Lieutenant General Hans Joachim Friedrich von Sydow (13 May 1762 in Zernikow / Nordwestuckermark – 27 April 1823) was a Prussian cavalry officer who fought in the Napoleonic Wars. He was honoured with a knighthood and the Blue Max (Pour le Mérite). He fought with distinction at Waterloo.[1][better source needed][2][3]
Early Life and Military Service
editSydow was born on May 12, 1762, in Zernikow, a town that likely has changed names or doesn't exist anymore, between Neustrelitz and Oranienburg, Westprignitz, a Prussian District in Brandenburg. Similar to the town, Westprignitz as well doesn't exist anymore, and was an amalgamation of the districts of Lenzen, Plattenburg, most of Perleberg, and a part of Havelberg.[3]
Sydow's father was Georg Friedrich von Sydow, a retired of officer, and lord of Zernikow. Sydow's mother was Beate Louise von Sydow née Holtzendorf.[4]
It likely could have been from his father's wishes and/or inspiration that Sydow would join the cavalry, or he could have done what many other minor nobles had done and joined to start a career. In 1775 he entered the army as a private in the 8th Hussar Regiment (von Belling). and was commissioned as an ensign (modern equivalent of a 2nd Lieutenant) on March 31, 1778. He fought in the War of Bavarian Succession from 1778 to 1779 and at the battles of Zwickau and Gabel. He ranked up twice more between 1783 and 1792.
Napoleonic Wars
editOn April 20th, 1792, France declared war on Austria, who had allied itself with Prussia in February, thus bringing Prussia into The War of the First Coalition.[5]
Sydow fought at the Battles of Edesheim, Deidesheim, and Kurrweiler. He as well participated in the Siege of Landau and the Battle of Kaiserslautern, where he was wounded and awarded his Pour le Mérite.
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On April 29th, 1794, Sydow was promoted to Stabsmeister/Stabskapitan (Staff Captain). In 1795, Prussia signed the Peace of Basel and ended their involvement in the War of the First Coalition, and Sydow still continued his service in the cavalry, being promoted to Rittmeister (Cavalry Captain) on January 4th, 1797. On June 15th, 1800, he accepted a commission as Major in the 8th Hussar Regiment, Hussars von Blücher.[4]
In the War of the Fourth Coalition, Sydow was wounded at the Battle of Auerstedt and later fought at the Battle of Lychen. On November 7th, 1806, Blücher surrendered an army of 10,000 soldiers to Napoleon at Ratekau, with Sydow being in the ranks that were given up.[5]
References
edit- ^ Burnham, Robert, ed. (July 2012), Prussian Generals of the Napoleonic Wars 1793-1815: Sydow, Hans Joachim Friedrich von, Napoleon Series, retrieved 29 January 2014
- ^ Gustaf Lehmann: Die Ritter des Ordens pour le mérite. Mittler, Berlin 1913, Band 1, S. 320 und Band 2, S. 361.
- ^ Detlef Wenzlik: Waterloo III Der Feldzug von 1815 - Die Generäle. VRZ Verlag, Hamburg 2008, ISBN 978-3-931482-28-2, S. 52–53.
- ^ [1]
- ^ [2]
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