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Maximilian Felix Christoph Wilhelm Leopold Fürchtegott von Versen
(30.11.1833 - 07.10.1893)
place of birth: Wurchow (Wierzchowo, PL)
Königreich
Preußen: KG, Generaladjutant SM, General der
Cavallerie
Maximilian von Versen was a Prussian army corps commander and adjutant general
during the pre-Great War years. Versen enlisted in 1851 with 1.
Garde-Ulanen-Regiment as a Portepée-Fähnrich, receiving his commission as a
Sekonde-Lieutenant in January 1853. It was with this regiment that he saw his
first military action during the Danish War of 1864 (Deutsch-Dänischer
Krieg). In the Austro-Prussian War of 1866 (Deutscher Krieg), he served
on staff of the Second Army under General Julius von Hartmann. Von Versen was
then decorated with the Pour le Mérite following the signing of the
Peace of Prague treaty (Prager Frieden).
Maximilian von Versen left the army in 1867 and
traveled to South America with the of serving as an advisor to Paraguay in the
War of the Triple Alliance 1864-1870 versus Brazil, Argentina, and
Uruguay. Believing him to be a spy for the Alliance, Paraguay held him as
prisoner for over a year, until he was able to escape to Argentina. He returned
to Prussia and the military service in 1869, ending up with an assignment to the
general staff of 4. Kavallerie-Division as they mobilized for the
Franco-Prussian War of 1870-71
(Deutsch-Französischer Krieg). He was wounded during fighting at Sedan but
returned to action after a short convalescent leave. At war's end, he was
decorated with both classes of the Iron Cross.
In 1874, von
Versen was assigned command of the Thüringensches Husaren-Regiment Nr.
12, and in 1881 he was transferred to command 14. Cavallerie-Brigade in
Düsseldorf. With a promotion to General-Lieutenant on 27 January 1888, he was
assigned a commander of 8. Division in Erfurt and additionally designated
Generaladjutant on 19 June1888 to newly-crowned Kaiser Wilhelm II.
Following a command with Garde-Cavallerie-Division from 1889 to 1890, General
von Versen was succeeded Walther Bronsart von Schellendorff as commander of III.
Armeekorps headquarters in Berlin. He remained in command of the corps until
passing away in October 1893 at the age of 59.
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