Adrian Friedrich Wilhelm Julius Ludwig von Verdy du Vernois
(19.07.1832 - 30.09.1910)
place of birth:  Freystadt, Niederschlesien  (Kozuchow, Poland)
Königreich Preußen:  Kriegsminister;  General der Infanterie

                          

Prussian General der Infanterie, Julius von Verdy du Vernois served as Minister of War (1889-90) during the pre-War years. A noted military writer as well, Verdy du Vernois was the descendant of a Huguenot family that had fled France in the 18th century. Verdy entered the military in 1850. After several years of regimental service, chief of the general staff von Moltke recognized him as an exceptionally gifted soldier. At the outbreak of the war against Austria in 1866, von Moltke appointed him major on the staff of the Second Army. Following the Battle of Königgrätz, he headed a section of the general staff and became one of von Moltke's principal confidential advisors. In this capacity he served at the headquarters of the German Army throughout the war of 1870-71.

Later, as a lecturer at the War Academy, he developed the system of thorough tactical education which is the abiding result of his writings. In1887 he became governor of Strassburg, and in 1889 as a newly promoted general of infantry, succeeded Bronsart von Schellendorf as Prussian Minister of War. In August of 1891, General von Verdy du Vernois became one of five recipients of both military and peace class (Arts & Science) Pour le Mérite Orders. In 1894 the university of Königsberg (Kaliningrad) made him a Dr. Phil, honoris causa. Verdy du Vernois died in September 1910 in Stockholm, Sweden.