Moltke, Helmuth von (1800–1891)
Helmuth von Moltke (1800–1891) was a prominent Prussian military leader and strategist known for his significant contributions to modern warfare. Initially serving in the Danish military, Moltke joined the Prussian army in 1821 and quickly distinguished himself by attending the War College, where he graduated with distinction. His military career took a notable turn when he was appointed as an adviser to the Sultan of Turkey during a conflict in the 1830s, which garnered him attention from the Prussian royal family.
As a key figure in the Prussian general staff, Moltke implemented reforms that established a highly effective military structure, utilizing innovations such as railroads and telegraphs for troop mobilization. His strategic prowess was evident in the Austro-Prussian War of 1866, where he effectively used railways to secure a swift victory against Austria. This was followed by his leadership in the Franco-Prussian War (1870-1871), where his strategic genius led to the unification of Germany under Prussian leadership.
Later in life, Moltke emphasized the importance of peace and cautioned against military aggression, despite his earlier successes. His innovative concepts in military strategy have had a lasting impact, influencing military operations worldwide.
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Moltke, Helmuth von (1800–1891)
- Born: October 26, 1800
- Birthplace: Parchim, Mecklenberg
- Died: April 24, 1891
- Place of death: Kreisau, Germany
Full name: Helmuth Karl Bernhard von Moltke
Principal wars: Austro-Prussian War, Franco-Prussian War
Principal battles: Könnigrätz (1866), Siege of Metz (1870), Sedan (1870)
Military significance: Moltke was the father of the modern general staff and the architect of Germany’s rise to military dominance. Under his aegis, Germany rose from a collection of small states to the leading power in Europe.
Helmuth von Moltke initially served with the Danish military, but in 1821, he joined the vaunted Prussian army. He attended the War College, 1823–1826, graduated with distinction, and subsequently displayed a flair for writing. In 1833, he was dispatched to Turkey as adviser to Sultan Mahmud during the war with Muhammed Ali of Egypt. On June 24, 1839, Moltke commanded the Turkish artillery during the disgraceful defeat at Nezib but managed to bring off his guns. He later wrote about his experiences, which brought him to the attention of the Prussian royal family. Moltke gained appointment as an aide-de-camp to Prince Frederick (later Frederick III) in 1854, and the following year, he joined the Prussian general staff.
As a staff officer, Moltke brought his considerable military genius to bear and instituted reforms that made his general staff the envy of Europe. He was impressed by the military potential of railroads and telegraphs, and incorporated their usage into army maneuvers. Furthermore, he labored strenuously to devise a mobilization scheme that permitted large numbers of trained reserves to expand the regular army promptly and efficiently, thereby multiplying its effectiveness. He also introduced the concept of long-range strategic thinking for armies that had grown so large that effective planning was essential to victory. In 1864, he successfully tested his theories during the brief conflict with Denmark. Two years later, Prussia deemed itself sufficiently strong to challenge the Austrian empire for dominance in Germany in the Austro-Prussian War. Moltke’s clever use of railways and troop concentrations brought the Austrian army to bear at Könnigrätz on July 3, 1866, soundly defeating it. The war was successfully concluded in only six weeks and left Prussia undisputed leader of the German confederation.
Over the next four years, Moltke worked hard at correcting operational and tactical mistakes that had surfaced during the Austrian war, and the Prussian army reached new heights of efficiency. Chancellor Otto von Bismarck then cleverly orchestrated a showdown with Prussia’s final adversary, France, whose army was widely regarded as the best in Europe. When the Franco-Prussian War erupted in 1870, Moltke again displayed strategic genius by quickly mobilizing the army, overwhelming the French in the field, and using converging lines of march to trap the bulk of enemy forces at Metz under Marshal Achille-François Bazaine. When a relief force was raised under Marshal Marie E. P. M. de MacMahon, Moltke’s men quickly outflanked and captured it at Sedan. By mid-1870, Prussian forces were closely besieging Paris and waging a relentless antipartisan war in the countryside. When the French at Metz finally surrendered, the Prussians proclaimed a unified German empire. For his role in this spectacular victory, Moltke was elevated to field marshal and restored to his role as head of the general staff.
For the rest of his life, Moltke continually refined the general staff, military strategy, and the vaunted Germany army. However, after Germany’s primacy was secure, he strongly opposed military adventurism and sought to convince the new kaiser, William II, that peace was the country’s best guarantee for survival. The staff concepts he introduced have become standard military procedure in armies around the world.
Bibliography
Addington, Larry H. The Blitzkrieg Era and the German General Staff. New Brunswick, N.J.: Rutgers University Press, 1971.
Bucholz, Arden. Moltke, Schlieffen, and Prussian War Planning. New York: Berg, 1991.
Craig, Gordon A. The Politics of the Prussian Army, 1640–1945. New York: Oxford University Press, 1956.
Dupuy, Trevor N. A Genius for War: The German Army and General Staff. Englewood Cliffs, N.J.: Prentice-Hall, 1977.
Friedrich, Otto. Blood and Iron: From Bismark to Hitler: The von Moltke Family’s Impact on German History. New York: HarperCollins, 1995.