Eduard von Fransecky

Fransecky was born in 1807 in Gedern in a military family. In 1818 he entered a Prussian cadetschool in Potsdam. In 1825 he was commissioned as an ensign in the 16th Infantry regiment stationed in Düsseldorf. Between 1843 and 1857 Fransecky served in the Historical division of the Prussian general staff. He fought in the war against Denmark in 1848, serving in Schleswig.

In 1860 von Fransecky was attached to Oldenburg where he commanded an Oldenburgian infantry regiment. In November 1864 he was promoted to major-general and later to lieutenant-general. He was given command of the 7th Division stationed in Magdeburg. In the Austro-Prussian War he distinguished himself at Münchengrätz and Königgrätz, for which he was given the Pour le Mérite. Between 1867 and 1869 von Fransecky served as inspector of the Saxon army.

In 1870 von Fransecky became the commanding general of the Prussian 2nd Corps. During the Franco-Prussian War the Prussian 2nd Corps was part of the German 2nd army commanded by Prince Friedrich Karl. Fransecky distinguished himself at Gravelotte, where he reached the battlefield after a 16-hour forced march. After Gravelotte, 2nd Corps was part of the troops besieging Metz. After the fall of Metz Fransecky and 2nd Corps were sent to Paris. During the Siege of Paris Fransecky was given command of the troops between Seine and Marne. On 2 December 1870 Ducrot tried to break through the German ring at Villiers but the sortie was stopped by troops under Fransecky.

In January 1871 2nd Corps was detached from the siege and placed under command of Edwin von Manteuffel's newly formed Army of the South. Under Manteuffel's command Fransecky took part in the operations in the Côte-d'Or and Jura against Bourbaki's Armée de l'Est. After Bourbaki's forces were defeated at Pontarlier and forced over the Swiss border, Fransecky was given command of 14th Corps in Strassbourg and awarded the Oak Leaves to his Pour le Mérite on 5 February 1871.

After the war he was given a dotation of 150.000 thaler. In 1879 he was made governor of Berlin. He resigned as governor due to health reasons in 1882. Eduard von Francecky died in 1890 in Wiesbaden.

• Pour le Mérite (20 September 1866) with Oak Leaves added on 5 February 1871
• Order of the Black Eagle (23 November 1882)
• Grand Cross of the Order of the Red Eagle with Oak Leaves and Swords
• Grand Cross of the Military Merit Order (Württemberg)
• Military Merit Order (Bavaria)
• Albert Order (Saxony)

• Howard, Michael, The Franco-Prussian War: The German Invasion of France 1870–1871, New York: Routledge, 2001. ISBN 0-415-26671-8.