VON MOLTKE THE ELDER

He was a Prussian field marshal. The chief of staff of the Prussian Army for thirty years, he is regarded as the creator of a new, more modern method of directing armies in the field. He commanded troops in Europe and the Middle East, commanding during the Second Schleswig War, Austro-Prussian War and the Franco-Prussian War. A man of many parts, including an interest in developing the railways, which became a key factor in his strategy against Austria (1866) and France (1870). He was made Count on 29th October 1870 and Field Marshal on 16th June 1871.