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Karl
Friedrich von Steinmetz
(27.12.1796 - 04.08.1877)
place of birth: Eisenach, Großherzogtum Sachsen-Weimer-Eisenach
Königreich
Preußen: OBH,
Generalfeldmarschall ch.
Prussian field marshal Karl von Steinmetz fought with General
Yorck during the Wars of Liberation. His older
brother was killed at Leipzig, and Steinmetz
himself was wounded more than once. In the battles in France he was decorated
with the
second class of the Iron Cross. During the Danish War at Schleswig,
he distinguished himself to the point that Commander Wrangel remarked
that Steinmetz had "been the decisive factor in the battle." He
distinguished himself again at Düppel, for which he
received the Pour le Merite from Prince
William.
In 1854, Steinmetz was promoted to Generalmajor, but soon thereafter lost his youngest and only child, a
daughter aged twenty-six. In 1857, Steinmetz received divisional
command in I. Armee-Korps, and then shortly thereafter was sent
to command V. Armee-Korps in Posen. He was promoted General der Infanterie
in 1864, and led V. Armee-Korps to the war against Austria in 1866.
In 1866, he was decorated with Prussia's highest order of chivalry, the
Schwarzer Adler-Orden (Order of the Black Eagle.) During the Franco-Prussian War of 1870-71, he
commanded one of the three armies assembled on the Rhine, the other two
led by Prince Friedrich Karl and the Crown Prince. His inability to get
along with Prince Friedrich Karl led to his retirement in April 1871, but the
37th Fusiliers later bore his name as part of their regimental title.
He died on 4 August 1877 in Bad Landeck, Silesia.
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