Hans von Plessen | |
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![]() Generaloberst von Plessen in 1914 | |
Born | 26 November 1841 Berlin-Spandau, Kingdom of Prussia |
Died | 28 January 1929 Potsdam, Germany | (aged 87)
Allegiance | |
Years of service | 1861–1918 |
Rank | ![]() |
Commands held |
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Battles/wars | Second Schleswig War Austro-Prussian War Franco-Prussian War World War I |
Awards |
Hans Georg Hermann von Plessen (26 November 1841 – 28 January 1929) was a Prussian Colonel General with the rank of Generalfeldmarschall and Canon of Brandenburg. He held the office of His Majesty's Orderly Adjutant General (German: SM diensttuender Generaladjutant) to Kaiser Wilhelm II, thus making him one of the Emperor's closest confidants. During World War I he simultaneously served as Commandant of the Imperial Grand Headquarters.[1]
By 1918 he was the oldest serving officer in the Imperial German Army, although Paul von Hindenburg falsely claimed this for himself.[2] Von Plessen also was a recipient of the Pour le Mérite, Germany's highest military honor. He remained devoted to the Kaiser until the collapse of the monarchy in November, 1918.[1]
Hans von Plessen was born in 1841 as the son of General Hermann von Plessen.[3] He joined the military in 1861 as an officer cadet. He was on duty during the Second Schleswig War but didn't participate in the war, serving in the Rhineland as a Second-Lieutenant. During the Austro-Prussian War he fought in the Battle of Königgrätz. As a brigade adjutant, Plessen served in the Franco-Prussian War and participated in the Loire Campaign and the Battle of Le Mans. After the war he became a general staff officer. In 1872 he was promoted to Hauptmann. Plessen married Elisabeth von Langenbeck in January 1874, a marriage resulting in two sons. Elisabeth was the daughter of Bernhard von Langenbeck.[4] In 1877, Plessen then became a staff officer in the 1st Guards Infantry Division under Alexander August Wilhelm von Pape. In 1879 Plessen was promoted to Major and in December became an aide-de-camp of German Emperor Wilhelm I. In 1885 Plessen became an Oberstleutnant. In 1888, Plessen became the commander of the 1st Foot Guards, being promoted to Oberst on 4 August 1888.
He was made a Generalmajor on 9 February 1891 and received command of the 55th Infantry Brigade. In 1892 he became an adjutant general to Emperor Wilhelm II. He was promoted to Generalleutnant in 1894 and to General der Infantrie in 1899. In 1907, Plessen replaced Berhard von Werder as largely ceremonial head of the Mounted Feldjäger Corps, a company-strength unit of officers serving as couriers. In 1908, he received the rank of Generaloberst. During World War I Plessen continued to serve as adjutant general and was Commandant of the Imperial Grand Headquarters in the field. He was awarded the prestigious Pour le Mérite on 24 March 1918.[5] On 17 November 1918, after accompanying the emperor into exile, he was retired with the rank of Generaloberst mit dem Range als Generalfeldmarschall.