Gottlieb Ferdinand Albert Alexis Graf von Haeseler
(19.01.1836 - 25.10.1919)
place of birth:  Harnekop bei Wriezen, Brandenburg
Königreich Preußen:  Generalfeldmarschall z.D. (Kav)


Imperial German count and field marshal Graf von Haeseler began his military career in 1853 as a Sekonde-Lieutenant with the Ziethen-Hussar regiment in Rathenow. He first went into battle during the Second Schleswig War of 1864, serving as adjutant in Prince Friedrich Karl's 3. Armee headquarters. Two years later he saw action during the Austro-Prussian War of 1866, this time serving on the general staff of Prince Friedrich Karl's 1. Armee headquarters. Major von Haeseler went into battle a third time during the Franco-Prussian War of 1870-71, once again working as a general staff officer with Prince Friedrich Karl's 2. Armee Supreme Command. He remained in Paris for three years after the war, assigned as Senior Quartermaster with Germany's Army of Occupation. For his leadership during this time, Haeseler was decorated with the highest Royal Prussian order of bravery, the
Pour le Mérite.

Returning to peace-time Germany, Oberst-Lieutenant von Haeseler was placed in command of Ulanen-Regiment Nr. 11, a unit which would in 1899 carry his name when Haeseler was named its Chef. He commanded at the brigade and division level from 1880 through 1889 and was later promoted to General der Kavallerie and selected to head up the newly-formed XVI. Armee-Korps headquartered in Metz. In 1897, he was decorated with Prussia's highest order of chivalry, the Schwarzer Adler-Orden (Order of the Black Eagle.) In 1903, Generaloberst von Haeseler celebrated 50 years of military service and retired from active duty at 67 years of age. Remaining on the Prussian Army Seniority List (Dienstaltersliste,) he was promoted in retirement to the rank of Generalfeldmarschall.

Even though Field Marshal von Haeseler reported for active duty when Germany mobilized in August 1914, the 78-year old would never receive a war-time command. Instead, he acted as senior military advisor to the otherwise capable XVI. Armee-Korps commander Bruno von Mudra, accompanying his old corps into battle at the Argonne. During the spring of 1916, he broke both wrists when he fell inside his headquarters office. He was shipped back to Germany on convalescent leave and was never to return to France. At the age of 80, Haeseler and Erich von Falkenhayn were the chief architects of the 1916 campaign to capture the fortresses at Verdun. He was known for his extreme industriousness, even into his latter years of life. Field Marshal Graf von Haeseler died on 25 October 1919 at his estate in Harnekop bei Wriezen. 

	Generalfeldmarschall	01.01.1905
	Kriegs-Denkmünze	Deutsch-Dänischer Krieg  1864
	Erinnerungs-Kreuz	Deutscher Krieg  1866
	Eisernes Kreuz I	Deutsch-Französischer Krieg  1870–1871
	Pour le Mérite	19.01.1873   (22.03.1915:  Eichenlaub)
	Schwarzer Adler	10.09.1897  (23.05.1903:  Brillanten)
	Verdst-Ord Bayr-Krone	00.05.1903  Großkreuz