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     Reinhard Freiherr von Scheffer-Boyadel    






Reinhard Gottlob Georg Heinrich Freiherr von Scheffer-Boyadel
(28.3.1851 - 8.11.1925)
place of birth:  Hanau, Kurhessen  (Hesse)


Prussian baron and general of infantry who retired in 1913 as commander of XI. Army Corps Kassel. Brought out of retirement to command the XXV. Reserves, this corps distinguished itself during the Battle of Lodz. His command became encircled by the Russians at Brzeziny, but fought their way out to the German side of the line, capturing 16,000 prisoners and 64 artillery pieces in the process - one of the most outstanding exploits of the Great War.

Reinhard Scheffer was the son of Eduard Scheffer, a councilman in the royal Prussian government. He was married to the daughter of the great industrialist Carl Adolf Riebeck. Scheffer entered military service to fight in the Franco-Prussian War of 1870-71. After attending staff college, he was promoted to captain in 1883, working his way up to General der Infanterie by 1908. As owner of the Burg Brandenstein near Schlüchtern-Elm, Hessia, Scheffer had the castle refurbished before selling it to Gustav von Brandenstein in 1895. Scheffer retired from military service in December 1918 and died on his estate on 8 November 1925.

 

 
Assignments and Commands  (pre-War)
00.00.1870 Infanterie-Regiment von Wittich (3. Kurhessisches) Nr. 83 - Kassel
19.07.1870 Franco-Prussian War - 1870/71
12.02.1871 Leutnant
00.00.1874 Preußische Kriegsakademie - Berlin
12.12.1879 Oberleutnant
00.00.1881 Großer Generalstab - Berlin 
13.11.1883 Hauptmann
00.00.1884 XI. Armeekorps - Kassel  (General Staff)
00.00.0000 21. Infanterie-Division - Frankfurt am Main
00.00.1888 ,,Kaiser Alexander Garde-Grenadier-Regiment Nr. 1 - Berlin  (Coy Cdr)
00.00.1889 Großer Generalstab - Berlin
22.05.1889 Major
00.00.0000 XVI. Armeekorps - Metz  (General Staff)
00.00.1893 4. Garde-Regiment zu Fuß - Koblenz  (Bn Cdr)
00.00.1894 I. Armee-Inspektion - Berlin  (General Staff) 
00.00.1894 Oberstleutnant
03.05.1896 Gardekorps - Berlin  (von Winterfeld and Boch u. Polach's Chief of Staff) 
22.03.1897 Oberst
25.03.1899 ,,Kaiser Alexander Garde-Grenadier-Regiment Nr. 1 - Berlin  (Cdr)
09.04.1901 3. Garde-Infanterie-Brigade - Berlin  (Cdr)
00.00.1903 Großer Generalstab, Oberquartiermeister - Berlin  (Deputy Chief of the Great General Staff)
16.02.1904 Preußisches Kriegsministerium, Chef des Landesaufnahme - Berlin  (Chief of Survey Dept)     (replaced Steinmetz)
22.02.1906 2. Garde-Division - Berlin  (Cdr)     (replaced Hans von Arnim)
25.02.1908 XI. Armeekorps - Kassel  (Cdr)     (replaced Herzog Albrecht)
00.00.1908 General der Infanterie
31.12.1913 außer Dienst
   
Assignments and Commands  (during Great War)
25.08.1914 XXV. Reservekorps
03.09.1916 XVII. Reservekorps     (replaced Suren)
04.10.1916 Armeeabteilung Scheffer     (formed from XVII.RK)
17.09.1917 Generalkommando 67     (formed from Armeeabteilung Scheffer)
17.12.1918 zur Disposition gestellt
   
Pour le Merite:  2 December 1914
à la suite:  Kaiser Alexander Garde-Grenadier-Regiment Nr. 1  (16.6.1913)
highest rank:  General der Infanterie




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