August Wilhelm Karl Graf von Kanitz
(29.10.1783 - 22.05.1852)
place of birth:  Podangen
Königreich Preußen:  Kriegsminister,  Generalleutnant

                            


Imperial Prussian General-Lieutenant August Graf von Kanitz briefly served in 1848 as Prussian Minister of War under King Friedrich Wilhelm IV. Graf von Kanitz began his military career in 1798 and later saw action in the Battle of Jena-Auerstedt of 1806. He also took part in the War of the Sixth Coalition 1813-14 (Befreiungskriege). Afterwards, von Kanitz served as aide-de-camp to Prussian King Friedrich Wilhelm III.  He further progressed in his military career as commander of the 1. Infanterie-Division and 15. Infanterie-Division, as well as provisional commander of Prussia's VIII. Armee-Korps in Koblenz.

In the atmosphere of Europe's so-called March Revolution, Prussian Minister President von Camphausen pushed for Hans von Auerswald to succeed General von Reyher as War Minister. Friedrich Wilhelm IV., however, was instead able to get his preferred candidate Graf von Kanitz to fill the post May 1848. In spite of this, Kanitz soon thereafter was forced to step down along with other members of the Camphausen-Hansemann administration. Kanitz's son Rudolf also served as a general in the Prussian military.