Rittmeister (later Generalleutnant) von Haeseler, 2. Mecklenburgisches Dragoner-Regiment Nr. 18, 1870s.

            Carl Heinrich Martin Gottlieb Wilhelm “Willy” von Haeseler

Willy von Haeseler was born into a noble family, his grandfather having owned the Schwansee estate on the coast of Mecklenburg.  Tragedy followed shortly however as Willy’s mother died before he was a month old.  His father had served in the Prussian army and Willy followed the elder von Haeseler into this profession, entering the Prussian Cadetten-Corps in 1856.  However, rather than the Prussian service, Willy would go on to serve in the Cavallerie of his native Mecklenburg.  In 1868 when the Mecklenburg Dragoner were incorporated into the Prussian army, the then Rittmeister von Haeseler was transferred from DR17 into DR18 and took over command of the 3. Escadron in that regiment.  It was in this capacity that von Haeseler was serving when the Franco-German war broke out in 1870.  By all accounts, Rittmeister von Haeseler had a quite lively wartime experience.  Though his regiment wasn’t spectacularly heavily engaged in massive pitched battles– 12 NCOs and men died in battle or of wounds during the entire war– Rittmeister von Haeseler was very active in the execution of his duty.  He was wounded at the battle of Orleans in December 1870; a Chassepot bullet struck him in the chest, passing through his greatcoat and tunic, was deflected by a coin purse, and sharply exited all of his clothing.  Other than a severe contusion to his ribs,  von Haeseler was unharmed and remained at the head of his Escadron.  After the cessation of hostilities, Rittmeister von Haeseler was the highest-decorated man of his regiment, having been the only member to be decorated with the Eiserne Kreuz I. Klasse.  His Mecklenburg service ended in 1876 when Rittmeister von Haeseler was transferred to DR1 in Tilsit, at the far eastern end of the German Empire.  After serving as an Adjutant for the commanders of both 29. Division and III. Armee-Corps, the then Major von Haeseler was transferred, after over 20 years with the Dragoner, to an Ulanen Regiment, UR11.  Another change of scenery came in 1887 when Oberstleutnant von Haeseler suddenly became a Husar, having been made commander of LHR2.  In 1891, he took over command of 8. Cavallerie-Brigade in Erfurt and was made a Generalmajor in 1894.  Von Haeseler left the German army after 40 years of service in 1896 and was elevated to the Mecklenburg nobility in 1902.  He became the master of the over 2000 acre Vilz estate in Mecklenburg and died in 1927 at age 85.

Vater: Wilhelm von Haeseler (13.2.1810-10.6.1887), Lieutenant außer Dienst.
*13.10.1841 in Gut Brookhusen, Großherzogtum Mecklenburg-Schwerin
⚭4.7.1873 in Schwerin, Großherzogtum Mecklenburg-Schwerin, Deutsches Reich
– Cäcilie von Oertzen (1843-1919)
– Kinder: Karl Wilhelm Heinrich Cecil Martin, Herr auf Vilz (1874-1939), Major außer Dienst
+4.3.1927 in Schwerin, Weimarer Republik (Aged 85.)

ASSIGNMENTS:
- Cadetten-Hause Potsdam: 1856
- 1. Großherzoglich Mecklenburgisches Dragoner-Regiment Nr. 17 [Ludwigslust]: 1860
- 2. Großherzoglich Mecklenburgisches Dragoner-Regiment Nr. 18 [Parchim]
– Chef des 3. Escadron: 10.10.1868
FELDZUG 1870-1871
-  Leicht verwundet: Gefecht bei Orleans, 2-4.12.1870.  
- Dragoner-Regiment Prinz Albrecht von Preußen (Littauisches) Nr. 1 [Tilsit]: 15.1.1876
– Adjutant zur 29. Division [Freiburg in Baden] commandiert:  15.1.1876-1879
= Generalleutnant von Scheffler
– Adjutant zur III. Armee-Corps [Berlin] commandiert: 1879-1882
= General der Infanterie von Groß gennant von Schwarzhoff, General der Infanterie von Pape
- 2. Brandenburgisches Ulanen-Regiment Nr. 11 [Perleberg]: 14.10.1882
- 2. Leib-Husaren-Regiment Nr. 2 [Posen]
– Commandeur: 15.1.1887-15.6.1891
- 8. Cavallerie-Brigade [Erfurt]
– Commandeur: 16.6.1891

PROMOTIONS:
- Cadett:
- Secondelieutenant:
- Premierlieutenant:
- Rittmeister: before 1868
- Major: 1881
- Oberstleutnant: 1888
- Oberst: 1892
- Generalmajor: 1894
- Generalleutnant:
- Generalleutnant außer Dienst: 1896

AWARDS:
- Eiserne Kreuz II. Classe: 1870
- Mecklenburg-Schwerinsche Militär-Verdienstkreuz 2. Classe: 1870
- Eiserne Kreuz I. Classe: 1872
- Rother-Adler-Orden 4. Classe: 1878
- Dienstauszeichnungskreuz: 1882
- Kaiserlich-Königlich Österreichische Franz-Josef-Orden, Comthur-Kreuz: 1886
- Kronen-Orden 3. Classe: 1890
- Rother-Adler-Orden 3. Classe mit Schleife: 1891
- Fürstlich Lippesche Lippe-Schaumburgischer Hausorden, Ehrenkreuz 2. Classe: 1891
- Kronen-Orden 2. Classe: 1892
- Roter-Adler-Orden 2. Klasse: 1895
- Großherzoglich Mecklenburgische Greifen-Orden Großkomthurkreuz: 1895
- Johanniter-Orden: 4.8.1896

   

Taken on: May 25, 2024

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Sets appears in: • 2. Leib-Husaren-Regiment Nr. 2 • 2. Brandenburgisches Ulanen-Regiment Nr. 11 more » • Dragoner-Regiment Prinz Albrecht von Preußen (Littauisches) Nr. 1 • 2. Großherzoglich Mecklenburgisches Dragoner-Regiment Nr. 18 • 1. Großherzoglich Mecklenburgisches Dragoner-Regiment Nr. 17 • Generäle / Generals • Offiziere « less

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