Berthier: Friedrich Adolf von Kalckreuth

Command Ratings

Division

4"A(7)+1

Points: 13

Cavalry or Temp Corps

6"A(6)+1

Points: 20

Corps

9"A(6)+1

Points: 26

Small Army

9"A(6)+1

Points: 35

Wing

9"A(6)+1

Points: 35

Medium Army

13"A(6)+1

Points: 47

Large Army

19"A(6)+1

Points: 65

Supreme HQ

19"A(6)+1

Points: 65

Commands

Commands the Left Wing of Prussian Army at Valmy (1792, age 55)
Commands the Reserve Corps of Prussian Army at Auerstadt (1806, age 69)

Friedrich Adolf von Kalckreuth was born at Sottershausen (near Sangerhausen) and entered Prussian military service in the regiment of the Gardes du Corps in 1752. During the Seven Years’ War he served as an adjutant to Prince Henry of Prussia from 1758 and was promoted to Major in 1762. In 1767 he was transferred to East Prussia. He took part in the War of the Bavarian Succession as a colonel, and in 1786 he was raised to the comital rank. In 1787 he served in the Prussian expedition to the Netherlands and subsequently continued in senior commands as Prussia entered the Revolutionary Wars.

In the War of the First Coalition, Kalckreuth served under the Duke of Brunswick in the 1792 campaign in France and took part in operations culminating at Valmy. He held senior responsibilities on the Rhine in 1793, including the siege and capitulation of Mainz (July 1793), for which he received the Order of the Black Eagle. He continued in the western theatre in 1794, including at Kaiserslautern, and in subsequent operations in the Palatinate and on the Saar. From 1796 he held the rank of General der Kavallerie.

During the War of the Fourth Coalition in 1806, Kalckreuth was given command of the reserve of the main Prussian army and was present at Auerstedt. After the campaign he was sent to West Prussia and charged with preparing Danzig for defence. He commanded the fortress during the siege of Danzig, capitulating on 24 May 1807. In July 1807 he was promoted to Generalfeldmarschall and acted as a Prussian plenipotentiary in the peace settlement with France, signing the Treaty of Tilsit (7 July 1807) and related agreements concluded at Königsberg. From 1807 he held a sequence of governorships in Prussian cities; he did not return to operational field command during the campaigns of 1813–1815. He died in Berlin while serving as governor there.

Sources

Com. in 1752; SYW vet.; X rank in 1787; XX rank in 1792; XX 92 Valmy; XX 93 siege of Mainz (W); XX 94 Kaiserslautern; XXX 06 Auerstadt; XX 07 defense of Danzig (2 + months – surrendered 5/24/07) (L). (1737-1818)

Pictures

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