Gottlieb Ferdinand Albert Alexis Graf von Haeseler
(19.1.1836 - 25.10.1919)
place of birth:  Harnekop, Brandenburg
Generalfeldmarschall:  1 January 1905


German count and field marshal who began his military career in 1853 as a lieutenant in the Ziethen-Hussar Regiment. He served in Denmark in 1864 as adjutant to Prince Friedrich Karl and maintained the same position during the 1866 Austro-Prussian War. He soon transferred to the general staff and won the Iron Cross 1st Class for his service during the Franco-Prussian War of 1870-71. Haeseler also commanded the 11th Ulans at Perleberg (1873) and the 12th Cavalry Brigade in Neisse.

General von Haeseler was promoted to the rank of field marshal in January 1905 and had the interesting nickname "der grobe Gottlieb" (Gottlieb the Rough). He was 78 years old at the Great War's outbreak and thus never received command of an army. Instead, he acted as an advisor to the otherwise capable XVI. Corps commander von Mudra, accompanying his old corps into battle at the Argonne. At the age of 80, Haeseler and Falkenhayn were the chief architects of the 1916 campaign to capture the fortresses at Verdun. He was known for his extreme industriousness, even into his latter years of life. He died on 25 October 1919 at Wriezen.