at Constantinople, learned Turkish and surveyed the city of Constantinople, the Bosporus and the Dardanelles. He travelled in the through Bulgaria and Rumelia, and made many other journeys on both sides of the Strait. Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (734x1204, 158 KB) Summary Photo by User:Adam Carr, May 2006 Licensing I, the creator of this work, hereby release it into the public domain. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (734x1204, 158 KB) Summary Photo by User:Adam Carr, May 2006 Licensing I, the creator of this work, hereby release it into the public domain. ... | Come and take it, slogan of the Texas Revolution 1835 was a common year starting on Thursday (see link for calendar). ... Map of Constantinople. ... Sultan Mahmud II Animation showing the structure of the Tughra of Mahmud II Mahmud II (in Arabic Ù…ØÙ…ÙˆØ¯Ø§Ù„Ø«Ø§Ù†Ù‰ ) (July 20, 1785â€“July 1, 1839) was the sultan of the Ottoman Empire from 1808 until his death. ... now. ... Bosporus - photo taken from International Space Station. ... Map of the Dardanelles The Dardanelles (Turkish: Ã‡anakkale BoÄŸazÄ±, Greek: Î”Î±ÏÎ´Î±Î½ÎµÎ»Î»Î¹Î±), formerly known as the Hellespont, is a narrow strait in northwestern Turkey connecting the Aegean Sea with the Sea of Marmara. ... Map of Rumelia as of 1801 Rumelia (turkish: Rum: Roman El: Land Rumeli: Lands of Rome), the area that was the East Roman or Byzantine Empire, a name commonly used, from the 15th century onwards, to denote the part of the Balkan Peninsula subject to the Ottoman Empire. ...

In 1838 he was sent as adviser to the Ottoman general commanding the troops in Armenia, who was to carry on a campaign against Muhammad Ali of Egypt (for details see Ali's rebellion. During the summer Moltke made extensive reconnaissances and surveys, riding several thousand miles in the course of his journey. He navigated the rapids of the Euphrates and visited and mapped many parts of the Ottoman Empire. In 1839 the army moved south to fight the Egyptians, but upon the approach of the enemy the general refused to listen to Moltke's advice. Moltke resigned his post of staff officer and took charge of the artillery. In the Battle of Nizib (modern-day Nisibis) on 24 June 1839, the Ottoman army was beaten (Muhammad Ali was defeated only once or twice in his lifetime). With great difficulty von Moltke made his way back to the Black Sea, and thence to Constantinople. His patron, Sultan Mahmud II, was dead, so he returned to Berlin where he arrived, broken in health, in December 1839. | JÃ¶ns Jakob Berzelius, discoverer of protein 1838 was a common year starting on Monday (see link for calendar). ... Muhammad `AlÄ« Muhammad Ali Pasha (Arabic: Ù…ØÙ…Ø¯ Ø¹Ù„ÙŠ Ø¨Ø§Ø´Ø§) or Mehmet Ali PaÅŸa (KavalalÄ± Mehmet Ali PaÅŸa) in Turkish (c. ... Muhammad `AlÄ« Muhammad Ali Pasha (Arabic: Ù…ØÙ…Ø¯ Ø¹Ù„ÙŠ Ø¨Ø§Ø´Ø§) or Mehmet Ali PaÅŸa (KavalalÄ± Mehmet Ali PaÅŸa) in Turkish (c. ... The Euphrates (the traditional Greek name, Arabic: Ø§Ù„ÙØ±Ø§Øª; Al-Furat, Hebrew: ×¤Ö°Ö¼×¨Ö¸×ª Perath, Kurdish: Firat, Turkish: FÄ±rat, Old Persian: Ufrat, Syriac: Ü¦ÜªÜ˜Ü¬ or Ü¦ÜªÜ¬; Frot or PrÃ¢th, Akkadian: Pu-rat-tu) is the westernmost of the two great rivers that define Mesopotamia (the other being the Tigris). ... 1839 was a common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar). ... The newly excavated Church of Saint Jacob in Nisibis. ... June 24 is the 175th day of the year (176th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 190 days remaining. ... 1839 was a common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar). ... Berlin is the capital city and a state of Germany. ...

Once home he published some of the letters he had written as Letters on Conditions and Events in Turkey in the Years 1835 to 1839. This book was well received at the time. Early the next year he married a young English woman, Mary Burt, the step-daughter of his sister. It was a happy union, though there were no children.

In 1840 Moltke had been appointed to the staff of the 4th army corps, stationed at Berlin and he published his maps of Constantinople, and, jointly with other German travellers, a new map of Asia Minor and a memoir on the geography of that country. He became fascinated by railroads and he was one of the first directors of the Hamburg-Berlin railway. In 1843 published an article What Considerations should determine the Choice of the Course of Railways?. 1840 is a leap year starting on Wednesday (link will take you to calendar). ... 1843 was a common year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar). ...

In 1845 he published The Russo-Turkish Campaign in Europe, 1828-1829, this book was also well received in military circles. Also in that year he served in Rome as personal adjutant to Prince Henry of Prussia, which allowed him to create another map of the Eternal city (published in 1852). In 1848, after a brief return to the great general staff at Berlin, he became chief of the staff of the 4th army corps, of which the headquarters were then at Magdeburg, where he remained seven years, during which he rose to lieutenant colonel and colonel. 1845 was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar). ... 1852 was a leap year starting on Thursday (see link for calendar). ... 1848 is a leap year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ...

In 1855 he served as personal aide to Prince Friedrich (later Friedrich III). He accompanied the Prince to England (for his marriage), as well as to Paris and to Saint Petersburg for the coronation of Alexander II of Russia. 1855 was a common year starting on Monday (see link for calendar). ... Friedrich III (October 18, 1831 â€“ June 15, 1888), German Emperor (Kaiser) and King of Prussia, ruled 1888. ... Part of the Paris skyline with from left to right: Montparnasse Tower, Eiffel Tower, and in the background, towers of neighboring La DÃ©fense. ... Saint Petersburg (Russian: Санкт-Петербу́рг, English transliteration: Sankt-Peterburg), colloquially known as Питер (transliterated Piter), formerly known as Leningrad (Ленингра́д, 1924–1991) and... Alexander (Aleksandr) II Nikolaevitch (Russian: ÐÐ»ÐµÐºÑÐ°Ð½Ð´Ñ€ II ÐÐ¸ÐºÐ¾Ð»Ð°ÐµÐ²Ð¸Ñ‡) (born April 17, 1818 in Moscow; died March 13, 1881 in St. ...

Chief of the German General Staff

In 1857 he was given the position Chief of the Prussian Großer Generalstab (military staff), a position he held for the next 30 years. As soon as he gained the position he went to work making changes to the strategic and tactical methods of the Prussian army; changes in armament and in means of communication; changes in the training of staff officers; and changes to the method for the mobilization of the army. He also instituted a formal study of European politics in connection with the plans for campaigns which might become necessary. In short, he rapidly put into place the features of a modern General Staff. 1857 was a common year starting on Thursday (see link for calendar). ... The national name Prussia (in Prussian: Prusa, German: Preußen, Polish: Prusy, Lithuanian Prusai, Latin: Prussia or Borussia) was used by a wide variety of political factions during the 2nd millennium. ... The German General Staff or GroÃŸer Generalstab was the most important German weapon for nearly two centuries. ...

In 1859 the Austro-Sardinian War in Italy caused the mobilization of the Prussian army, though it did not fight. After the mobilization, the army was reorganized and its strength was nearly doubled. The reorganization was the work not of Moltke but of the Prince Regent (Wilhelm Ludwig) and the Minister of War, Albrect von Roon. Moltke watched the Italian campaign closely and wrote a history of it (published in 1862). This history was attributed on the title-page to the historical division of the Prussian staff (yet another first in military affairs). 1859 (MDCCCLIX) is a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Monday of the Julian calendar). ... Major places of the Austro-Sardinian war 1859 Austro-Sardinian War was fought by Napoleon III of France and Kingdom of Sardinia against Austria in 1859. ... Wilhelm I of Germany (March 22, 1797 â€“ March 9, 1888), German Emperor (Kaiser), ruled January 18, 1871 â€“ 9 March 1888 and King of Prussia, ruled 2 January 1861 â€“ 9 March 1888. ... Albrecht Graf von Roon Prussian Minister of War Albrecht Theodor Graf Emil von Roon (30 April 1803 â€“ 23 February 1879) was a Prussian soldier and politician. ... 1862 was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar). ...

In December 1862 Moltke was asked for an opinion upon the military aspect of the quarrel with Denmark. He thought the difficulty would be to bring the war to an end, as the Danish army would if possible retire to the islands, where, as the Danes had the command of the sea, it could not be attacked. He sketched a plan for turning the flank of the Danish army before the attack upon its position in front of Schleswig. He suggested that by this means its retreat might be cut off. 1862 was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar). ... The region of Schleswig (former English name: Sleswick, Danish: SÃ¸nderjylland or Slesvig, Low German: Sleswig, North Frisian: Slaswik or Sleesweg) covers the area about 60 km north and 70 km south of the border between Germany and Denmark. ...

War with Denmark

When the war (called the Second War of Schleswig) began in February 1864, Moltke was not sent with the Prussian forces, but kept at Berlin. His war plan was mismanaged and the Danish army escaped to the fortresses of Dybbøl and Fredericia, each of which commanded a retreat across a strait to an island. Dybbøl and Fredericia were besieged, Dybbøl taken by storm, and Fredericia abandoned by the Danes without assault - but the war showed no signs of ending. The Danish army was safe on the islands of Als and Funen. To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... 1864 (MDCCCLXIV) was a leap year starting on Friday (see link for calendar) of the Gregorian calendar or a leap year starting on Sunday of the 12-day-slower Julian calendar. ... DybbÃ¸l with the historic DybbÃ¸l Mill DybbÃ¸l (German: DÃ¼ppel) is a small settlement in the southeastern corner of South Jutland, Denmark. ... Fredericia is a city in eastern Jutland, Denmark, founded in 1650 by Frederik III, after whom it was named. ... suck my mommas cock bitch ... Funen (Danish: Fyn) is the third largest island of Denmark, it has a population of 445,000 people. ...

On April 30, 1864 Moltke was sent to be chief of the staff for the allied (German) forces. After a two month armistice, the German army attacked the Danes in the island of Als (June 29). The Danes evacuated Als and shortly thereafter agreed to the German peace terms. Moltke's appearance on the scene had transformed the war, and his influence with the king had acquired a firm basis. Accordingly, when in 1866 the quarrel with Austria came to a head, Moltke's plans were adopted and executed. April 30 is the 120th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (121st in leap years), with 245 days remaining. ... 1864 (MDCCCLXIV) was a leap year starting on Friday (see link for calendar) of the Gregorian calendar or a leap year starting on Sunday of the 12-day-slower Julian calendar. ... June 29 is the 180th day of the year (181st in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 185 days remaining. ... 1866 (MDCCCLXVI) is a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar or a common year starting on Wednesday of the 12-day-slower Julian calendar. ...

Moltke's Theory of War

A disciple of Clausewitz, whose theory of war was more an effort to grasp its essential nature, than of Jomini, who expounded a system of rules, Moltke regarded strategy as a practical art of adapting means to ends, and had developed the methods of Napoleon in accordance with altered conditions of his age. He had been the first to realize the great defensive power of modern firearms, and had inferred from it that an enveloping attack had become more formidable than the attempt to pierce an enemy's front. Carl Phillip Gottlieb von Clausewitz (June 1, 1780 _ November 16, 1831) was a Prussian military thinker. ... Jomini Antoine-Henri, baron Jomini (March 6, 1779â€“March 24, 1869), general in the French and afterwards in the Russian service, and one of the most celebrated writers on the art of war, was born at Payerne in the canton of Vaud, Switzerland, where his father was syndic. ... For other uses, see Napoleon (disambiguation). ...

He had pondered the tactics of Napoleon at the Battle of Bautzen, when the emperor brought up Neys corps, coming from a distance, against the flank of the allies, rather than to unite it with his own force before the battle; he had also drawn a moral from the combined action of the allies at the Battle of Waterloo. The Battle of Bautzen was fought on May 21, 1813, and resulted in a French victory under NapolÃ©on Bonaparte against the Kingdom of Prussians and Russians. ... Michel Ney, Marshal of France. ... Combatants France Prussia United Kingdom United Netherlands Commanders NapolÃ©on Bonaparte Michel Ney Duke of Wellington Gebhard von BlÃ¼cher Strength 73,000 67,000 Allied 60,000 Prussian (48,000 engaged by about 18:00) Casualties 25,000 dead or wounded 22,000 dead or wounded Map of the...

At the same time he had worked out the conditions of the march and supply of an army. Only one army corps could be moved along one road in the same day; to put two or three corps on the same road meant that the rear corps could not be made use of in a battle at the front. Several corps stationed close together in a small area could not be fed for more than a day or two. Accordingly he inferred that the essence of strategy lay in arrangements for the separation of the corps for marching and their concentration in time for battle. In order to make a large army manageable, it must be broken up into separate armies or groups of corps, each group under a commander authorized to regulate its movements and action subject to the instructions of the commander-in-chief as regards the direction and purpose of its operations.

Moltke's main thesis was that military strategy had to be understood as a system of options since only the beginning of a military operation was plannable. As a result, he considered the main task of military leaders to consist in the extensive preparation of all possible outcomes. His thesis can be summed up by two statements, one famous and one less so, translated into English as No battle plan survives contact with the enemy and War is a matter of expedients. A strategy is a long term plan of action designed to achieve a particular goal, as differentiated from tactics or immediate actions with resources at hand. ...

However, as can be seen from the descriptions of his planning for the war with Austria and the war with France, his planning for war was very detailed and took into account thousands of variables. It is a mistake to think that Moltke thought war plans were of no use (which a simple reading of - No battle plan survives contact with the enemy - would seem to indicate).

The War with Austria

He planned and led the successful military operations during the Austro-Prussian War of 1866. Combatants Austria, Saxony, Bavaria, Baden, WÃ¼rttemberg, Hanover and some minor German States (formerly as the Deutscher Bund) Prussia, Italy and some minor German States Strength 600,000 Austrians and German allies 500,000 Prussians and German allies 300,000 Italians Casualties 20,000 dead or wounded 37,000 dead... 1866 (MDCCCLXVI) is a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar or a common year starting on Wednesday of the 12-day-slower Julian calendar. ...

In the strategy for the war the main points are as follows. First he demonstrated a concentration of effort. There were two groups of enemies, the Austro-Saxon armies, 270,000; and the north and south German armies, some 120,000 strong. The Prussian forces were smaller (by some 60,000) but Moltke determined to be superior at the decisive point. The army against Austria was 278,000 men, leaving just 48,000 men to defend against Austria's German allies. Those 48,000 managed to capture the Hanoverian army in less than two weeks, and then to attack and drive away the south German forces. Hanover (German: Hannover []), on the river Leine, is the capital of the federal state of Lower Saxony (Niedersachsen), Germany. ...

Bismarck, Roon, Moltke, the three leaders of Prussia in the 1860s

In dealing with Austrian and Saxon army, the difficulty was to have the Prussian army ready first. This was not easy as the king would not mobilize until after the Austrians. Moltke's railway knowledge helped him to save time. Five lines of railway led from the various Prussian provinces to a series of points on the southern frontier. By employing all these railways at once, Moltke had all his army corps moved simultaneously from their peace quarters to the frontier. Image File history File links Download high resolution version (720x794, 121 KB) Description: Otto von Bismarck, Roon and Moltke Source: Bismarck. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (720x794, 121 KB) Description: Otto von Bismarck, Roon and Moltke Source: Bismarck. ... Albrecht Graf von Roon Prussian Minister of War Albrecht Theodor Graf Emil von Roon (30 April 1803 â€“ 23 February 1879) was a Prussian soldier and politician. ...

After marching into Saxony, the Saxon army retreated into Bohemia. Moltke had two Prussian armies about 100 miles apart. The problem was how to bring them together so as to catch the Austrian army between them like the French at Waterloo between Wellington and Blücher. He determined to bring his own two armies together by directing each of them to advance towards Gitschin. He foresaw that the march of the crown prince would probably bring him into collision with a portion of the Austrian army; but the Crown prince had 100,000 men, and it was not likely that the Austrians could have a stronger force. Flag of Bohemia Bohemia (Czech: ; German: ) is a historical region in central Europe, occupying the western and middle thirds of the Czech Republic. ... Field Marshal Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington, KG, GCB, GCH, PC, FRS (c. ... Gebhard Leberecht von BlÃ¼cher Gebhard Leberecht von BlÃ¼cher (December 16, 1742 in Rostock (Mecklenburg) - September 12, 1819 in Krieblowitz (Silesia) (now Krobielowice in Poland)), Graf (Count), later elevated to FÃ¼rst von Wahlstatt, was a Prussian general who led his army against Napoleon I at the Battle of...

Further information: Austro-Prussian War

The Austrians under Ludwig von Benedek marched faster than Moltke expected, and might have opposed the crown prince with four or five corps; but Benedek's attention was centred on Prince Frederick, and his four corps, not under a common command, were beaten in detail. On the July 1, Benedek collected his shaken forces in a defensive position in front of Königgrätz. Moltke's two armies were now within a march of one another and of the enemy. On July 3 they were brought into action, the first against the Austrian front and the second against the Austrian right flank. The Austrian army was completely defeated and the campaign and war were won. Combatants Austria, Saxony, Bavaria, Baden, WÃ¼rttemberg, Hanover and some minor German States (formerly as the Deutscher Bund) Prussia, Italy and some minor German States Strength 600,000 Austrians and German allies 500,000 Prussians and German allies 300,000 Italians Casualties 20,000 dead or wounded 37,000 dead... Ludwig von Benedek (Benedek Lajos in Hungarian) (1804--1871) was an Austrian general of Hungarian nationality. ... Friedrich III (October 18, 1831 â€“ June 15, 1888), German Emperor (Kaiser) and King of Prussia, ruled 1888. ... July 1 is the 182nd day of the year (183rd in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 183 days remaining. ... Combatants Prussia Austria Commanders Wilhelm I Helmuth von Moltke Ludwig von Benedek Strength 140,000troops in 3 Prussian Armies 90,000 Austrians and 25,000 Saxons Casualties 10,000 45,000 including 20,000 prisoners {{{notes}}} In the Battle of KÃ¶niggrÃ¤tz or Battle of Sadowa of July 3... July 3 is the 184th day of the year (185th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar, with 181 days remaining. ...

Moltke was not quite satisfied with the Battle of Königgrätz. He tried to have the Prussian Army of the Elbe army brought up above Königgrätz so as to prevent the Austrian retreat, but its general failed to get there in time. He also tried to prevent the Prussian First Army from pushing its attack too hard, hoping in that way to keep the Austrians in their position until their retreat should be cut off by the crown prince's army, but this also did not happen. Combatants Prussia Austria Commanders Wilhelm I Helmuth von Moltke Ludwig von Benedek Strength 140,000troops in 3 Prussian Armies 90,000 Austrians and 25,000 Saxons Casualties 10,000 45,000 including 20,000 prisoners {{{notes}}} In the Battle of KÃ¶niggrÃ¤tz or Battle of Sadowa of July 3...

During the negotiations Otto von Bismarck opposed the king's wish to annex Saxony and other territory beyond what was actually taken, he feared the active intervention of France. Moltke, however, was confident of beating both French and Austrians if the French should intervene, and he submitted to Bismarck his plans in case of need for war against both France and Austria. The introduction to this article is too long. ... The Free State of Saxony (German: Freistaat Sachsen; Sorbian: Swobodny Stata Sakska) is at a land area of 18,413 kmÂ² and a population of 4. ...

After the peace, the Prussian government voted Moltke the sum of 30,000 marks, with which he bought the estate of Creisau, near Schweidnitz in Silesia (modern-day Świdnica, Poland). Coat of Arms of the Kingdom of Prussia, 1701-1918 Prussia (German: ; Latin: Borussia, Prutenia; Lithuanian: ; Polish: ; Old Prussian: PrÅ«sa) was, most recently, a historic state originating in East Prussia, an area which for centuries had substantial influence on German and European history. ... von Moltkes palace KrzyÅ¼owa, formerly known as Kreisau when part of Germany, is a village in Silesia, Poland. ... Świdnica (German Schweidnitz) is a town in southwestern Poland. ... Prussian Silesia, 1871, outlined in yellow; Silesia at the close of the Seven Years War in 1763, outlined in cyan (areas now in the Czech Republic were Austrian-ruled at that time) Silesia (Czech: ; German: ; Polish: ; Silesian: Åšlonsk / ÅšlÃ³nsk) is a historical region in central Europe. ... Åšwidnica (German Schweidnitz) is a town in southwestern Poland. ...

In 1867 The Campaign of 1866 in Germany was published. This history was produced under Moltke's personal supervision, it was regarded as quite accurate at the time. Sadly, on the December 24, 1868, Moltke's wife died at Berlin. Her remains were buried in a small chapel erected by Moltke as a mausoleum in the park at Creisau. 1867 (MDCCCLXVII) was a common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar). ... December 24 is the 358th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (359th in leap years). ... 1868 (MDCCCLXVIII) was a leap year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar) of the Gregorian calendar or a leap year starting on Friday of the 12-day-slower Julian calendar. ...

The Franco-Prussian War

Moltke again planned and led the Prussian armies in the Franco-Prussian War (1870-1871), which paved the way for the creation of the Prussian-led German Empire in 1871. The aspects of such a war had occupied Moltke's attention almost continuously since 1857, documents published after his death show the many times he considered such a war and the best arrangement of the Prussian or German forces for such a campaign. The arrangements for the transport of the army by railway were revised annually in order to suit the changes in his plans brought about by political conditions and by the growth of the army, as well as by the improvement of the Prussian system of railways. Combatants Second French Empire North German Confederation allied with south German states (later German Empire) Commanders Napoleon III Helmuth von Moltke Strength 500,000[citation needed] 550,000[citation needed] Casualties 150,000 dead or wounded 284,000 captured 350,000 civilian [citation needed] 100,000 dead or wounded 200... 1870 (MDCCCLXX) was a common year starting on Saturday (see link for calendar) of the Gregorian calendar or a common year starting on Monday of the 12-day-slower Julian calendar. ... 1871 (MDCCCLXXI) was a common year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar). ... Motto: Gott mit Uns (German: God with usâ€) Anthem: Heil dir im Siegerkranz (unofficial) Territory of the German Empire in 1914, prior to World War I Capital Berlin Official language(s) German Minor language(s) Polish (Posen, Upper Silesia, Masuria) French (Elsass-Lothringen) Government Constitutional Monarchy - First Kaiser Wilhelm I... 1871 (MDCCCLXXI) was a common year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar). ... 1857 was a common year starting on Thursday (see link for calendar). ...

The great successes of 1866 had strengthened Moltke's position, so that when on July 5, 1870 the order for the mobilization of the Prussian and south German forces was issued, his plans were adopted without dispute. Five days later he was appointed Chief of the general staff of the army for the duration of the war. This gave Moltke the right to issue orders which were equivalent to royal commands. 1866 (MDCCCLXVI) is a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar or a common year starting on Wednesday of the 12-day-slower Julian calendar. ... July 5 is the 186th day of the year (187th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 179 days remaining. ... 1870 (MDCCCLXX) was a common year starting on Saturday (see link for calendar) of the Gregorian calendar or a common year starting on Monday of the 12-day-slower Julian calendar. ...

Moltke's plan was to assemble the whole army south of Mainz, this being one district in which a single army could secure the defence of the whole frontier. If the French disregarded the neutrality of Belgium and Luxembourg, and advanced towards Cologne (or any other point on the Lower Rhine), the German army would be able to strike at their flank. At the same time the Rhine itself, with the fortresses of Coblenz, Cologne and Wesel, would be a serious obstacle in their path. If the French should attempt to invade south Germany, an advance by the Germans up the Rhine river would threaten their communications. Moltke expected that the French would be compelled by the direction of their railways to collect the greater part of their army near Metz, and a smaller portion near Strassburg. Mainz is a city in Germany and the capital of the German federal state of Rhineland-Palatinate. ... KÃ¶ln redirects here. ... Loreley At 1,320 kilometres (820 miles) and an average discharge of more than 2,000 cubic meters per second, the Rhine (Dutch Rijn, French Rhin, German Rhein, Italian: Reno, Romansch: Rein, ) is one of the longest and most important rivers in Europe. ... This article is about the German city Koblenz. ... Wesel is a city (population about 61,689 in 2004) in Germany, located at the point where the Lippe River empties into the Rhine. ... For other uses of Metz, see Metz (disambiguation) City motto: Si paix dedans, paix dehors (French: If peace inside, peace outside) City proper (commune) RÃ©gion Lorraine DÃ©partement Moselle (57) Mayor Jean-Marie Rausch Area 41. ... Strasbourg townscape Strasbourg (German Straßburg, road to castle, Alsatian Strossburi) is the capital and principal city of the Alsace région of northeastern France. ...

The German forces were grouped into three armies: the first under Steinmetz, on the Moselle below Trier; the second of 130,000 men, under the Prince Regent, around Homburg (with a reserve of 60,000 men behind them); the third under the crown prince of 130,000 men, at Landau. Three army corps were held back in north-eastern Germany, in case Austria should make common cause with France. Moselle is a dÃ©partement in the northeast of France named after the Moselle River. ... The city of Trier (Latin: Augusta Treverorum; French: ; Luxembourgish TrÃ©ier; Italian: ; Spanish: ) is situated on the western bank of the Moselle River in a valley between low vine-covered hills of ruddy sandstone. ... Friedrich III (October 18, 1831 â€“ June 15, 1888), German Emperor (Kaiser) and King of Prussia, ruled 1888. ... Homburg is a city in Saarland, Germany. ... Map of Germany showing Landau Coat of Arms of Landau, 1291 â€“ 1955 Landau or Landau in der Pfalz is an autonomous (Kreisfrei) city surrounded by the SÃ¼dliche WeinstraÃŸe (southern wineroute) district of southern Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany. ...

Moltke's plan was that the three armies, while advancing, should make a right wheel, so that the first army on the right would reach the bank of the Moselle opposite Metz, while the second and third armies should push forward, the third army to defeat the French force near Strassburg, and the second to strike the Moselle near Pont-à-Mousson. If the French army should be found in front of the second army, it would be attacked in front by the second army and in flank by the first or the third (or both). If it should be found on or north of the line from Saarburg to Lunéville, it could still be attacked from two sides by the second and third armies in co-operation. The intention of the great right wheel was to attack the principal French army in such a direction as to drive it north and cut its communications with Paris. The fortress of Metz was to be only monitored, and the main German forces, after defeating the chief French army, would then to march against Paris. Moselle is a dÃ©partement in the northeast of France named after the Moselle River. ... Strasbourg townscape Strasbourg (German Straßburg, road to castle, Alsatian Strossburi) is the capital and principal city of the Alsace région of northeastern France. ... Pont-Ã -Mousson is a commune of northeastern France, in the Meurthe-et-Moselle dÃ©partement. ... Saarburg (pop. ... LunÃ©ville is a commune in the French rÃ©gion of Lorraine. ...

Further information: Franco-Prussian War

This plan was carried out in its broad outlines. The Battle of Worth was brought on prematurely, and therefore led, not to the capture of MacMahon's army, which was intended, but only to its defeat and hasty retreat as far as Chlons. The Battle of Spicheren was not intended by Moltke, who wished to keep Bazaine's army on the Saar till he could attack it with the second army in front and the first army on its left flank. But these unexpected victories did not disconcert Moltke, who carried out his intended advance to Pont-Mousson, crossed the Moselle with the first and second armies, then faced north and wheeled round, so that the effect of the battle of Gravelotte was to drive Bazaine into the fortress of Metz and cut him off from Paris. Combatants Second French Empire North German Confederation allied with south German states (later German Empire) Commanders Napoleon III Helmuth von Moltke Strength 500,000[citation needed] 550,000[citation needed] Casualties 150,000 dead or wounded 284,000 captured 350,000 civilian [citation needed] 100,000 dead or wounded 200... Combatants Prussia Baden Bavaria WÃ¼rttemberg France Commanders Crown Prince Friedrich Wilhelm Patrice MacMahon Strength 88,000 50,000 Casualties 10,000 dead, wounded, or missing 11,000 dead or wounded 9,000 captured {{{notes}}} The Battle of WÅ“rth, also known as the Battle of Reichshoffen or as the... Patrice de Mac-Mahon, duc de Magenta President of France, 1873-1879 Marie Edme Patrice Maurice de Mac-Mahon, duc de Magenta, Marshal of France (July 13, 1808 - October 16, 1893) was a Frenchman of Irish descent. ... Battle of Spicheren Conflict Franco-Prussian War Date August 6, 1870 Place near Saarbrucken, France Result German victory The Battle of Spicheren, also known as the Battle of Forbach, was a battle during the Franco-Prussian War. ... Painting of FranÃ§ois Achille Bazaine by Jean-Adolphe Beauce on campaign in Mexico FranÃ§ois Achille Bazaine (February 13, 1811 - September 23, 1888) was a French general, marshal of France from 1864. ... With an area of 2570 km² and 1. ... Part of the Paris skyline with from left to right: Montparnasse Tower, Eiffel Tower, and in the background, towers of neighboring La DÃ©fense. ...

Nothing shows Moltkes insight and strength of purpose in a clearer light than his determination to attack on the 18th of August, at the Battle of Gravelotte when other strategists would have thought that, the strategic victory having been gained, a tactical victory was unnecessary. He has been blamed for the last attack of Gravelotte, in which there was a fruitless heavy loss; but it is now known that this attack was ordered by the king, and Moltke blamed himself for not having used his influence to prevent it. Combatants Prussia France Commanders Helmuth von Moltke FranÃ§ois Achille Bazaine Strength 188,332 732 guns 112,800 520 guns Casualties 20,163 dead, wounded, missing or captured 7,855 dead or wounded, 4,420 captured {{{notes}}} The Battle of Gravelotte (August 18, 1870), was a battle of the Franco...

During the night following the battle Moltke left one army to invest Bazaine at Metz, and set out with the two others to march towards Paris, the more southerly one leading, so that when MacMahon's army should be found the main blow might be delivered from the south and MacMahon driven to the north. On August 25 it was found that MacMahon was moving north-east for the relief of Bazaine. The moment Moltke was satisfied of the accuracy of his information, he ordered the German columns to turn their faces north instead of west. MacMahon's right wing was attacked at Beaumont while attempting to cross the Meuse, his advance necessarily abandoned, and his army with difficulty collected at Sedan. Painting of FranÃ§ois Achille Bazaine by Jean-Adolphe Beauce on campaign in Mexico FranÃ§ois Achille Bazaine (February 13, 1811 - September 23, 1888) was a French general, marshal of France from 1864. ... For other uses of Metz, see Metz (disambiguation) City motto: Si paix dedans, paix dehors (French: If peace inside, peace outside) City proper (commune) RÃ©gion Lorraine DÃ©partement Moselle (57) Mayor Jean-Marie Rausch Area 41. ... Patrice de Mac-Mahon, duc de Magenta President of France, 1873-1879 Marie Edme Patrice Maurice de Mac-Mahon, duc de Magenta, Marshal of France (July 13, 1808 - October 16, 1893) was a Frenchman of Irish descent. ... August 25 is the 237th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (238th in leap years), with 128 days remaining. ... Meuse near Grave The Meuse (Dutch Maas) is a major European river, rising in France and flowing through Belgium and the Netherlands before draining into the North Sea. ...

At the Battle of Sedan, the two German armies surrounded the French army, which on September 1 was attacked and compelled to surrender. Moltke then resumed the advance on Paris, which was also surrounded. Combatants Prussia Bavaria France Commanders Wilhelm I Helmuth von Moltke Napoleon III Patrice MacMahon Auguste-Alexandre Ducrot Strength 200,000 774 cannon 120,000 564 cannon Casualties 2,320 dead 5,980 wounded 700 missing (9,000 total) 3,000 dead 14,000 wounded 21,000 captured 82,000 surrendered... September 1 is the 244th day of the year (245th in leap years). ...

From this time his strategy is remarkable for its judicious economy of force, for he was wise enough never to attempt more than was practicable with the means at his disposal. The surrender of Metz and of Paris was just a question of time, and the problem was, while maintaining the sieges, to be able to ward off the attacks of the new French armies levied for the purpose of raising the Siege of Paris. The Siege of Metz ended with its surrender on the 27 October. Combatants Prussia, Baden Bavaria, WÃ¼rttemberg (later German Empire) France Commanders Wilhelm I of Germany Helmuth von Moltke Louis Jules Trochu Joseph Vinoy Strength 240,000 regulars 200,000 regulars 200,000 militia and sailors Casualties 12,000 dead or wounded 24,000 dead or wounded 146,000 captured 47... Combatants Prussia France Commanders Prince Friedrich Karl FranÃ§ois Bazaine Strength 134,000 180,000 Casualties unknown 180,000 surrendered The Siege of Metz lasting from September 3 â€“ October 23, 1870 was a crushing defeat for the French during the Franco-Prussian War. ... October 27 is the 300th day of the year (301st in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 65 days remaining. ...

On 28 January 1871 an armistice was concluded at Paris by which the garrison became virtually prisoners and the war was ended. January 28 is the 28th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1871 (MDCCCLXXI) was a common year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar). ...

Final Years

In October, 1870, Moltke was made a Graf (Count) as a reward for his services. In June 1871, by a promotion to the rank of field marshal and a large monetary grant. He served in the Diet of the North German Confederation from 1867 to 1871, and from 1871 to 1891 he was a member of the Reichstag, the German parliament of the time. Note: This article is about the military usage of the word marshal. For other usages, see the end of this article. ... In politics, a Diet is a formal deliberative assembly. ... North German Federation (in German, Norddeutscher Bund), came into existence in 1867, following the dissolution of the German Confederation. ... 1867 (MDCCCLXVII) was a common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar). ... 1871 (MDCCCLXXI) was a common year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar). ... 1871 (MDCCCLXXI) was a common year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar). ... 1891 (MDCCCXCI) was a common year starting on Thursday (see link for calendar). ... The Reichstag (German for Imperial Diet) was the parliament of the Holy Roman Empire, the North German Confederation, and of Germany until 1945. ... States currently utilizing parliamentary systems are denoted in orange and redâ€”the former being constitutional monarchies where authority is vested in a parliament, and the latter being parliamentary republics whose parliaments are effectively supreme over a separate head of state. ...

After the Franco-Prussian war he superintended the preparation of its history, which was published between 1874 and 1881 by the great general staff.

In 1888 he retired as Chief of the General Staff and was succeeded by Graf von Waldersee. His nephew, Helmuth Johann Ludwig von Moltke, was Chief from 1906 until 1914. Warning: this article is based primarily on information from the 1911 Encyclopædia Britannica and does not reflect modern scholarship. ... Colonel General Helmuth von Moltke Helmuth Johann Ludwig von Moltke (May 25, 1848–June 18, 1916), also known as Moltke the Younger, was a nephew of Field Marshal Count Moltke and served as the Chief of the German General Staff from 1906 to 1914. ... 1906 (MCMVI) was a common year starting on Monday (see link for calendar). ... 1914 (MCMXIV) was a common year starting on Thursday. ...

Graf von Moltke retired from active service on 9 August 1888 and died in Berlin in 1891. August 9 is the 221st day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (222nd in leap years), with 144 days remaining. ... 1888 (MDCCCLXXXVIII) is a leap year starting on Sunday (click on link for calendar) of the Gregorian calendar or a leap year starting on Tuesday of the Julian calendar. ... Berlin is the capital city and a state of Germany. ... 1891 (MDCCCXCI) was a common year starting on Thursday (see link for calendar). ...

Assessment

As a war strategist Moltke was sometimes great, sometimes just good. While it is doubtful whether he can be convicted of any strategic errors, it seems beyond doubt that he never had to face a situation which placed any strain on his powers, for in the campaigns of 1866 and 1870 his decisions seemed to be made without the slightest effort, and he was never at a loss. In other areas, Moltke's genius is unquestioned. 1866 (MDCCCLXVI) is a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar or a common year starting on Wednesday of the 12-day-slower Julian calendar. ... 1870 (MDCCCLXX) was a common year starting on Saturday (see link for calendar) of the Gregorian calendar or a common year starting on Monday of the 12-day-slower Julian calendar. ...

Behind the Prussian field victories lay the organizing genius of Moltke, whose professionalism in such matters as transport administration, supply, reinforcement, and intelligence utterly crushed the outdated military of France (and Austria) (Windrow and Mason, "A Concise Dictionary of Military Biography", 1975)

On the other hand Dupuy writes:

He was a competent, sometimes brilliant, soldier who guided rather than led, and his reputation has paled somewhat in the face of growing modern opinion that during the later half of the 19th century two men alone displayed military genius: Ulysses S. Grant and Robert E. Lee. (R. E. Dupuy and T. N. Dupuy "The Encyclopedia of Military History" pg. 820; 1977).

It is certainly true that Moltke was given a great army to work with thanks to the efforts of war minister Albrecht von Roon, and he was given nearly ideal situations to fight in, thanks to the brilliant diplomacy of Otto von Bismarck. It was Moltke's job to win the wars with what he was given, and in this he succeeded completely. Ulysses S. Grant (born Hiram Ulysses Grant, April 27, 1822 â€“ July 23, 1885) was an American general and politician who was elected the 18th President of the United States (1869â€“1877). ... For the author of Inherit the Wind and other works, see Robert Edwin Lee. ... Albrecht Graf von Roon Prussian Minister of War Albrecht Theodor Graf Emil von Roon (30 April 1803 â€“ 23 February 1879) was a Prussian soldier and politician. ... The introduction to this article is too long. ...

As a Person

He had a tall spare figure,- and in his latter years his tanned features had received a set expression which was at once hard and grand. He was habitually taciturn and reserved, though a most accomplished linguist, so that it was said of him that he was silent in seven languages. The stern school of his early life had given him a rare self-control, so that no indiscreet or unkind expression is known to have ever fallen from him. Long before his name was on the lips of the public he was known in the army and in the staff as the man of gold, the ideal character whom every one admired and who had no enemies.

Note regarding personal names: Graf is a title, translated as Count, not a first or middle name. The female form is Gräfin. Graf is a German noble title equal in rank to a count (derived from the Latin Comes, with a history of its own) or a British earl (an Anglo-Saxon title derived from the Viking title Jarl). ... Look up Count in Wiktionary, the free dictionary Countess redirects here. ... Graf is a German noble title equal in rank to a count (derived from the Latin Comes, with a history of its own) or a British earl (an Anglo-Saxon title derived from the Viking title Jarl). ...

Bibliography

Letters of Field-Marshal Count Helmuth von Moltke to his mother and his brothers: Translated by Clara Bell and Henry W. Fischer (1891)
Letters of Field-Marshal Count Helmuth von Moltke to his mother and his brothers (1892)
Essays, speeches, and memoirs of Field Marshal Count Helmuth von Moltke (1893)

1891 (MDCCCXCI) was a common year starting on Thursday (see link for calendar). ... 1892 (MDCCCXCII) was a leap year starting on Friday (see link for calendar). ... 1893 (MDCCCXCIII) was a common year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar). ...

Contents

Early life GA_googleFillSlot("encyclopedia_square");