Gustav von Kessel

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Gustav von Kessel
Generaloberst Gustav von Kessel II.jpg
Birth name Gustav Emil Bernhard Bodo von Kessel
Birth date 6 April 1846(1846-04-06)
Place of birth Potsdam, Province of Brandenburg, Kingdom of Prussia, German Confederation
Death date 28 May 1918 (aged 72)
Place of death Gutsbezirk Heerstraße[1][2] near Berlin, Kreis Teltow, Brandenburg, German Empire
Allegiance Germany Prussian Eagle.jpg Kingdom of Prussia
Wappen des Deutschen Bundes.jpg German Confederation
Coat of arms of North German Confederation.png North German Confederation
 German Empire
Service/branch War and service flag of Prussia (1895–1918).png Prussian Army
Iron Cross of the Luftstreitkräfte.png Imperial German Army
Years of service 1864–1918
Rank Generaloberst
Commands held Garde-Korps
Governor of Berlin
Battles/wars Austro-Prussian War 1866
  • Battle of Königgrätz (de)

Franco-German War

  • Battle of Gravelotte

World War I

Awards Iron Cross
Order of the Black Eagle
Order of the Red Eagle
Relations ∞ 1877 Frieda Freiin von Esebeck
∞ 1917 Katharina von Borstell

Gustav Emil Bernhard Bodo von Kessel (6 April 1846 – 28 May 1918) was a German officer of the Prussian Army and the Imperial German Army, finally a highly decorated Generaloberst in World War I.

Military career (chronology)

Commemorative plaque (Gedenkzeichen) for the royal princes, general adjutants and wing adjutants of Kaiser Friedrich III (left) and Kaiser Wilhelm II
Kaiser Wilhelm II (# 1) walks the front of the watch/guard of honor (Ehrenwache) with his entourage, among them Generaladjutant Gustav von Kessel (# 3) on New years Day, 1 January 1905.
Generaloberst Gustav von Kessel V.jpg
Generaloberst Gustav von Kessel VI.jpg
Generaloberst Gustav von Kessel IV.jpg
Generaloberst Gustav von Kessel III.jpg
Generaloberst Gustav von Kessel (left) and the grave of his grandfather Gustav Friedrich (right).png
Generaloberst Gustav von Kessel VII.jpg
Gustav von Kessel.jpg
Generaloberst Gustav von Kessel with second wife.jpg
  • 1 May 1864 Joined the 1. Garde-Regiment zu Fuß in Potsdam
  • 15 June 1866 Participant in the Austro-Prussian War of 1866
    • He was wounded during the Battle of Königgrätz.
  • 19 July 1870 Participant in the Franco-German War
    • He served as his uncle Colonel Bernhard von Kessel's adjutant while fighting the French in the War of 1870/71, again receiving war wounds during the Battle of Gravelotte and St. Privat.
  • 1871/72 Commanded to the War Academay (Preußische Kriegsakademie) in Berlin
    • afterwards, return to the 3th Company
  • 1874/75 Commanded (kommandiert) for one year to the Prussian Great General Staff (Großer Generalstab)
    • afterwards, return to the 2nd Company
  • 1878 Commander of the 7th Company/1. Garde-Regiment zu Fuß
  • 1882 Commander of the Leibkompanie (1st Company)/1. Garde-Regiment zu Fuß
  • 1883 Personal adjutant of the Imperial and Royal Crown Prince Friedrich Wilhelm Nikolaus Karl von Preußen (son of Kaiser Wilhelm I)
  • 9 March 1888 Flügeladjutant (aide-de-camp) of Kaiser Friedrich III
  • 15 June 1888 Flügeladjutant (aide-de-camp) of Kaiser Wilhelm II
  • 9 February 1893 Commander of the 1. Garde-Regiment zu Fuß in Potsdam
  • 21 March 1896 Diensttuender General à la suite SM des Kaiser und Königs (Orderly General à la suite in HM Wilhelm II's court)
  • 27 January 1897 Commander of the 1. Garde-Infanterie-Brigade in Potsdam (replaced Ernst von Bülow)
  • 25 March 1899 Generaladjutant or Adjutant General of Kaiser Wilhelm II
  • 25 March 1899 Commander of the 2. Garde-Infanterie-Division in Berlin (replaced Ludwig von Falkenhausen)
  • 27 January 1900 Commander of the 1. Garde-Infanterie-Division in Berlin (replaced Ernst von Bülow)
  • 27 January 1902 Commanding General (Kommandierender General) Gardekorps - Berlin (Cdr, replaced von Bock und Polach)
  • 29 May 1909 Oberbefehlshaber in den Marken (Commander-in-Chief in the Marches) and governor of Berlin

WWI

  • During the First World War, the supreme commander in the Marches served as military commander for Berlin (Fortress Berlin) and the province of Brandenburg, with the deputy general commands of the III. Army Corps and Guard Corps subordinated to him.
    • On 31 July 1914, the state of war was declared for Berlin and the province of Brandenburg, executive power passed to the Commander-in-Chief in the Marches, Generaloberst Gustav von Kessel. He was thus responsible for implementing the military measures needed to quell strikes and social unrest in Berlin in January 1918.
    • 1 June 1918 Generaloberst Alexander von Linsingen became new

Family

Gustav was the son of Generalmajor z. D. Emil Friedrich Moritz von Kessel (b. 21 March 1804 in Potsdam; d. 8 November 1870 ibid; son of Generalleutnant Gustav Friedrich Gottlob von Kessel) and his wife Julie Elise, née Freiin von Canstein, widowed Freifrau von Buddenbrock (b. 4 August 1808 in Eschwege; d. 6 May 1895 in Potsdam).[3][4]

Marriages

Frieda Freiin von Esebeck

Premier-Lieutenant von Kessel married on 22 September 1877 in Potsdam Friederike "Frieda" Emilie Alexandrine Luise Klara Freiin von Esebeck (b. 14 August 1854 in Berlin; d. 12 February 1913 ibid), daughter of Karl Friedrich August Eberhard Freiherr von Esebeck (1821–1866) and his wife Klara Emilie Juli, née von Rothkirch und Panthen (1828–1903). Father Karl was a Major in the Garde-Füsilier-Regiment. He took part in the action of Königinhof[5] (29 June 1866) and the Battle of Königgrätz. He contracted cholera and died on 10 August 1866 in a military hospital in Brünn.

Children
  • Sophie Margarete Klara Julie (b. 14 June 1878 in Potsdam)
  • Eberhard Gustav Bernhard Bodo (b. 26 May 1879 in Potsdam), Leutnant in 1. Garde-Regiment zu Fuß in Potsdam, later merchant / tobacco plantation owner in East Sumatra (colony of the Netherlands)
  • Margarete Charlotte (b. 20 November 1880 in Potsdam)
    • ∞ Berlin 18 March 1907 1st Lieutenant (later retired Lieutenant Colonel) Karl Olof Julius Emil Johann Sigismund von Lindequist (b. 26 August 1879 in Berlin; d. 15 March 1945 at Gut Woitzel, Labesschen Kreis, Westpommern; murdered on his estate by the Red Army), son of Generalfeldmarschall Oskar von Lindequist; two children:
      • Olof "Ulle" Gustav Oskar (b. 15 December 1907 in Charlottenburg; 27 August 1944 in Montélimar, France), Lieutenant Colonel of the Wehrmacht; ∞ Potsdam 1 October 1943 Alice Olga Herta von Chappuis, one child
      • Angelika (b. 2 September 1909 in Potsdam; d. 19 December 1995 in Greifswald); ∞ Potsdam 10 February 1935 Rudolf Petershagen (1901–1969), Colonel and Kampfkommandant of Greifswald (1945) in WWII
  • Frieda Margarete Elisabeth Bodine (b. 28 July 1884 in Bornstedt)
    • ∞ Berlin 14 August 1909 Hauptmann a. D. Karl Friedrich Wilhelm Ludwig von dem Hagen, later farmer in British Columbia, o¦o Berlin 20 November 1916; one child
    • ∞ Berlin 17 February 1917 Oberleutnant (later Hauptmann) Hugo Koslik[6]
  • Elisabeth Margarete Antonie Charlotte (b. 24 February 1893 in Potsdam; d. 1980), artist, painter
  • Wilhelm Viktor (b. 29 January 1899 in Potsdam; 1945)

Katharina von Borstell

On 29 April 1917[7] in Berlin-Wilmersdorf, widower Generaloberst von Kessel married Katharina Alexandra von Borstell (b. 16 March 1878 at Gut Groß-Schwarzlosen, Landkreis Stendal; d. 2 July 1951 in Stendal),[8] head of the officers' convalescent home in Mitau.

Promotions

  • 1.5.1864 Grenadier und Avantageur (Officer Candidate)
  • 11.10.1865 Sekonde-Lieutenant (2nd Lieutenant)

German Empire

  • 22.3.1872 Premier-Lieutenant (1st Lieutenant)
  • 18.2.1878 Hauptmann (Captain)
  • 22.3.1885 Major
  • 13.8.1889 Oberst-Lieutenant (Lieutenant Colonel)
  • 18.10.1891 Oberst (Colonel)
  • 21.3.1896 Generalmajor
  • 25.3.1899 Generalleutnant
  • 29.5.1903 General der Infanterie
  • 27.1.1911 Generaloberst

Awards, decorations and honours

  • Commemorative Cross for the Campaign of 1866 (Erinnerungs-Kreuz für den Feldzug von 1866)
  • Imperial Russian Sankt-Stanislaus-Orden, III. Class (RSt3)
  • Iron Cross (1870), 2nd Class
  • War Commemorative Medal of 1870–1871 (Kaiserliche Kriegsdenkmünze 1870/71; KD70/71) with one, later three battle clasps
  • Red Eagle Order (Roter Adlerorden), 4th Class (PRAO4/PrA4)
  • Order of Albert the Bear, Knight Cross 1st Class (AAB3a/AB3a)
  • Saxe-Ernestine House Order, Knight Cross 1st Class (HSEH3a/HSH3a)
  • Prussian Long Service Cross for 25 years (Königlich Preußisches Dienstauszeichnungskreuz; DA)
  • Princely House Order of Hohenzollern (Fürstlich Hohenzollern'sches Ehrenzeichen), Cross of Honour III. Class (HEK3)
  • Order of the Cross of Takovo (Serbia), Commander (ST3)
  • Order of Charles III (Spain), Knight (SC3)
  • Baden Order of the Zähringer Lion (Orden vom Zähringer Löwen), Knight's Cross I. Class (BZL3a/BZ3a)
  • Knight's Cross of the Italian Order of Saints Maurice and Lazarus (JMuL5/JM5)
  • Order of Isabella the Catholic, Commander 2nd Class (SJ2b)
  • Friedrichs-Orden, Commander's Cross (Kommenturkreuz) 2nd Class (WF2b)
  • Military Merit Order (Bavaria), Knight's Cross I. Class (BMV3a)
  • Order of Saint Michael (Bavaria), Commander (BStMV2b/BM2b)
  • Order of the White Falcon (Hausorden vom Weißen Falken), Commander's Cross (GSF2)
  • Commemorative plaque for the royal princes, general adjutants and adjutants of Friedrich III (Gedenkzeichen für die Königlichen Prinzen, Generaladjutanten und Flügeladjutanten von Kaiser Friedrich III.)
  • Prussian Order of the Crown (Preußischer Kronenorden), 3rd Class
  • House Order of Hohenzollern, Knight's Cross (HOH3)
  • Bavarian Military Merit Order, Commander's Cross (BMV2b)
    • since ranking list 1906 renamed Military Merit Order II. Class (BMV2)
  • Baden Order of the Zähringer Lion, Commander 2nd Class (BZL2b/BZ2b) in 1888
  • Albrechts-Orden of Saxony, Commander 2nd Class (SA2b)
  • Swedish Order of the Sword, Commander 2nd Class (SS2b) on 27 July 1888
  • Danish Order of Dannebrog, Commander 1st Class (DD2a) on 30 July 1888
  • Lippe House Order (Fürstlich Lippischer Hausorden), Cross of Honour (Ehrenkreuz) 2nd Class (LH.EK2/LH2)
  • Order of the Iron Crown (Austria), 2nd Class (ÖEK2)
  • Russian Order of Saint Anna (St.-Annen-Orden), II. Class (RA2)
  • Order of the Redeemer (Greece), Commander (GE2b)
  • Order of the Crown of Italy, Commander (JK3)
  • Ottoman Medschidie-Orden (Medjidie-Orden), 2nd Class (TM2)
  • Red Eagle Order, 3rd Class with the Bow
  • Order of Henry the Lion (Herzoglich Braunschweigischer Orden Heinrichs des Löwen), Commander's Cross 2nd Class (BrHL2b/BrH2b)
  • Order of Leopold (Belgium), Officer (BL2b)
  • Royal Norwegian Order of Saint Olav, Commander II. Class (NO2b) on 2 July 1890
  • Saxe-Ernestine House Order, Commander 2nd Class (HSEH2b/HSH2b)
  • Württemberg Order of the Crown, Commander (WK2/WK2b)
  • Order of the Lion of the Netherlands, Commander (NL2)
  • Austrian-Hungarian Imperial Order of Leopold, Commander (ÖL2) in 1891
  • Order of the Star of Romania, Commander (StvRum2b/RumSt2b/RumSt3)
  • Prussian Order of the Crown, 2nd Class
  • House Order of the Wendish Crown (Hausorden der Wendischen Krone), Grand Commander (MWK2a/MK2a)
  • Star to his Commander's Cross of the Order of the White Falcon (GSF2mSt)
  • Italian Order of Saints Maurice and Lazarus, Commander (JMuL3/JM3)
  • Franz-Joseph-Orden, Commander with Star (ÖFJ2mSt/ÖFJ2a) in 1892
  • Swedish Order of the Sword, Commander 1st Class (SS2a)
  • Princely House Order of Hohenzollern (Fürstlich Hohenzollern'sches Ehrenzeichen), Commander's Cross of Honour (HEK2a)
  • Saxe-Ernestine House Order, Commander 1st Class (HSEH2a/HSH2a)
  • Crown to his Red Eagle Order 3rd Class with the Bow
  • Albrechts-Orden of Saxony, Commander 1st Class (SA2a)
  • Anniversary Oak Leaves (Jubiläums-Eichenlaub „25“ 1870/1895) to the Iron Cross 2nd Class
  • House and Merit Order of Peter Frederick Louis, Ehren-Großkomturkreuz or Grand Commanders Cross (OV2a)
  • Russian Order of Saint Stanislaus, 1st Class (RSt1)
  • Red Eagle Order, 2nd Class with Oak Leaves and the Crown
  • Prussian Centenary Medal 1897 (Zentenarmedaille)
  • Grand Cross of the Mecklenburg Order of the Griffon (MGrO1/MG1)
  • The Most Noble Order of the Crown of Siam (Orden der Siamesischen Krone), Grand Cross (SK1)
  • Star to his Prussian Order of the Crown 2nd Class
  • House Order of Hohenzollern, Commander's Cross (HOH2)
  • Silver medal affiliated with the Ottoman Order of Imtiaz (TNJmsM/TsM)
  • Gold medal affiliated with the Ottoman Order of Imtiaz (TNJmgM/TgM)
  • Ottoman Medschidie-Orden (Medjidie-Orden), 1st Class (TM1)
  • Order of Isabella the Catholic, Grand Cross (SJ1) on 7 November 1889
  • Order of the Redeemer (Greece), Grand Cross (GE1)
  • Star to his Red Eagle Order 2nd Class with Oak Leaves and the Crown
  • Order of the White Falcon (Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach), Grand Cross (GSF1)
  • Order of the Crown of Italy, Grand Cross (JK1)
  • Order of the Iron Crown (Austria), 1st Class (ÖEK1) in 1888
  • Russian Order of Saint Anna (St.-Annen-Orden), 1st Class (RA1)
  • Ottoman Osmanie-Orden (Osmanije), 1st Class with Diamonds (TO1mBr/TürkO1m.Br)
  • Prussian Order of the Crown, 1st Class
  • Royal Victorian Order, Honorary Grand Cross (GV1) on 18 January 1901
  • Order of Orange-Nassau, Grand Cross (NN1)
  • Red Eagle Order, 1st Class with Oak Leaves and the Crown
  • Albrechts-Orden of Saxony, Grand Cross (SA1)
  • Japanese Order of the Sacred Treasure, 1st Class (JZ1)
  • Italian Order of Saints Maurice and Lazarus, Grand Cross (JMuL1/JM1)
  • Imperial Persien Order of the Lion and the Sun, Grand Cross with Diamonds (PL1mBr)
  • Princely House Order of Hohenzollern, Cross of Honour 1st Class (HEK1)
  • Belgian Order of Leopold, Grand Cordon (BelgL1/BL1)
  • Russian Order of the White Eagle (RWA)
    • with this, he also received the highest class of all subordinated orders.
  • Order of Albert the Bear, Grand Cross (AAB1/AB1)
  • Red Eagle Order, Grand Cross with Oak Leaves and the Crown
  • House Order of the Wendish Crown, Grand Cross with the Crown in Gold (MWK1b/MK1b)
  • Gold Star to his Albrechts-Orden of Saxony Grand Cross (SA1mgSt)
  • Bulgarian Order of Saint Alexander, Grand Cross (BA1)
  • House Order of Hohenzollern, Star of the Commander
  • Saxe-Ernestine House Order, Grand Cross (HSH1)
  • Austrian-Hungarian Imperial Order of Leopold, Grand Cross (ÖL1) in 1905
  • Swedish Order of the Sword (Schwertorden), Grand Cross (SS1) in 1905
  • Order of Prince Danilo I, Knight Grand Cross (MU1)
  • Commemorative Badge for the Silver Wedding Anniversary in 1906 (Erinnerungszeichen zur Silbernen Hochzeit 1906)
  • Danish Order of Dannebrog, Grand Cross (DD1) on 19 November 1906
  • Royal Norwegian Order of Saint Olav, Grand Cross (NO1) on 15 December 1906
  • Spanish Cross of Military Merit, 4th Class or Grand Cross (SMV4)
  • Order of Berthold the First, Grand Cross (BBI.1) in 1908
  • Black Eagle Order (Schwarzer Adlerorden) with the Chain
  • Chain (Kette) to his Swedish Schwertorden Grand Cross (SS1mK)
  • Bavarian Military Merit Order, Grand Cross (BMV.G.Kr)
  • Württemberg Order of the Crown, Grand Cross (WK1)
  • Japanese Order of the Rising Sun, 1st Class (JV1)
  • Order of Alexander Nevsky with Diamonds (RANmBr)
  • House and Merit Order of Peter Frederick Louis, Ehren-Großkreuz or Grand Cross (OV1)
  • Chinese Order of the Double Dragon, 1st Class, 3rd Grade (CDI.3)
  • Prussian House Order of Hohenzollern, Grand Commander's Cross
  • Order of Saint Hubert (BH)
  • Order of Military Merit (Bulgaria), Grand Cross with Diamonds (BMO1mBr)

WWI

  • Iron Cross, 2nd Class repetition clasp (1914) to the EK II (1870)
  • Iron Cross (1914), 1st Class
  • Verdienstkreuz für Kriegshilfe (VK)
  • Lippe-Detmold War Merit Cross (Lippisches Kriegsverdienstkreuz; LK)
  • Swords to his Princely House Order of Hohenzollern Cross of Honour 1st Class (HEK1⚔)
  • Swords to his Bavarian Military Merit Order Grand Cross (BMV G.Kr.⚔/BMV.G.Kr⚔)
  • Swords to his Württemberg Order of the Crown Grand Cross (WK1⚔)

Honours

  • Chef (Colonel-in-Chief) of the Infanterie-Regiment „Graf Tauentzien von Wittenberg“ (3. Brandenburgisches) Nr. 20

Gallery

Writings

  • Geschichte des Königlich Preußischen Ersten Garde-Regiments zu Fuß 1857–1871 unter Fortsetzung der Personalnotizen bis zum Jahre 1880, Mittler und Sohn, Berlin 1881

References

  1. Sterberegister StA Grunewald-Forst Nr. 19/1918
  2. Heerstraße gave its name to the Heerstraße estate district (Gutsbezirk Heerstraße), which was formed in 1914 in the Teltow district from the northern part of the existing Grunewald-Forst estate district. The Heerstraße estate district included the residential areas on both sides of the Heerstraße between the Stossensee bridge and the Heerstraße station as well as today's Olympic grounds and Ruhleben. It was incorporated into the newly created Greater Berlin in 1920 with its then 773 inhabitants and was merged into the former districts of Charlottenburg and Spandau.
  3. Gothaisches Genealogisches Taschenbuch der Adeligen Häuser, 1903, p. 428–429
  4. Gothaisches Genealogisches Taschenbuch der Uradeligen Häuser, 1911, p. 362
  5. Action of Königinhof, 29 June 1866
  6. Hugo Koslik served as Leutnant in the Infanterie-Regiment „von Winterfeldt“ (2. Oberschlesisches) Nr. 23, was trained as an observer of the Fliegertruppe in WWI (Feldflieger-Abteilung Nr. 16 and Feldflieger-Abteilung Nr. 45), received the EK II and I as well as the Knight's Cross 2nd Class with Swords of theSachsen-Ernestinischer Hausorden in 1915. On 22 March 1915, he was promoted to Oberleutnant, and on 22 March 1918 to Hauptmann. In the summer of 1918, there was a Hauptmann Koslik who served as temporary commander of first FAA 204, then FA 26 before he took over the command of the Saxon FAA 250.
  7. Heiratsregister StA Wilmersdorf Nr. 243/1917
  8. Katharina von Borstell