Gustav Emil Bernhard Bodo von Kessel
(06.04.1846 - 28.04.1918)
place of birth:  Potsdam, Brandenburg
Königreich Preußen:  Generaladjutant SM,  Generaloberst


Prussian Generaloberst von Kessel served as adjutant for Kaiser Wilhelm II. during the Great War. Gustav was born the son of Generalmajor Emil von Kessel and his wife Julie von Canstein. Following studies at the Ritterakademie in Liegnitz, he entered the military in 1864 by joining as a grenadier with the 1. Garde-Regiment zu Fuß in his hometown of Potsdam. A couple years later found him engaged with his regiment in the Austro-Prussian War of 1866, where he was wounded during the Battle of Königgrätz. He served as his uncle Colonel Bernhard von Kessel's adjutant while fighting the French in the Franco- Prussian War of 1870/71, again receiving war wounds during the Battle of Gravelotte and St. Privat.

The inter-war period in Prussia provided von Kessel a fast track for his military career, with assignments to Great General Staff headquarters and within Berlin's Garde-Korps. Concurrent with his service time in the Gard-Korps, von Kessel was brought in to the royal house as an adjutant to the future Kaiser Friedrich III.  As aide-de-camp to Friedrich III. during his 99-day reign, von Kessel remained in this posting as Friedrich was succeeded by Kaiser Wilhelm II.  In 1896, von Kessel was appointed the Kaiser's Adjutant General, remaining in the royal adjutancy corps until his death. From 1909 until 1918, General von Kessel headed the Supreme Command of Mark Brandenburg, simultaneously serving as Military Governor of Berlin. He was thus responsible for implementing the military measures needed to quell strikes and social unrest in Berlin in January 1918.
 
General von Kessel was married to Friedrike von Esebeck. They had one daughter, Elisabeth, who became a noted artist. The general passed away in Berlin on 28 May 1918, shortly before hostilities of the Great War were brought to a close. 

	Generaloberst	27.01.1911
	Erinnerungs-Kreuz	Deutscher Krieg  1866
	Eisernes Kreuz II	Deutsch-Französischer Krieg  1870–1871
	Schwarzer Adler	00