Gottlob Georg Heinrich Reinhard Freiherr von Scheffer-Boyadel
(28.03.1851 - 08.11.1925)
place of birth:  Hanau, Kurhessen
Königreich Preußen:  KG,  General der Infanterie z.D.


Prussian baron and General der Infanterie Reinard von Scheffer-Boyadel was reactivated during the First World War to command troops at the corps level. Scheffer entered military service to fight in France during the Franco-Prussian War of 1870-71. He remained with Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 83 in Kassel for the subsequent 13 years. Scheffer moved to Berlin in 1881 to serve with the General Staff of the Army and the Great General Staff, with assignments as a general staff officer to various Prussian division and corps headquarters.

In 1906, Kaiser Wilhelm II. elevated Scheffer into Prussia's baronial peerage, with his name officially modified to Freiherr von Scheffer-Boyadel. Two years later, he was promoted to General der Infanterie and replaced Herzog Albrecht as commander of XI. Armee-Korps headquarters in Kassel. After retiring from active duty in 1913, In 1904, General von Scheffer-Boyadel was decorated with Prussia's highest order of chivalry, the Schwarzer Adler-Orden (Order of the Black Eagle.) He was then reactivated as Germany mobilized for War in order to command the newly-established XXV. Reserve-Korps. Scheffer's soldiers were deployed to the Eastern Front where they distinguished themselves during the Battle of Lodz. Although his command became encircled by the Russians at Brzeziny, they fought their way out to the German side of the line while capturing 16,000 prisoners and 64 artillery pieces in the process - one of the most outstanding exploits of the Great War. For his leadership during this campaign, he was decorated in December 1914 with the highest Royal Prussian order of bravery, the Pour le Mérite.

Remaining in the Eastern Theater, the general in 1916 headed up the eponymous Armee-Abteilung Scheffer, formed from XVII. Reserve-Korps. One year later, this same group was re-established as Generalkommando (z.b.V) Nr. 67, which he commanded until the War's end. General von Scheffer-Boyadel was the son of Eduard Scheffer, a councilman in the royal Prussian government. Reinhard was married to the daughter of the great industrialist Carl Adolf Riebeck. As owner of the Burg Brandenstein near Schlüchtern-Elm, Hessia, he had the castle refurbished before selling it to Gustav von Brandenstein in 1895. General Scheffer retired from military service in December 1918 and passed away on his estate on 8 November 1925. 

	General der Infanterie	05.03.1908
	Eisernes Kreuz II	Deutsch-Französischer Krieg  1870–1871
	Schwarzer Adler	08.01.1914
	Pour le Mérite	02.12.1914