Bernhard Bronsart von Schellendorff
(01.03.1866 - 10.01.1951)
place of birth:  Berlin
Königreich Preußen:  AOK-Stabschef,  Generalmajor (Kav)


Prussian cavalry officer Bernhard Bronsart von Schellendorff served during most of the Great War as a chief of staff, both at the corps and field army levels. Bernhard was the eldest son of Prussian War Minister Walther Bronsart von Schellendorff, who at the time of Bernhard's birth was serving as a Hauptmann at Great General Staff headquarters. Bernhard joined the dragoon regiment in Parchim as a 20-year-old. He spent most of his peace-time career with the General Staff of the Army, with assignments in Berlin, Kassel, Metz, Münster, and Hannover. In 1912, he was placed in command of Dragoner-Regiment Nr. 14 in Colmar, with a follow-on promotion to Oberstleutnant.

At mobilization on 2 August 1914, Bronsart was tasked to serve as General von Schubert's Chief of Staff at XIV. Reserve-Korps headquarters. Attached to the 7. Armee, the XIV. reserves formed part of the far-left wing of Germany's forces as the moved westward through the Vosges Mountains. After about two months of fighting there, the corps was transported north to establish their headquarters near the trenches of Bapaume. In January 1915, the corps was attached to 2. Armee, and Bronsart was re-assigned as Chief of Staff with Armee-Abteilung Gaede and then with General von Zwehl's VII. Reserve-Korps headquartered in the Aisne River sector.

After promotion to Oberst, Bronsart was sent to the Verdun headquarters of Angriffsgruppe West (Combat Group West) to serve as General Max von Gallwitz's Chief of Staff. This formation soon moved to just south of the River Somme sector to conduct defensive actions there; it was for his distinguished service and leadership during this campaign that Oberst Bronsart von Schellendorff was decorated with the highest Royal Prussian order of bravery, the Pour le Mérite. He was then assigned as General von Strantz's right-hand man, but Gallwitz soon recalled him back to Verdun to function as 5. Armee Chief of Staff. In the final months of the War, he served as a brigade commander and was promoted to Generalmajor. In October 1918 he was deployed to Kiev and tasked with command of the newly-formed and independent 93. Reserve-Infanterie-Regiment. After the Armistice, he retired from the military in October 1919 as a Generalmajor. In 1939 he was awarded the brevet rank of Generalleutnant for Tannenberg Remembrance Day. General Bronsart von Schellendorff was married to the Duchess of Hardenburg, with whom he had three sons.

	Generalmajor	20.09.1918
	Militär-St-Heinrich	29.08.1916  Ritter
	Pour le Mérite	16.09.1916