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     Konstantin Schmidt von Knobelsdorf        








Konstantin Heinrich Schmidt von Knobelsdorf
(13.12.1860 - 1.9.1936)
place of birth:  Frankfurt an der Oder  (Brandenburg)


Prussian general of infantry who served on the western front as Crown Prince Wilhelm's Chief of Staff (Fifth Army) for two years. He had been the Crown Prince's military instructor during peacetime and was the de facto commander of the Fifth. Awarded the Pour le Merite in 1915 for distinguished service during the fighting at Maison de Champagne. His name is forever linked to Verdun, where he pushed for victory at all costs. This lead to several flare-ups with the Crown Prince. Schmidt von Knobelsdorf finished the rest of the war as commander of X Corps.






     "I've entrusted to you command of the Fifth Army.    Lt. General Schmidt von Knobelsdorf will accompany you as chief of staff...what he tells you, you must do."

                                                            Kaiser Wilhelm II  -  August 1914
                                                    * instructions to his son Crown Prince Wilhelm
                                                




 

Assignments and Commands  (pre-War)
00.00.1878  -  00.00.0000 Infanterie-Regiment
00.00.1904  -  00.00.0000 X. Armeekorps - Hannover  (Chief of Staff)
00.00.1908  -  00.00.0000 4. Garde-Regiment zu Fuß - Koblenz  (Cdr) 
00.00.1911  -  00.00.0000 Gardekorps - Berlin  (Chief of Staff)
00.00.1912  -  00.00.0000 Großer Generalstab - Berlin  (Senior Quartermaster)
   
Assignments and Commands  (during Great War)
02.08.1914  -  20.08.1916 5. Armee  (Crown Prince Wilhelm's Chief of Staff)
21.08.1916  -  11.11.1918 X. Armeekorps     (replaced Walther von Lüttwitz)
   
Pour le Merite:  17 October 1915  (Oakleaves:  21 August 1916)
highest rank:  General der Infanterie

 



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