August Neidhardt von Gneisenau facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Count August Neidhardt von Gneisenau
Gneisenau by George Dawe, 1818
Born	(1760-10-27)27 October 1760 Schildau, Electorate of Saxony, Holy Roman Empire
Died	23 August 1831(1831-08-23) (aged 70) Posen, Province of Posen, Kingdom of Prussia (present-day Poznań, Greater Poland Voivodeship, Poland)
Allegiance	Habsburg Monarchy Principality of Ansbach  Kingdom of Prussia
Years of service	1779–1831
Rank	Generalfeldmarschall
Commands held	VIII Prussian Corps
Battles/wars	American Revolutionary War Napoleonic Wars Battle of Laon Battle of Ligny Battle of Waterloo
Awards	Pour le Merite Military Order of Maria Theresa Order of St. George
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August Wilhelm Antonius Graf Neidhardt von Gneisenau (October 27, 1760 – August 23, 1831) was a very important Prussian field marshal. He played a big part in changing the Prussian military and helped lead the fight against Napoleon during the Wars of Liberation.

Early Life and Military Start

Gneisenau was born in Schildau, which was part of Saxony at the time. His family was not wealthy. In 1777, he started studying at the University of Erfurt.

Two years later, he joined an Austrian army regiment. In 1782, he added "Gneisenau" to his name, honoring some old family lands. He then became an officer in the army of Bayreuth-Ansbach.

Serving in America

Gneisenau gained valuable experience by serving in the American Revolutionary War. He was part of a German regiment that was hired by the British. After returning in 1786, he joined the Prussian army. King Frederick the Great made him a first lieutenant in the infantry.

In 1790, he became a staff captain. He served in Poland from 1793 to 1794. For the next ten years, he was stationed in Jauer. This quiet time allowed him to study military history and politics deeply. In 1796, he married Caroline von Kottwitz.

Fighting in the Napoleonic Wars

In 1806, Gneisenau served as a staff officer for Prince Hohenlohe. He fought in the battles of Saalfeld and Jena. Later, he led an infantry group in the campaign in Lithuania.

Defending Kolberg

In 1807, Major von Gneisenau was put in charge of Kolberg. This town was small and not well protected. However, with help from others, Gneisenau successfully defended Kolberg against Napoleon's forces. They held out until the Peace of Tilsit was signed in July 1807. For his bravery, Gneisenau received the important Pour le Mérite award and was promoted to lieutenant-colonel.

Reforming the Army

After Kolberg, Gneisenau took on a bigger role. He became the chief of engineers and helped rebuild the Prussian army. He worked closely with Scharnhorst on these important military changes. He also influenced the overall plans of the Prussian War Ministry.

In 1809, he became a colonel. His strong actions made the French suspicious, and he had to retire for a short time. But he traveled to Austria, Russia, Sweden, and England on secret missions. He then returned to Berlin and continued to lead the group of people who wanted to free Prussia from French control.

Working with Blücher

When the Wars of Liberation began in 1812, Major-General Gneisenau became Blücher's quartermaster-general. This meant he was Blücher's chief of staff, helping to plan and organize the army.

Their partnership was one of the best in military history. Blücher was a brave commander, and Gneisenau was a brilliant planner. Together, they led the Prussian troops. Even when they faced defeats, they never gave up. They fought their way into the heart of France.

March to Paris

In 1814, Gneisenau created the plan for the march on Paris. This plan directly led to Napoleon giving up his power in April 1814. As a reward for his excellent service, Gneisenau was made a count.

Waterloo Campaign

In 1815, Gneisenau was again Blücher's chief of staff during the Waterloo campaign. He played a very important role. When Blücher was injured at the Battle of Ligny on June 16, 1815, Gneisenau took command of the Prussian army.

He gathered the army and led them towards Wavre. From there, part of the army marched to join Wellington at the Battle of Waterloo on June 18, 1815. The Prussian attack from the side helped Wellington's army win the battle.

After Waterloo, Gneisenau led the chase of Napoleon's forces. This led to the capture of Napoleon's carriage. Gneisenau also made sure the Prussian forces reached Paris before Wellington. For his achievements, Gneisenau was promoted again and received the Prussian Order of the Black Eagle.

Later Life and Legacy

In 1816, Gneisenau was given command of the VIII Prussian Corps. However, he soon retired due to health issues and political reasons.

For two years, Gneisenau lived quietly at his estate in Silesia. But in 1818, he became the governor of Berlin and a member of the Council of State. In 1825, he was promoted to general field marshal.

In 1831, after the Polish uprising began, he was put in charge of the army watching the Polish border. Clausewitz was his chief of staff. While in Posen, Gneisenau became sick with cholera and died on August 24, 1831. His chief of staff, Clausewitz, also died from the same disease a few months later.

Honours

Gneisenau received many awards and decorations for his service:

Lasting Impact

Statue of Gneisenau, Unter den Linden, Berlin by Christian Daniel Rauch

Gneisenau's legacy lives on in many ways.

• A statue of him was put up in Berlin in 1855.
• A grenadier regiment (a type of soldier unit) was named after him in 1889, remembering his defense of Kolberg.
• One of his sons led a brigade in the Franco-Prussian War in 1870.
• A painting of him by Marie von Brühl is in the Deutsches Historisches Museum.
• One of the four major attacks by Germany in 1918 during World War I was named after him.
• Several German navy ships have been named Gneisenau, including a World War I armored cruiser and a famous World War II battleship.
• Many cities in Germany have streets named "Gneisenaustraße" (Gneisenau Street), including Berlin, Leipzig, Hamburg, Hanover, and Heidelberg. Berlin even has a subway stop named after him.