v. Kessel

joerookery

joerookery

Well-known member
Here is a rather different question that is probably right up Glenn's alley.

Am I correct in understanding that this gentleman's function was to be the corps area Cmdr. for the guard Corps??


ps311 by joerookery, on Flickr
 
I have a few infos about him. He did command the Gardekorps before 1909 although the title on the card refers to the Mark Brandenburg. Besides being the governor of Berlin he also was the "Oberkommandierender in den Marken" from 1909 until his death in 1918 which means that he had administrative functions.

He made quite a career, starting out as a grenadier and fighting in the wars of 1866 and 1871, being wounded in both. Then he attended the Prussian military academy to become officer. From Hauptmann and company commander in 1878, he rose to Generaloberst and thus had the second highest rank in the Prussian army.
 
Besides being the governor of Berlin he also was the "Oberkommandierender in den Marken" from 1909 until his death in 1918 which means that he had administrative functions.
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Robert,

Does this mean that there was a separate geographic area in Berlin and the surroundings that was governed by someone other than the deputy commander of Army Corps number three? I believe this to be the case and I believe this was the guy but I am not entirely positive. Does anyone have this geographic area on a map?
 
From what I know, Brandenburg was the garnison for most of the Gardekorps and III. army corps. The new province Brandenburg was established in 1816 from the former Mark plus other territories such as the Mittelmark, Uckermark etc. (thus the historic title). It was not until 1881 that Berlin became an independent administrative district. More details about this would be interesting.
 
Joe

the Oberkommando in den Marken was formed during the unrest of 1848 and initially commanded by Generalfeldmarschall Friedrich Graf von Wrangel. Its purpose then was to command forces between the Elbe and the Oder. It was purely an honorary position at the time of Generaloberst Gustav von Kessel's tenure and had no command or territorial authority. As such, it had no impact on either the Governement of Berlin, the Gardekorps or III. Armeekorps.

Regards
Glenn
 
Glenn,

Thanks for the crisp answer! So who had authority over the Berlin area? The area of the guard Corps? This leads to another set of questions concerning garden landwehr- I know there were separate Bizirkcommandos but who was in charge of overall? Geographically?
 
Joe

I am still away from my stuff but regarding the Garde-Landwehr, I believe a retired senior officer on the staff (in the Control Bureau) of the Gardekorps dealt with matters regarding reservists/Landwehr issues etc. Individuals living in districts throughout Prussia would for the purposes of the annual control, report to their local Reporting Office (Meldeamt). Bearing in mind that the Garde-Landwehr was in peacetime only an administrative function and not a formed body of troops, there was not any command element for operational purposes.

I would assume that the chap in charge of Berlin would be the military Governor.

Regards
Glenn
 
Joe

what is surprising, is the more or less absolute lack of resources on the Oberkommando in den Marken! I have trawled through everything I have and can add very little. The common thing, however, appears to be, that the incumbents were at the same time either the Military Governors of Berlin or the commanders of either the Garde-Korps or III. Armee-Korps as well as being the Oberkommandierender in den Marken. Which all leads me to my earlier conclusion: After Wrangel's initial period in the post, it was pretty much an honorary (albeit prestigious) appointment but any authority emanating from the post holder, was that of his tandem appointment as a Governor or Corps Commander.

Regards
Glenn
 
Joe

Yes. The then General der Infanterie v. Kessel was appointed as both Oberbefehlshaber in den Marken and as Military Governer of Berlin on handing over command of the Garde-Korps on 29 May 1909. His predecessor, Generalfeldmarschall v. Hahnke had also held the dual appointment.

As for the specific duties of the Governor: I will see what I can find.

Regards
Glenn
 
One point I know about is that he was in charge of censorship. Also he organized public soup kitchens during the famine of 1916 and put down a strike in 1918 with military intervention so evidently he did have executive functions.
 
Robert

so evidently he did have executive functions
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I agree. He was the Military Governor of Berlin and as such in wartime, he had absolute authority in all spheres in his jurisdiction. The Governer of Berlin had the military authority of a Commanding General (Corps Commander). I think it possible that as the appointment of Oberbefehlshaber in den Marken was technically the more senior, he issued his governmental orders under the more senior appointment. Similarly, the Chief of Staff of the Oberkommando was also the Chief of Staff of the Military Governor.

In peacetime the Governor was the senior authority for all garrison and legal matters within his jurisdiction. He was not, however in general, the commanding officer of the troops stationed within Berlin. These of course were under command of the commanding General of the Garde-Korps.

Regards
Glenn
 
So if I follow this correctly–the governor had a geographic responsibility somewhere around the city that did not fall underneath any Army Corps commander. So we have this guy–the commander of the guard Army Corps–and the Cmdr. of III Corps. Perhaps that is why we see a BAK associated with the guard Corps. And another BAK associated with III Corps. But then there is this governor–were there any other geographically responsible governors?

Thank you all for asking questions in this–small issue but I do not think it is well understood.
 
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