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Hans Georg Hermann von Plessen
(26.11.1841 - 28.01.1929)
place of birth: Berlin-Spandau
Königreich
Preußen: Kommandant des Hauptquartiers, Generaloberst mdR GFM
General Hans von Plessen was Commandant of Kaiser
Wilhelm II's Great Headquarters during the First World War. He also
functioned as the Kaiser's Orderly Adjutant General (diensttuender Generaladjutant), thus making him one of Wilhelm II's closest
confidants. General von Plessen was known to have been very anxious for war, especially
against England, but remained utterly devoted to the Kaiser until his
abdication and exile.
Hans von Plessen was a veteran of the War of 1864 versus
Denmark,
serving as a lieutenant with the Ersatz battalion of the 4th
Guards Grenadier Regiment. To commemorate
his bravery in that conflict, Kaiser Wilhelm I personally awarded him a gift sword.
He likewise saw action at Königgrätz
and Alt Rognitz during the Austro-Prussian War of 1866. Serving
as brigade adjutant, he was further engaged in the Franco-Prussian War
of 1870/71, seeing action at Orleans and Le Mans.
Out the outset of the Great War, the 72-year old von Plessen was Kaiser
Wilhelm II's Adjutant General and Commandant of Imperial German
Headquarters. By 1918 he was the Imperial German Army's oldest living
officer, although Paul von Hindenburg, six years his junior, had falsely made this claim for himself.
General von Plessen came from
Mecklenburg-Holsteinisch nobility, his father Hermann having served at
the rank of Generalleutnant. His grandfather and great grandfather were both
officers in the Prussian military as well. Hans von Plessen married Elisabeth von Langenbeck
in January 1874, who was the daughter of the university professor and
renowned surgeon Dr med Bernhard von Langenbeck. The couple had two
sons; both served in the Great War, and one lost his life as a fighter
pilot.
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Generaloberst
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18.09.1908
(mit dem Range als GFM) |
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Eisernes
Kreuz II .............. |
Deutsch-Französischer
Krieg 1870–1871 |
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Pour
le Mérite .................... |
24.03.1918 |
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