Carl Heinrich von Wedel
Carl Heinrich von Wedel | |
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| Born | 12 July 1712 Uckermark, Margraviate of Brandenburg |
| Died | 2 April 1782 Göritz |
| Allegiance |  Prussia |
| Rank | Lieutenant General |
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Carl Heinrich von Wedel (also spelled Wedell; 12 July 1712 – 2 April 1782) was a
In 1760, Wedel was appointed as Frederick's first Minister of War. He came out of retirement to serve in the War of Bavarian Succession in 1778. Wedel received the
Biography
The family Wedel belongs to the Pomeranian nobility. Carl Heinrich Von Wedel was born on 12 July 1712 in the Uckermark, Brandenburg. His father, Georg Wilhelm, was the Uckermark's Superior Court, and owner of the Goritz manor—his mother was Marie Salome of Eichstedt. At fifteen years of age Wedel joined the Prussian military, enlisting as a corporal in the King's Leibregiment (Nr. 6). In 1730 he was promoted to ensign, on 1 March 1735 to second lieutenant. On 23 June 1740, Frederick II appointed him captain and company commander of the Grenadier Guards Battalion (Nr. 6).[1]
Wars of Austrian Succession
Wedel took part in the Silesian Wars, though his regiment did not see battle. Nevertheless, Wedel received on 14 August 1743 a promotion to major in the Infantry Regiment von Kleist (Nr. 26), to which be belonged for the following 14 years. He was wounded in the Battle of Soor in 1745.[1]
Wedel was promoted to lieutenant colonel on 8 September 1751, and awarded the Pour le Mérite on 31 May 1752. He was promoted on 17 June 1755 to the rank of colonel.[1]
Seven Years' War
The first battle experience Wedel's regiment had in the Seven Years' War occurred at the Battle of Prague on 6 May 1757. Six days later, he was appointed regimental commander. He was present at the Battle of Rossbach. At Leuthen, he led his regiment on the difficult march to flank the Austrian left; by 1 p.m. his regiment was in place, and launched its attack. This regiment fulfilled their role with such success that 14 members were awarded the Pour le Mérite.[1][2]
On 5 January 1758 Wedel took over the Infantry Regiment Schultze (Nr. 29), though he moved to the head office of his prior regiment only three weeks later. In the spring he joined the siege corps before Olomouc. Wedel repulsed Laudon's attacks in Littau on 20 June, and in Gundersdorf on 28 June. In September, he was transferred to a corps in the Uckermark to free it from Swedish control.[1]
Frederick II promoted Wedel to
Last years
Wedel subsequently served as Frederick's minister of war.
Frederick's heirs considered Wedel one of the key generals in the establishment of the Prussian state and included his name on the Equestrian statue of Frederick the Great in 1851.[7]
Family
In 1747, Wedel married Friederike Auguste von Bröcker. Their marriage produced four daughters and a son. Two daughters survived to adulthood and married the sons of Wilhelm Gustav von Anhalt-Dessau.[1]
- Caroline Friederike (19 February 1748 – 5 June 1780)[8] ∞ 10 February 1768 to Heinrich Wilhelm von Anhalt (1735–1801)
- Friederike Albertine (17 September 1751 – 8 October 1825) ∞ Karl Philipp von Anhalt (1732–1806)
References
Citations
- ^ Poten, Bernhard von (1896), "Wedell, Karl Heinrich von", Allgemeine Deutsche Biographie(in German), vol. 41, Leipzig: Duncker & Humblot, pp. 410–413
- ISBN 978-1-317-88696-9.
- ISBN 978-0-8018-8920-2.
- ISBN 978-1-4000-6812-8.
- ISBN 978-0-615-75471-0.
- ISBN 978-3-8470-0603-9.
- ^ Denkmal König Friedrichs des Großen. Enthüllt am 31. Mai 1851. Berlin: Verlag der Deckerschen Geheimen Ober-Hofbuchdruckerei. 1851. p. 7.
- ^ Fischbach, Friedrich Ludwig Joseph (1781). Historische politisch-geographisch-statistisch- und militärische Beyträge, die königlich-preußischen und benachbarte Staaten betreffend. Vol. 1. Pauli. p. 274.
Bibliography
- Engelmann, Joachim (1988). Friedrich der Große und seine Generale. Friedberg: Podzun-Pallas. ISBN 978-3-7909-0340-9.
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