Prussian Field Marshal. Graf zu Dohna-Schlobitten. He was born into a noble family in East Prussia. He joined the Prussian Army in 1793 and was selected as an officer cadet in 1798 and commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the 6th Dragoon Regiment "von Werther" in 1800. He was a follower of von Scharnhorst during the Prussian Reforms of the early 1800 and married his daughter in 1809. After the defeat of Prussia by Napoleon, he took service, as many Prussian officers did, with Russia to continue the fight. As a Major in the 2nd Hussars Regiment of the Russian-German Legion, he took part in the Napoleonic Wars, fighting in many major battles, and was awarded the Iron Cross Second Class for his actions at the Battle of Wavre during the Hundred Days. Upon the overthrow of Napoleon, he returned to Prussian service and became commander of the 8th Uhlan Regiment in 1815 (which was named in his honor in 1845). In 1820, he was given command of the 14th Cavalry Brigade and was promoted to Major General two years later. In 1832, he took over the 16th Division and was promoted to Lieutenant General in 1835. His final two posts were commander of the II Army Corps in Stettin in 1839 and I Army Corps in Koenigsberg in 1842. He retired in 1854 and was given the rank of Field Marshal at that time. Among his honors were the Pour le Merite with Crown, the Red Eagle Order, and the Russian Alexander Nevsky Order medals and he was a member of and the chancellor of the Order of the Black Eagle. A major fortification tower in Koenigsberg was named the Dohna Tower in his honor. He is buried in the von Scharnhorst family plot.
Prussian Field Marshal. Graf zu Dohna-Schlobitten. He was born into a noble family in East Prussia. He joined the Prussian Army in 1793 and was selected as an officer cadet in 1798 and commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the 6th Dragoon Regiment "von Werther" in 1800. He was a follower of von Scharnhorst during the Prussian Reforms of the early 1800 and married his daughter in 1809. After the defeat of Prussia by Napoleon, he took service, as many Prussian officers did, with Russia to continue the fight. As a Major in the 2nd Hussars Regiment of the Russian-German Legion, he took part in the Napoleonic Wars, fighting in many major battles, and was awarded the Iron Cross Second Class for his actions at the Battle of Wavre during the Hundred Days. Upon the overthrow of Napoleon, he returned to Prussian service and became commander of the 8th Uhlan Regiment in 1815 (which was named in his honor in 1845). In 1820, he was given command of the 14th Cavalry Brigade and was promoted to Major General two years later. In 1832, he took over the 16th Division and was promoted to Lieutenant General in 1835. His final two posts were commander of the II Army Corps in Stettin in 1839 and I Army Corps in Koenigsberg in 1842. He retired in 1854 and was given the rank of Field Marshal at that time. Among his honors were the Pour le Merite with Crown, the Red Eagle Order, and the Russian Alexander Nevsky Order medals and he was a member of and the chancellor of the Order of the Black Eagle. A major fortification tower in Koenigsberg was named the Dohna Tower in his honor. He is buried in the von Scharnhorst family plot.
Bio by: Kenneth Gilbert
Family Members
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