Georg von Wodtke

From Metapedia
Jump to: navigation, search
Georg von Wodtke
Georg von Wodtke.jpg
Birth name Georg Eduard Johann Wodtke
Birth date 2 February 1864(1864-02-02)
Place of birth Graudenz, Province of Prussia (West Prussia), Kingdom of Prussia, German Confederation
Death date 19 March 1942 (aged 78)
Place of death Naumburg an der Saale, Province of Saxony, Free State of Prussia, German Reich
Allegiance Germany Prussian Eagle.jpg Kingdom of Prussia
 German Empire
 Weimar Republic
Service/branch War and service flag of Prussia (1895–1918).png Prussian Army
Iron Cross of the Luftstreitkräfte.png Imperial German Army
War Ensign of the Reichswehr, 1919 - 1935.png Preliminary Reichswehr
Years of service 1883–1919
Rank Generalmajor
Battles/wars World War I
Awards Iron Cross
House Order of Hohenzollern
Red Eagle Order
Relations ∞ 1898 Hella von Kaisenberg

Georg Eduard Johann Wodtke, since 1885 von Wodtke (2 February 1864 – 19 March 1942), was a German officer of the Prussian Army, the Imperial German Army and the Vorläufige (preliminary) Reichwehr, finally Generalmajor in WWI and brigade commander.

Life

Lippischer Hausorden, Offizier-Ehrenkreuz für Georg Eduard Johann von Wodtke, 1909, auktioniert 2019.jpg
Gothaisches Genealogisches Taschenbuch der Briefadeligen Häuser, 1921, p. 982

Georg, the first-born, was initially educated at home, later, as a schoolboy, he attended the Friedrichs-Gymnasium in Frankfurt an der Oder, the Wilhelms-Gymnasium in Berlin and finally the grammar school in Neu-Brandenburg. At Easter in March 1883 he passed his Abitur there.

Military career

On 30 March 1883, the young Wodtke joined the 12th company of the Leib-Grenadier-Regiment (1st Brandenburg) No. 8 as a three-year volunteer (on 27 January 1889 renamed in Leib-Grenadier-Regiment "König Friedrich Wilhelm III. (1st Brandenburg) No. 8). On 30 June 1883, he was promoted to Gefreiter and on 26 August 1883 to NCO. He felt comfortable in the military and showed excellent abilities. He decided to become an officer cadet and a career officer. On 13 November 1883, he was appointed portepee ensign and on 13 September 1884, meanwhile transferred to the 11th company, promoted to second lieutenant.

After serving as a company officer and attending courses at the War School (Kriegsschule), he was adjutant and investigating officer of the II. Battalion of his regiment from 20 April 1888 to 30 September 1891. From 1 October 1891 to July 1894 he was commanded to the War Academy (Kriegsakademie).

On 17 December 1896, he was transferred to the staff of the 5th Division, as of 1 January 1897 commanded to service. On 22 March 1897, he was commissioned as an adjutant to the 75th Infantry Brigade. Leaving him in the aforementioned command and being transferred to Colberg's Grenadier Regiment "Graf Gneisenau" (2nd Pomeranian) No. 9, he was promoted to captain on 24 May 1898.

From 10 to 20 September 1898, he was ordered to stand in for an ailing aide-de-camp at the command of the cadet corps. Here, too, he made a very good impression, so that on 25 November 1898, after being relieved of his command as adjutant of the 75th Infantry Brigade and being transferred to the cadet corps, he was appointed adjutant to the command of the cadet corps.

On 21 May 1906, he was promoted to major, was appointed commander of the III. Battalion/Infantry Regiment "Graf Bülow von Dennewitz" (6th Westphalian) No. 55 and served in 1911 with the uniform of the Infantry Regiment "Grand Duke of Saxony" (5th Thuringian) No. 94 as an adjutant at the General-Inspektion des „Militär-Erziehungs- und Bildungswesens“ or General Inspectorate the "Military Education and Training System" (under General der Kavallerie Curt von Pfuel). From 1912, initially responsible for running the business until he was promoted, he served in the War Ministry as head of the 2nd Infantry Department (A 2). On 1 October 1912, he was promoted to lieutenant colonel.

WWI and preliminary Reichswehr

On 8 November 1914, he was promoted to Colonel as a department head in the War Department. On 20 April 1915, he was appointed leader of the 29th Infantry Brigade. His successor in Department "A 2" was Lieutenant Colonel/Colonel von Fransecky, who in turn later succeeded Major General Friedrich as head of the prison system.

  • 20.4.1915 Leader of the 29. Infanterie-Brigade
  • 30.7.1915 Commander of the Infanterie-Regiment „von Goeben“ (2. Rheinisches) Nr. 28
  • 17.9.1916 Leader of the 40. Infanterie-Brigade
  • 9.11.1916 to 23.0.1917 Commander of the 169. Landwehr-Infanterie-Brigade
  • 23.05.1917-06.07.1918 Commander of the 5. Ersatz-(Infanterie-)Brigade
    • 14.9.1917 to 23 November 1917 Leader of the Jäger-Division
      • The division was deployed on the Italian front and first took part in the Twelfth Battle of the Isonzo (Battle of Karfreit). Structure in 1917: Headquarters of the 5th Reserve Infantry Brigade with Headquarters of Dragoon Regiment "von Bredow" (1st Silesian) No. 4 (Guard Reserve Hunter Battalion, Guard Reserve Rifle Battalion), Headquarters of the Uhlan Regiment "von Katzler" (Silesian) No. 2 (Reserve Jäger Battalion No. 1, Pomeranian Jäger Battalion "Fürst Bismarck" No. 2) and Staff 8th Royal Bavarian Chevaulegers Regiment (Reserve Jäger Battalion No. 8 , Württemberg Mountain Battalion, Brandenburg Jäger Battalion No. 3).
  • 6.7.1918 to 5.2.1919 Commander of the 225. Infanterie-Division
    • The division with the 173rd Infantry Brigade (Reserve Infantry Regiment No. 18, Reserve Infantry Regiment No. 217, Infantry Regiment No. 373, 3rd Squadron/1st Hanoverian Ulan Regiment No. 13), the Artillery Commander No. 225 (2. Kurhessisches Feldartillerie-Regiment No. 47), the Pioneer Battalion No. 225, the Divisional Intelligence Commander No. 225 and the Mine Launcher Company No. 413 (heavy MW platoon 702 , medium MW-Zug 816, light MW-Zug 951) fought on the Ancre, Somme and Avre, from 8 to 20 August 1918 at the defensive battle between Somme and Avre and the Battle of Amiens and from 22 to 30 August 1918 at the Battle of Albert-Péronne. On 1 September 1918, the division was disbanded.
  • 5.2.1919 to 14.12.1919 Commander of the 43. Infanterie-Brigade in Kassel subordinated to the 22. Division

Family

Georg was the son of Lieutenant-General at disposition (zur Disposition; z. D.) Johann Heinrich von Wodtke, who was raised to Prussian nobility on 15 February 1885 as colonel and regimental commander. His mother was Anna Wilhelmine Auguste, née Steffenhagen, who died on 15 November 1914. He had six siblings:

  • Marie Emilie Friederike (b. 8 February 1867 in Graudenz; d. 13 October 1899 in Altona); ∞ Curt Carl Philipp Felix von Kehler
  • Max Viktor Emil (b. 27 December 1868 in Graudenz; d. 15 May 1933 in Hamburg), merchant; ∞ Hamburg 25 August 1904 Elisabeth Lantzius, three daughters
  • Heinrich Anton Wilhelm (1870–1918), Major and commander of the Jäger-Regiment Nr. 5
  • Klara Charlotte Gustave (1873–1940)
  • Kurt Friedrich Oskar (1876–1914), Protestant Pastor and military chaplain of the 50th Reserve Division (⚔); ∞ 1903 Margarete Karoline Anna von Rabenau (sister of Otto Karl Hellmuth von Rabenau and Paul Reinhart von Rabenau, aunt of Hellmut von Rabenau and Paul Georg von Rabenau), three sons and one daughter[1]
  • Johannes „Hans“ Konstantin Gerhard (b. 12 October 1878 in Berlin; d. 31 March 1950 in Attleboro, Massachusetts, USA), officer, later merchant and factory director; ∞ 18 June 1912 German-American Mathilde Marie Bleßman from Buffalo, New York, two children (Margarete Anna, b. 15 November 1913 in Akron, Ohio, and Virginia Jane, b. 7 June 1919 in Akron, Ohio)

Marriage

On 28 September 1898 in Hannover, Hauptmann von Wodtke married his finacée Helene "Hella" Amalie Marianne Friederike von Kaisenberg (b. 1 September 1869 in Dessau[2]), daughter of Moritz Leopold Ludolf von Kaisenberg (1837–1910) and his first wife Franziska von Bilow aus dem Hause Gülzow (1837–1871).

Promotions

  • 30 March 1883 Dreijährig-Freiwilliger
  • 30 June 1883 Gefreiter (Private E-2/Lance Corporal)
  • 26 August 1883 Unteroffizier (NCO; Corporal)
  • 13 November 1883 Portepee-Fähnrich (Officer Cadet)
  • 13 September 1884 Sekondeleutnant (2nd Lieutenant)
  • 14 January 1893 Premierleutnant (1st Lieutenant) without patent
    • 27 January 1893 received patent to his rank
  • 24 May 1898 Hauptmann (Captain)
  • 21 May 1906 Major
  • 1 October 1912 Oberstleutnant (Lieutenant Colonel)
  • 8. November 1914 Oberst (Colonel)
  • 22 March 1918 Generalmajor[3]

Awards and decorations (excerpt)

Rangliste 1914.png
  • Order of the Cross of Takovo (Serbia), Knight's Cross (ST5)
  • Prussian Centenary Medal 1897 (Zentenarmedaille)
  • Red Eagle Order (Roter Adlerorden), 4th Class
  • Mecklenburg Greifen-Orden, Knight's Cross (MGrO3/MG3)
  • Order of the White Falcon (Hausorden vom Weißen Falken), Knight's Cross 2nd Class (GSF3b)
  • Saxe-Ernestine House Order, Knight Cross 1st Class (HSEH3a/HSH3a)
  • Knight's Cross First Class of the Friedrich Order (WF3a)
  • Prussian Long Service Cross (Dienstauszeichnungskreuz), 1908
  • Siam Order of the White Elephant, Officer's Cross (SE4)
  • Schaumburg-Lippe House Order (Fürstlich Schaumburg-Lippischer Hausorden), Officer's Cross of Honour (SLH.O) on 27 January 1909
  • Lippe House Order (Lippischer Hausorden), Honour Cross 3rd Class (LDH3)
  • The Most Noble Order of the Crown of Siam (Orden der Siamesischen Krone), Commander's Cross (SK3)
  • Württemberg Order of the Crown (Ehrenkreuz des Ordens der Württembergischen Krone), Honour Cross (WK2c)
  • Oak Leaves to his Lippe House Order Honour Cross 3rd Class (LDH3mE)
  • Military Merit Order (Bavaria), 3rd class (BMV3)
  • Prussian Order of the Crown (Preußischer Kronenorden), 3rd Class
  • Lippe House Order, Officer's Cross of Honour (LDH.O)
  • Red Eagle Order, 3rd Class with the Bow
  • Iron Cross (1914), 2nd and 1st Class
  • Brunswick War Merit Cross
  • Prussian Order of the Crown, 2nd Class with Swords in 1916
  • House Order of Hohenzollern, Commander's Cross (Komtur) with Swords
  • Red Eagle Order, 2nd Class with Oak Leaves and Swords in 1918[4]
  • Ehrenkreuz für Frontkämpfer

References

  1. ↑ Gothaisches Genealogisches Taschenbuch der Briefadeligen Häuser, 1917, pp. 964–965
  2. ↑ Gothaisches Genealogisches Taschenbuch der Briefadeligen Häuser, 1922, p. 470
  3. ↑ Dienstalters-Liste der Offiziere der bisherigen Preußischen Armee und des XIII. (bisherigen Württembergischen) Armeekorps, 1919, p. 6
  4. ↑ Daniel Krause: Verleihungen von Preußischen Kriegs-Orden und Ehrenzeichen im Ersten Weltkrieg
Retrieved from "http://en.metapedia.org/m/index.php?title=Georg_von_Wodtke&oldid=519646"