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Karl
(Carl) Friedrich Ferdinand Graf von der Goltz
(12.04.1815 - 21.02.1901)
place of birth: Stuttgart
Königreich
Preußen: Div-Kdr, Generaladjutant SM, General der
Cavallerie
General Karl Graf von der Goltz served as a Prussian
cavalry officer and adjutant general prior to the Great War. Born into the home
of Prussian diplomat and General-Lieutenant Karl Friedrich Heinrich Graf von der
Goltz, young Karl enlisted in 1. Kürassier-Regiment in Breslau in 1832,
receiving his commission one year later. In 1844, he was detached to French
Marshal Bugeaud's forces during his campaign in Algeria. Von der Goltz was then
selected as personal adjutant to the Crown Prince (future Kaiser Wilhelm I.) and
accompanied him during the Baden Revolution 1848-1849 (Badische
Revolution).
Generalmajor von der Goltz was named
commander of 14. Kavallerie-Brigade in 1864 and thus led these troops into
battle during both the
Danish War of 1864 (Deutsch-Dänischer Krieg) and the
Austro-Prussian War of 1866 (Deutscher Krieg). Thereafter, he took the
reigns of 19. Cavallerie-Brigade. He was transferred in 1868 to Berlin to head
up Garde-Cavallerie-Division and was in command of this unit during the
Franco-Prussian War of 1870-71. They were engaged in most of the major
battles, including Gravelotte, Sedan, and the siege of Paris. In July 1870, von
der Goltz was promoted to General-Lieutenant and became one Wilhelm I.'s
adjutant generals. He retired from active duty in 1882 but remained part of
Wilhelm's adjutancy until the Kaiser's death in 1888.
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