Liborius Konstantin Kuno Arndt von Steuben 
(09.04.1855 - 14.01.1935)
place of birth:  Eisenach, Thüringen
Königreich Preußen:  OBH,  General der Infanterie


General der Infanterie Kuno von Steuben served during the Great War as an Imperial German corps commander on the Western Front, and later as a field army commander  in Macedonia. He was distant relative of Friedrich Wilhelm von Steuben, organizer of America's military forces during the Revolutionary War. When Germany mobilized in the summer of 1914, von Steuben was in command of XVIII. Reserve-Korps which was subordinate to Duke Albrecht's 4. Armee during the First Battle of the Marne. Steuben's forces were transferred in 1915 to Crown Prince Wilhelm's 5. Armee, seeing action in the autumn at Champagne, for which he was awarded the Pour le Merite from the Kaiser himself. Steuben's troops were also engaged at Verdun in 1916. In the summer of 1917, he was transferred to Macedonia to replace General Arnold von Winckler as 11. Armee-Oberkommando commander, a position he maintained until war's end.

Kuno Arndt von Steuben was born on 9 April 1855 in Eisenach, Thuringia, which was also the birthplace of Johann Sebastian Bach. Kuno was the eldest son of eight children born to Major General Gottlieb Arndt von Steuben and Julie Antoinette von Tschirschky und Boegendorff. At the tender age of 13, young Kuno entered the Imperial Prussian Military Academy at Oranienstein, transferring three years later to the Imperial Cadet Institute in Berlin. As a newly-commissioned Sekonde-Lieutenant in 1874, he began his military career with Füsilier-Regiment Nr. 39 garrisoned in Düsseldorf. He later married his regimental commander's youngest daughter, Martha Wilhelmine Franziska Wesener. Von Steuben spent a good deal of his peace-time Germany career assigned to the General Staff of the Army where he made a reputation for himself as industrious, conscientious, decisive, yet unassuming.

"...an absolutely splendid chief of staff." Field Marshal Alfred von Schlieffen - Prussian Chief of General Staff (Berlin 1903) "...a remarkably capable leader and divisional commander, certainly destined for a higher level of service." General August von Mackensen - v. Steuben's Corps Cdr (Danzig 1912)

With these qualities, he quickly endeared himself to his superiors in Berlin. He served for four years as Chief of the Military Maneuvers Planning Office, and for three years as Oberquartiermeister, or Senior Quartermaster General. As a career staff officer, von Steuben never commanded at the regimental or brigade level, but when he was promoted lieutenant general in late January 1911, receiving command of the 36th Infantry Division in Danzig, he quickly distinguished himself as a competent front-line strategist.

One year prior to war's breakout, von Steuben was appointed as Director of the Imperial Prussian War Academy in Berlin. This posting typically signified the end of one's career, but Chief of General Staff von Moltke so prized the Generalleutnant's expertise and leadership, that he appealed directly to the Kaiser to have von Steuben temporarily promoted to General der Infanterie so that he would later be transferred to command an army corps. With Germany's general mobilization, this point quickly became moot as was assigned command of XVIII. Reserve-Korps. Along with his Chief of Staff, Fritz von Studnitz, and two divisional commanders, Hermann von Rampacher (21. Reserve-Division) and Alexander Torgany (25. Reserve-Division,) the XVIII. Reserves marched into battle with Duke Albrecht's 4. Armee as it pushed its way to the River Marne. They later saw action at places such as Neufchateau, Tremblois and Charignon. As the War settled into the trenches, Steuben's corps was transitioned to form the right wing of Crown Prince Wilhelm's 5. Armee. The XVIII. Reserves were also engaged in the autumn battles in Champage, for which von Steuben was awarded the Pour le Merite.  Later, during the battle for Verdun, they took part in the September 1916 attack on Fort de Souville.

"...although cold-blooded in battle, he takes a personal interest in each soldier and horse under his command. He thus enjoys great popularity among his subordinates." Crown Prince Wilhelm - Commander Fifth Army (France, June 1915) "...bright and capable, his steady and circumspect leadership was tried and tested through his personal involvement during the many offensive and defensive engagements." Friedrich von Scholtz - Commander Army Group von Scholtz  (Dec 1917)

June 1917 saw von Steuben making his way to the Macedonian Front (Saloniki-Front) where he replaced General Arnold von Winckler as commander of the 11. Armee. This formation was the legacy of Field Marshal August von Mackensen and was comprised of both German and Bulgarian troops. Here von Steuben distinguished himself especially during the final days of the War as a decisive yet prudent leader. He thus earned a deep and genuine respect from his subordinate officers and troops, resulting in the maintenance of a disciplined force even as the hostilities ended in defeat for Germany.

Steuben Coat of Arms

General Kuno von Steuben's three brothers were also high-ranking German officers during the war: Berndt was an Oberst serving with III. Armee-Korps, Ernst was an Oberstleutnant, and Anton was a Generalmajor. Kuno's only son, Arndt Ernst von Steuben, served as a general staff officer with the 1. Garde-Infanterie-Division. After the Armistice was signed in November 1918, von Steuben officially retired from the military. In 1931, he was invited by the U.S. government to represent his family during the 150-year commemoration of the Battle at Yorktown.  Von Steuben died on 14 January 1935 and is interred at the Invaliden-Friedhof in Berlin.

	General der Infanterie	19.08.1914
	Pour le Mérite	13.10.1915