Kraft, Prinz zu Hohenlohe-Ingelfingen
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Kraft, Prinz zu Hohenlohe-Ingelfingen (1827-1892) was a Prussian army officer and military writer, the son of Adolf, Prinz zu Hohenlohe-Ingelfingen (1797-1873 and a nephew of Friedrich Ludwig, prince of Hohenlohe-Ingelfingen (1746-1818), who commanded the Prussians at Jena.
Kraft, prince of Hohenlohe-Ingelfingen, was born at Koschentin in Upper Silesia. Educated with great rigour, owing to the impoverishment of the family estates during the Napoleonic wars, he was sent into the Prussian army. There, he was commissioned to the artillery as the least expensive arm of the service. He joined the Prussian Guard artillery in 1845, and it was soon discovered that he had unusual aptitudes as an artillery officer. For a time his brother officers resented the presence of a prince, until it was found that he made no attempt to use his social position to secure advancement.
[edit] Promotions
After serving as a military attach in Vienna and on the Transylvanian frontier during the Crimean War, he was made a captain on the general staff, and in 1856 personal aide-de-camp to the king, remaining, however, in close touch with the artillery. In 1864, having become major and then lieutenant colonel, he resigned the staff appointments to become commander of the new Guard Field Artillery regiment. In the following year, he became colonel. In 1866 he saw his first real active service. In the hold advance of the Guard corps on the Austrian right wing at Königgrätz (see Seven Weeks' War), he led the Guard reserve artillery with the greatest dash and success, and after the short war ended he turned his energies, now fortified by experience, to the better tactical training of the Prussian artillery. In 1868 he was made a major-general and assigned to command the Guard artillery brigade. In this capacity he gained great distinction during the Franco-German war and especially at Gravelotte and Sedan; he, was in control of the artillery attack on the fortifications of Paris. In 1873 he was placed in command of an infantry division, and three years later was promoted lieutenant-general. While he retired in 1879, he was made general of infantry in 1883 and then general of artillery in 1889.
[edit] Writings
His military writings were numerous, and amongst them several have become classics. These are Briefe über Artillerie (Eng. trans. Letters on Artillery, 1887); Briefe über Strategie (1877; Eng. trans. Letters on Strategy, 1898); and Gespräche über Reiterei (1887; Eng. trans. Conversations on Cavalry). The Briefe über Infanterie and Briefe über Kavallerie (translated into English, Letters on Infantry, Letters on Cavalry, 1889) are of less importance, though interesting as a reflection of prevailing German ideas.
[edit] Memoirs
His memoirs (Aus meinem Leben) were prepared in retirement near Dresden, and the first volume (1897) created such a sensation that eight years were allowed to elapse before the publication was continued. Prince Kraft died near Dresden on the 16th of January 1892.
