Dyherrn, George Karl, Baron von

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George Karl, Baron von Dyherrn (also written Dyhrrn or Dyhern)

Saxon Quartermaster-General (1745-52), Major-General (1752-57), Lieutenant-General (1757-59)

born April 13, 1710, in Silesia

died April 25, 1759, Frankfurt, Germany

Description

George Karl, Baron von Dyherrn was born in Silesia, then an Austrian possession, on April 13, 1710.

Dyherrn studied philosophy and mathematics. He also traveled In Europe.

In 1730, Dyherrn entered in the Saxon service a lieutenant in the Kurprinz Cuirassiers.

In 1732, Dyherrn was promoted to captain and chef of a company of the Kurprinz Cuirassiers.

In 1737, during the Austro-Turkish War (1737-39), Dyherrn distinguished himself in Hungary and on the Timok River. In 1738, he was promoted to major for his conduct.

In 1741, during the War of the Austrian Succession, Dyherrn fought the Austrians with great bravery at Prague and was promoted to lieutenant-colonel. At the end of the campaign, he was appointed exercise-master of the entire cavalry of the Electorate of Saxony. In the second part of the conflict, also known as the Second Silesian War (1744-45), when Saxony aligned with Austria, Dyherrn campaign under the command of the Duke of Sachsen-Weissenfels in Bohemia and Silesia against the Prussians. In 1745, Dyherrn was promoted to colonel and received command of the Graf Rutowsky Light Dragoons. He led this regiment in the battles of Hohenfriedberg (June 4, 1745) and Kesselsdorf (December 15, 1745). The same year, Dyherrn was promoted to quartermaster-general.

In 1752, Dyherrn was promoted to major-general. In 1753, he was appointed chef of the Ingenieurkorps.

In 1756, at the outbreak of the Seven Years’ War (1756-63), during the Prussian invasion of Saxony, Dyherrn became prisoner of war when the Saxon Army surrendered at Pirna. When he was freed, Dyherrn joined the Saxon troops which had deserted Prussian service and were assembling in Hungary and significantly contributed to the reorganisation of this new Saxon Army.

In 1757, Dyherrn was promoted to lieutenant-general.

In 1758, Dyherrn led the Saxon Contingent which joined the French Army of the Main in September after marching across Austria and Bavaria. Prince Xaver then took command of the Saxon Contingent, seconded by Dyherrn. On October 10, this contingent took part in the Battle of Lutterberg.

In 1759, the Saxon Contingent continued to campaign with the French Army of the Main. On April 13 (Dyherrn’s birthday), it took part in the Battle of Bergen where it was deployed on the left wing of the army of the Duc de Broglie under the command of Lieutenant-General Dyherrn. While leading part of his battalions in a demonstration against the right wing of the Allies, Dyherrn was wounded in the abdomen by a stray musket ball. Dyherrn was transported to Frankfurt where he died of his injuries on April 25, 1759.

References

This article is mostly a translation of a text, which is in the public domain:

• Grosser Generalstab Kriegsgeschichtliche Abteilung II: Die Kriege Friedrichs des Grossen, Part 3 Der siebenjährige Krieg 1756-1763, Vol. 9 Bergen, Berlin, 1911, append. 16