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Karl
Konstantin Albrecht Leonhard Graf von Blumenthal
(30.07.1810 - 22.12.1900)
place of birth: Schwedt an der Oder, Brandenburg
Königreich Preußen: OBH,
Generalfeldmarschall
Calm and resolute Prussian count and field marshal who was
educated at the military schools of Culm and Berlin, he entered the
Guards as Leutnant in 1827. After serving in the Rhine provinces, he
joined the topographical division of the general staff in 1846. He took
part in 1848 in the suppression of the Berlin riots, and in 1849 was
promoted captain on the general staff. The same year he served on the
staff of General von Bonin in the Schleswig-Holstein Campaign,
and so distinguished himself, particularly at Fredericia,
that he was appointed chief of the staff of the Schleswig-Holstein
Army. In 1850 he was general staff officer of the mobile division under
von Tietzen in Hesse-Cassel. He was sent on a mission to England in
that year (4th class of Red Eagle), and on several subsequent
occasions. Having attained the rank of Oberstleutnant, he was appointed
personal adjutant to Prince Frederick Charles in 1859. In 1860 he
became an Oberst and commanded the 31st Infantry Regiment.
Graf von Blumenthal was chief of the staff of
the III. Army Corps when, on the outbreak of the Danish-Prussian
War of 1864, he was selected as chief of the general staff of
the army against Denmark. He displayed so much ability, particularly at
Duppel and the passage to Alsen
Island, that he was promoted Generalmajor and given the order
Pour le Merite. During the Austro-Prussian
War of 1866, Blumenthal served as Chief of General Staff to
the Crown Prince of Prussia, commanding the 2nd Army. It was upon this
army that the brunt of the fighting fell, and at Königgrätz
it decided the fortunes of the day. On the field of Königgrätz
the crown prince said to his chief of staff, "I know to
whom I owe the conduct of my army," and Blumenthal soon received
promotion to Generalleutnant, as well as the Oak Leaf for his
Pour le Mérite. He was also made a knight of
the Hohenzollern Order. From 1866 to 1870 he commanded the 14th
Infantry Division at Düsseldorf.
During the Franco-Prussian War of
1870-71, Graf von Blumenthal was chief of staff of the 3rd
Army under the crown prince. His soldierly qualities were never more
conspicuous than in the critical days preceding the battle of Sedan,
and his services in the war have been considered as scarcely less
valuable and important than those of von Moltke himself. In 1871
Blumenthal represented Germany at the British maneuvers at Chobham,
and was given the command of the IV. Army Corps at Magdeburg. In 1873
he became a General der Infanterie, and ten years later he was made a
count. In March 1888, Blumenthal was promoted to Generalfeldmarschall,
after which he was in command of the 4th and 3rd Army Inspectorates. He
retired in 1896, and died at Quellendorf near Kothen on the 21st of
December 1900. His father, Captain Ludwig von Blumenthal was killed in
action during the Battle of Dennewitz in 1813.
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