Hans Karl von Diebitsch

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Graf

Hans Karl von Diebitsch
Ivan Ivanovitch Dibich by George Dawe - Hermitage.jpg
Portrait by George Dawe in the Military Gallery of the Winter Palace[1]
Born13 May 1785
Groß Leipe, Lower Silesia, Kingdom of Prussia
Died10 June 1831(1831-06-10) (aged 46)
Kleszewo, Kingdom of Poland
Allegiance Russian Empire
Service/branchArmy
Years of service1801–1831
RankField marshal
Battles/warsWar of the Third Coalition

War of the Fourth Coalition

French invasion of Russia

War of the Sixth Coalition

Russo-Turkish War (1828–29)

November Uprising

AwardsOrder of St. George
Pour le Mérite
Order of the Red Eagle
Order of St. Vladimir
Order of Saint Anna
Order of Saint Alexander Nevsky
Order of Leopold (Austria)
Kulm Cross
Gold Sword for Bravery
Order of the White Eagle
Military Order of Maria Theresa

Hans Karl Friedrich Anton Graf[2] von Diebitsch und Narten (Russian: Ива́н Ива́нович Ди́бич-Забалка́нский, tr. Iván Ivánovič Díbič-Zabalkánskij; 13 May 1785 – 10 June 1831) was a German-born soldier serving as Russian field marshal.

Career[]

Hans Karl was educated at the Berlin cadet school, but by the desire of his father, Frederick II's aide-de-camp who had passed into the service of Russia, he also did the same in 1801. He served in the campaign of 1805, and was wounded at Austerlitz, fought at Eylau and Friedland, and after Friedland was promoted captain.[3]

During the next five years of peace he devoted himself to the study of military science, engaging once more in active service in the War of 1812. He distinguished himself very greatly in Wittgenstein's campaign, and in particular at Polotsk (18 and 19 October), after which combat he was raised to the rank of major-general. In the latter part of the campaign he served against the Prussian contingent of General Yorck (von Wartenburg), with whom, through Clausewitz, he negotiated the celebrated convention of Tauroggen, serving thereafter with Yorck in the early part of the German Campaign of 1813.[3]

After the battle of Lützen (1813) he served in Silesia and took part in negotiating the secret treaty of Reichenbach. Having distinguished himself at the battles of Dresden and Leipzig he was promoted lieutenant-general. At the crisis of the campaign of 1814 he strongly urged the march of the allies on Paris; and after their entry the emperor Alexander conferred on him the order of St Alexander Nevsky.[3]

In 1815 he attended the Congress of Vienna, and was afterwards made adjutant-general to the emperor, with whom, as also with his successor Nicholas, he had great influence. By Nicholas he was created baron, and later count. In 1820 he had become chief of the general staff, and in 1825 he assisted in suppressing the Decembrist revolt.[3]

His greatest exploits were in the Russo-Turkish War of 1828–1829, which, after a period of doubtful contest, was decided by Diebitsch's brilliant campaign of Adrianople; this won him the rank of field-marshal and the victory title of Zabalkanski to commemorate his crossing of the Balkans.[3]

In 1830 he was appointed to command the great army destined to suppress the November Uprising in Poland. After the inconclusive battle of Grochow on 25 February, he won the battle of Ostrołęka on 26 May, but soon afterwards died of cholera at Kleszewo near Pułtusk, on 10 June 1831.[3]

References[]

  1. ^ The State Hermitage. Western European painting. Catalog. 2nd Volume
  2. ^ Regarding personal names: Until 1919, Graf was a title, translated as Count, not a first or middle name. The female form is Gräfin. In Germany since 1919, it forms part of family names.
  3. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e f  One or more of the preceding sentences incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Diebitsch, Hans Karl Friedrich Anton". Encyclopædia Britannica. 8 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 209. Endnotes:
    • (in German) Belmont (Schumberg), Graf Diebitsch (Dresden, 1830);
    • (in German) Strmer, Der Tod des Grafen Diebitsch (Berlin, 1832);
    • (in Russian) Bantych Kamenski, Biographies of Russian Field-Marshals (St Petersburg, 1841)

Further reading[]

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