Hans von Plessen

Hans Georg Hermann von Plessen (26 November 1841 - 28 January 1929) was a Prussian Colonel General (Generaloberst) and Canon of Brandenburg who held the honorary rank of Generalfeldmarschall in his role as Commandant of the German General Staff during World War I.

General von Plessen also held the office of His Majesty's Orderly Adjutant General (SM diensttuender Generaladjutant) to Kaiser Wilhelm II, thus making him one of the Emperor's closest confidants. By 1918 he the was oldest serving officer in the Imperial German Army, although Paul von Hindenburg falsely claimed this for himself. In 1918, von Plessen was awarded the Pour le Mérite, Germany's highest military honor. He remained devoted to the Kaiser until the collapse of the monarchy in November, 1918.

Awards

 * Order of the Black Eagle, with diamonds and crosses
 * Order of the Red Eagle, grand cross with oak leaves and swords
 * Prussian Order of the Crown, first class
 * Royal House Order of Hohenzollern with swords and crosses
 * Württemberg Order of the Crown, grand cross
 * Iron Cross (1870), second Class
 * Iron Cross (1914), first Class
 * Pour le Mérite, 24 March 1918
 * Order of Saint Hubert
 * Order of the Rautenkrone
 * Order of the Wendish Crown, grand cross
 * Order of Leopold, grand cross
 * Order of the Iron Crown, first class
 * Order of Franz Joseph, grand cross
 * Order of Saint Stephen, grand cross with diamonds
 * Order of Dannebrog, commander first class
 * Royal Victorian Order
 * Order of St. Andrew the First-Called
 * Royal Order of the Seraphim

Plessen was amongst the most highly decorated officers, with a total of 88 national and international medals, including 51 large crosses.

Dates of rank

 * Fähnrich—1 September 1861
 * Leutnant—11 November 1862
 * Oberleutnant—22 March 1868
 * Hauptmann—16 April 1872
 * Major—18 May 1879
 * Oberstleutnant—14 July 1885
 * Oberst—4 August 1888
 * Generalmajor—9 February 1891
 * Generalleutnant—14 May 1894
 * Generaloberst—19 September 1908