Konstantin Heinrich Schmidt von Knobelsdorf
(13.12.1860 - 01.09.1936)
place of birth:  Frankfurt an der Oder, Brandenburg
Königreich Preußen:  KG,  General der Infanterie


Prussian general Schmidt von Knobelsdorf served on the Western Front as Crown Prince Wilhelm's 5. Armee Chief of Staff for the first two years of the Great War. He had been the Crown Prince's military mentor during peacetime and was the de facto field commander of 5. Armee-Oberkommando. Awarded the Pour le Merite in 1915 for distinguished service during the fighting at Maison de Champagne, Schmidt's name is forever linked to Verdun, where he pushed for victory at all costs. This stance lead to several flare-ups with the Crown Prince.

Schmidt von Knobelsdorf was transferred in August 1916 to the Eastern Front where he replaced Walther Freiherr von Lüttwitz as commander of X. Armee-Korps headquarters. His corps was based at Stochod, where they engaged the Russians in the Battle of Kowel and the Brusilov Offensive. When that front was somewhat settled by the end of the year, X. Armee-Korps was transferred to the Alsace region of the Western Front where they fought as part of General von Gündell's Armee-Abteilung B. This situation devolved into trench warfare, but Schmidt was nonetheless promoted to General der Infanterie just prior to Armistice. He lead his troops back to their corps headquarters in Hannover and retired from active duty in September 1919.

"I've entrusted to you command of the Fifth Army.  Lt. General Schmidt von Knobelsdorf will accompany you as chief of staff...what he tells you, you must do."

Kaiser Wilhelm II  -  August 1914
* instructions to his son Crown Prince Wilhelm
     
     
General der Infanterie  18.10.1918

Pour le Mérite  17.10.1915  (Eichenlaub:  21.08.1916)
 
 
 

  
 
Curriculum Vitae
   
15.04.1878 Sekonde-Lieutenant
15.04.1878 4. Magdeburgisches Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 67 - Braunschweig
22.03.1881 Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 98 - Brandenburg a. H.
31.07.1881 Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 98 - Brandenburg a. H.  (Bn Adjutant)
00.00.1884 Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 98 - Metz  (Rgt HQ relocated)
01.10.1884 Preußische Kriegsakademie - Berlin  (Student at Royal Prussian War College)
20.07.1887 Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 98 - Metz  (return from War College)
16.08.1887 Premier-Lieutenant
12.07.1889 Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 98 - Metz  (Rgt Adjutant)
01.04.1890 Großer Generalstab - Berlin  (detached to Prussian Great General Staff HQ)
16.02.1892 Großer Generalstab, Nebenetat - Berlin  (detached to Great General Staff HQ Nebenetat, à l.s. IR-98)
29.03.1892 Hauptmann
29.03.1892 Großer Generalstab, Nebenetat - Berlin  (detached to Great General Staff HQ Nebenetat, à l.s. Gen Staff of the Army)
14.02.1895 4. Garde-Regiment zu Fuß - Berlin  (Coy Cdr)
22.03.1897 Königlich Preußische Kaiser Wilhelm-Erinnerungs-Medaille (Zentenarmedaille)
20.05.1897 Generalstab der Armee - Berlin  (assigned to General Staff of the Army)
20.05.1897 2. Infanterie-Division - Königsberg  (detailed as Stünzner's First General Staff Officer Ia)
01.04.1898 Major
03.07.1899 IX. Armee-Korps - Altona  (detailed as Massow's First General Staff Officer Ia)
17.04.1901 1. Hannoversches Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 74 - Hannover  (Bn Cdr)
15.04.1903 Königlich Preußischer Dienstauszeichnungskreuz für Offiziere - 25-jähriger
31.05.1904 Generalstab der Armee - Berlin  (assigned to General Staff of the Army)
31.05.1904 X. Armee-Korps - Hannover  (detailed as provisional Chief of Staff)
15.11.1904 Oberstleutnant
15.11.1904 X. Armee-Korps - Hannover  (detailed as Stünzner's Chief of Staff)
27.02.1906 Königlich Preußisches Erinnerungszeichen zur Silbernen Hochzeit 1906
14.04.1907 Oberst
31.07.1908 4. Garde-Regiment zu Fuß - Koblenz  (Cdr)
27.01.1911 Rang eines Brigade-Kommandeurs
27.01.1911 Garde-Korps - Berlin  (Löwenfeld's Chief of Staff)
20.03.1911 Generalmajor
19.11.1912 Generalstab der Armee, Oberquartiermeister - Berlin  (Senior Quartermaster of the General Staff, concurrent with below)
23.12.1912 Studien-Kommission der Kriegsakademie  (War Academy Advisory Panel)
27.01.1914 Generalleutnant  =  Exzellenz
   
Great War
   
02.08.1914 5. Armee-Oberkommando  (Crown Prince Wilhelm's Chief of Staff)
00.00.1914 das Königlich Preußische Eiserne Kreuz 1914 - 2. Klasse
00.00.1914 das Königlich Preußische Eiserne Kreuz 1914 - 1. Klasse
01.08.1915 Heeresgruppe Deutscher Kronprinz  (Crown Prince Wilhelm's Chief of Staff)
17.10.1915 Orden Pour le Mérite
21.08.1916 das Eichenlaub zum Orden Pour le Mérite
21.08.1916 X. Armee-Korps  (Cdr, replaced Lüttwitz)
18.10.1918 General der Infanterie
11.11.1918 Waffenstillstand von Compiègne  (Armistice)
30.09.1919 zur Disposition gestellt
   
   
 

06.05.1914
 

 

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