Hans von Plessen

Hans von Plessen
Hans von Plessen
	Generaloberst von Plessen in 1914
Born	26 November 1841; Berlin-Spandau, Kingdom of Prussia
Died	28 January 1929 (aged 87); Potsdam, Germany
Allegiance	Prussia; German Empire;
Years of service	1861–1918
Rank	Generaloberst
Commands held	1. Garde-Regiment zu Fuß; 55. Infanterie-Brigade; 1. Garde-Infanterie-Division; Reitendes Feldjäger Korps; Royal Headquarters of Wilhelm II;
Battles/wars	Second Schleswig War; Austro-Prussian War; Franco-Prussian War
Awards	Order of the Red Eagle; Pour le Mérite;

Hans Georg Hermann von Plessen (26 November 1841 – 28 January 1929) was a Prussian Colonel General (German: Generaloberst) and Canon of Brandenburg who held the honorary rank of Generalfeldmarschall in his role as Commandant of the German General Staff during World War I.[1]

General von Plessen also 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. By 1918 he was the oldest serving officer in the Imperial German Army, although Paul von Hindenburg falsely claimed this for himself.[2] In 1918, von Plessen was awarded 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]

General von Plessen (center) observes Wilhelm II speaking with General Otto von Emmich, victor of the Battle of Liège, 1914

Awards

Order of the Black Eagle, with diamonds and crosses
Order of the Red Eagle, grand cross with oak leaves and swords
Prussian Order of the Crown, first class
Royal House Order of Hohenzollern with swords and crosses
Württemberg Order of the Crown, grand cross[3]
Iron Cross (1870), second Class
Iron Cross (1914), first Class
Pour le Mérite, 24 March 1918
Order of Saint Hubert
Order of the Rautenkrone
Order of the Wendish Crown, grand cross
Order of Leopold, grand cross
Order of the Iron Crown, first class
Order of Franz Joseph, grand cross
Order of Saint Stephen, grand cross with diamonds
Order of Dannebrog, commander first class
Royal Victorian Order
Order of St. Andrew the First-Called
Royal Order of the Seraphim

Plessen was amongst the most highly decorated officers, with a total of 88 national and international medals, including 51 large crosses.[1]

Dates of rank

Fähnrich—1 September 1861
Leutnant—11 November 1862
Oberleutnant—22 March 1868
Hauptmann—16 April 1872
Major—18 May 1879
Oberstleutnant—14 July 1885
Oberst—4 August 1888
Generalmajor—9 February 1891
Generalleutnant—14 May 1894
Generaloberst—19 September 1908
Generaloberst mit dem Rang als Generalfeldmarschall—17 November 1918

References

M. Naumann: Die Plessen. Stammfolge vom XIII. bis XX. Jahrhundert. Limburg an der Lahn: Starke Verlag, 1971]
Hans von Plessen Archived 2012-11-12 at the Wayback Machine at The Prussian Machine, retrieved 08-Aug-2012
Hof- und Staatshandbuch des Königreichs Württemberg 1907, Seite 50

External links

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[naum-1] M. Naumann: Die Plessen. Stammfolge vom XIII. bis XX. Jahrhundert. Limburg an der Lahn: Starke Verlag, 1971]

[machine-2] Hans von Plessen Archived 2012-11-12 at the Wayback Machine at The Prussian Machine, retrieved 08-Aug-2012

[3] Hof- und Staatshandbuch des Königreichs Württemberg 1907, Seite 50