Franz Martin Chales de Beaulieu
(11.11.1857 - 27.4.1945)
place of birth:  Frankfurt an der Oder, Brandenburg
Königreich Preußen:  KG,  General der Infanterie ch.

General der Infanterie Chales de Beaulieu served as a divisional and corps-level commander during the First World War. He was widely regarded as a first rate officer in the Imperial German military.  Prior to the War, he served on the Great General Staff as a section chief and as an adjutant to Chief of Staff von Schlieffen. He also saw action in German Southwest- Africa in 1904, serving as General von Trotha's Chief of Staff during the Herero Rebellion. Chales had a great falling out with his commander which was focused on Trotha's unapologetic brutality in dealing with the Herero and Nama tribesmen. As a result, Chales ended up returning to Germany prior to most likely receiving an official reprimand.

As Imperial Germany mobilized for the Great War, General Chales de Beaulieu was serving as commander of the 12. Infanterie-Division in Neiße. He and his troops immediately saw action on the Western Front as they fought under the command of Duke Albrecht and the 4. Armee. General Chales was later transferred by OHL to command XIV. Armee-Korps in the Champagne area for about one year before he eventually stepped down from active duty. Kaiser Wilhelm II. awarded him with the Pour le Merite in 1917 in recognition of his exemplary leadership and valor.  Shortly after retiring, Chales was brevetted as General der Infanterie on 3 January 1918.

     
     
General der Infanterie  03.01.1918  (charakter)

Pour le Mérite  05.09.1917  
 
 
 

  
 
Curriculum Vitae
   
25.01.1877 Offizier-Aspirant
25.01.1877 ,,Kaiser Franz” Garde-Grenadier-Regiment Nr. 2 - Berlin
07.08.1877 Portepée-Fähnrich
12.10.1877 Sekonde-Lieutenant
15.10.1881 ,,Kaiser Franz” Garde-Grenadier-Regiment Nr. 2 - Berlin  (Bn Adjutant)
03.08.1884 ,,Kaiser Franz” Garde-Grenadier-Regiment Nr. 2 - Berlin  (Rgt Adjutant)
15.01.1887 Premier-Lieutenant
22.03.1888 Gouvernement der Festung Mainz  (detached as Adjutant to Fortress Mainz, à l.s. GdGR-2)
22.03.1891 3. Garde-Regiment zu Fuß - Berlin
01.04.1891 Großer Generalstab - Berlin  (detached to Great General Staff, from 3GdRzF)
18.10.1891 Hauptmann
18.10.1891 Generalstab der Armee - Berlin  (assigned to General Staff of the Army, Schlieffen's Second Adjutant, à l.s. 3GdRzF)
18.10.1894 ,,Kaiser Franz” Garde-Grenadier-Regiment Nr. 2 - Berlin  (Coy Cdr)
20.05.1896 Generalstab der Armee - Berlin  (assigned to General Staff of the Army)
18.11.1897 Major
16.02.1901 2. Garde-Infanterie-Division - Berlin  (Bn Cdr)
20.08.1902 Generalstab der Armee - Berlin  (assigned to General Staff of the Army, Schlieffen's First Adjutant)
27.01.1904 Großer Generalstab - Berlin  (detailed to Great General Staff)
24.04.1904 Oberstleutnant
24.04.1904 Großer Generalstab - Berlin  (detailed to Great General Staff, Dept Chief)
17.05.1904 Kaiserliche Schutztruppe für Deutsch-Südwestafrika  (Colonial Protection Forces SW Africa, Trotha's Chief of Staff)
09.02.1905 Kaiserliche Schutztruppe für Deutsch-Südwestafrika  (Colonial Protection Forces SW Africa, aggregiert on General Staff)
11.04.1905 Generalstab der Armee - Berlin  (assigned to General Staff of the Army)
11.04.1905 II. Armee-Korps - Stettin  (detailed as Langenbeck's Chief of Staff)
16.10.1906 2. Thüringisches Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 32 - Meiningen  (Cdr)
27.01.1907 Oberst
21.02.1911 74. Infanterie-Brigade - Stettin  (provisional Cdr)
20.03.1911 Generalmajor
20.03.1911 74. Infanterie-Brigade - Stettin  (Cdr)
25.06.1913 Generalleutnant  =  Exzellenz
25.06.1913 12. Infanterie-Division - Neiße  (Cdr, replaced von Eben)
   
Great War
   
02.08.1914 12. Infanterie-Division  (Cdr)
00.00.1914 das Königlich Preußische Eiserne Kreuz 1914 - 2. Klasse
00.00.1914 das Königlich Preußische Eiserne Kreuz 1914 - 1. Klasse
12.08.1916 XIV. Armee-Korps  (replaced Hänisch)
05.09.1917 Orden Pour le Mérite
05.09.1917 Offizier von der Armee  (Officer of the Army)
03.01.1918 General der Infanterie  (charakter)
03.01.1918 Königlich Preußischer Kronen-Orden - 1. Klasse mit Schwertern
03.01.1918 zur Disposition gestellt
11.11.1918 Waffenstillstand von Compiègne  (Armistice)
   
   
 

06.05.1914
 

 

*     *     *