Alfred Von Schlieffen - Military Service

Military Service

After Schlieffen became an officer candidate, he was admitted to the General War School in 1858 at a particularly young age compared to others. He was just 25. He had been recommended by his commanders to go to this school. He graduated 3 years later in 1861 from the General War School and received high honors which guaranteed him a role as General Staff officer. In 1862 he was assigned to the Topographic Bureau of the General Staff. Being a part of the Topographic Bureau provided Schlieffen with knowledge about the features of land. This would help him to come up with his idea of the Schlieffen Plan, as he would now have background information on the shapes and features of land and how he could use them to his advantage. He was transferred to the actual German General Staff itself in 1865, however, he did not play a significant role yet within the Staff. His first involvement in war was in the Battle of Königgrätz, in which he was stationed with the Prussian Cavalry Corps. The Battle of Königgrätz marked significance for Schlieffen as it was a battle of encirclement. This tactic was later used in his Schlieffen Plan. He participated in the Austro-Prussian War in 1866 as a staff officer. By the time the Franco-Prussian War started, he had become a part of the German General Staff. Schlieffen went on a trip to France with Frederick I, Grand Duke of Baden. There he took command over a small army in the Loire Valley in what was one of the most difficult campaigns fought by the Prussian Army. Resulting was Schlieffen's promotion to Major. He also became head of the military-history division. Working alongside Helmuth von Moltke and Alfred von Waldersee, Schlieffen gained subsequent amounts of experience. Moltke and Waldersee helped to form Schlieffen which resulted in yet another promotion. On December 4, 1886, he was promoted to Major General. Shortly after, he replaced Helmuth von Moltke after Moltke retired, and became Deputy Chief of Staff, under Alfred von Waldersee, who was Chief of staff. Not long after he became Quartermaster General. Quartermaster General meant that Schlieffen was in charge of operational commands. This was the most senior officer below the Chief of staff. Waldersee still held the Chief of staff position. On December 4, 1888, Schlieffen became Lieutenant General. Lieutenant General was second in command, only subordinate to the Captain General. He was eventually promoted General of the Cavalry (Germany) on January 27, 1893. This was the second-hihghest General Officer Rank. After nearly 53 years of service, Alfred Von Schlieffen retired on January 1, 1906. He later died on January 4, 1913, just 19 months before the outbreak of World War 1. In reference to his Schlieffen Plan, Schlieffen's last words were said to have been, "Remember: keep the right wing very strong."