Georg Friedrich von Kleist
(25.9.1852 - 29.7.1923)
place of birth:  Rheinfeld  (Przyjazl - West Prussia)


German general of cavalry who was the only son of General Major Fedor Benno von Kleist. He later was commissioned in his father's old regiment in Cottbus, IR Nr 52. As an 18-year old, Georg participated in the Franco-Prussian War 1870-71, seeing action in battles at Vionville and Mars-la-Tour. At Gravelotte, he was severely wounded in the leg, which led him to switch to the cavalry. 

Living in retirement in Wusseken, Kleist was recalled shortly after the Great War began, receiving command of the XXIII. Reserve Corps which was already engaged in Belgian Flanders. A couple months later, however, a heart ailment forced him to relinquish his command. He left the field hospital at Ghent in January 1915 and returned to Wusseken, dedicating his life to politics and his military writings. He
published the biography of Field Marshal Kleist von Nollendorf, one of his ancestors. Von Kleist was married to Barbara von Nathusius with whom he had six sons and one daughter. His sons Heinrich and Fedor both served as officers during the Great War and were killed in action on Lithuania and Poland, respectively. Sons Robert, Ewald, and Barnim also served as Wehrmacht officers during World War Two.