"How beautiful our army could be as a whole now, and what a miserable patchwork it still is."

You are bidding on one handwritten, signed letter ofPrussianGenerals of the Infantry Ernst Erdmann Karl August Theodor by Zastrow (1858-1926), addressed to the lieutenant generalHerman von Stein (1854-1927).

DatedCologne, April 4th January 1913 (v. Zastrow was inspector of the Landwehr Inspection in Cologne at the time).

Scope:4 p. (28.2 x 22.3 cm).

Envelope (12 x 14.9 cm), addressed "His Excellency Herr Generalleutnant Stein, Commander of the 41. Division, Deutsch Eylau", with postmark from January 6th, 1913.

Content-rich and interesting, friendly and open writing; initially concerns a request "for a decent mobilization assignment for me", subsequent congratulations on the transfer to Deutsch-Eylau.

"This quick change of quartermaster isn't easy for Moltke either. I don't envy him at all the responsibility, especially in today's situation. I'm only surprised that he really put up with the stumbling block that the Minister of War put up to him. [...] How beautiful our army could be as a whole, and what a wretched patchwork it still is. [...] In the KM [War Ministry] one would gladly, gladly help if it weren't for the damned fear of the War Treasury and the Reichstag. But as I have now heard many times in civil circles here, in previous years everything would have been approved in a Reichstag if only firm demands had been made [...]."

V. Zastrow is concerned about an impending war: "Will it start in the spring? Who wants to know. It's very likely, and it would be desirable. The sooner the inevitable settlement is made, the better."

Then in detail about his current position, desire for change, etc.

On the last page about the death of Schliefen ("Didn't suspect that he was ill. What a great loss for the army! Does SM know how enormous his services to the General Staff are? I don't think so"), correspondence with his friend Steuben and reflections on his future: "But I can't move to a small town, I would be too bored, need inspiration from outside (concerts, theatre, etc.), am too stupid to do it myself enough about me."

Internal note: Order 5d/7

Over V. Zastrow and v. Stone (source: wikipedia):

Ernst Erdmann Karl August Theodor von Zastrow (* 23. June 1858 in Arnsberg; † 27 March 1926) was a Prussian infantry general.

Life: Family: He was a son of the Prussian Colonel and Brigadier of the 1. Gendarmerie Brigade Karl Heinrich Friedrich von Zastrow (1809-1876) and his wife Elisa, née von Platen (1827-1858). Zastrow married Gertrud Fanny Therese von Haussmann (* 1867). The marriage produced two sons.[1]

Military career: He began his military career on April 15. April 1875 in Grenadier Regiment No. 5, there he became from 22. March 1891 employed as General Staff. In the Infantry Regiment No. 115 he sat from 24. February 1894 to 27 January 1906. From the 27th January 1896 to 12. He was on the General Staff in August. He sat in the Ministry of War from 12. August 1900 to 10. March 1904. From the 10th On March 1, he sat in the military cabinet for a little over five years. In the war museum he was from 1. April 1909 to 1. Active May 1911. He was commander of Koblenz and the Ehrenbreitstein from May 1911 to 13. Sep 1912. In September 1912 he was promoted to inspector of the Landwehr Inspection Cologne, which he remained in until August 22, 1912. held in March 1913. From March 1913 to September 1914 he was governor of Graudenz. From the 12th September 1914 he took over the leadership of the XVII. Reserve Corps.

Hermann Christlieb Matthäus Stein, from Stein since 1913, (* 13. September 1854 in Wedderstedt; † 26 May 1927 in Lehnin) was a Prussian artillery general and Minister of War.

Life: Origin: Hermann was the son of Hermann Robert Stein (* 28. September 1822 in Ditfurt; † 3 April 1901 in Nöschenrode), pastor zu Wedderstedt, and Julie Friederike, nee Meyer (* 12. February 1830 in Unseburg; † 7 March 1909 in Wernigerode).

Military career: After graduating from high school, Stein joined the field artillery regiment "General Feldzeugmeister" (1st Class) as an avantageur in 1873. Brandenburg) No. 3 of the Prussian Army and became second lieutenant in 1875. Promoted to first lieutenant during his visit to the War Academy in 1886, he was commissioned to the General Staff in 1888, but was relieved of this command the following year with a postdated patent. On 20. In September 1890 he became a captain in the 1. Westphalian Field Artillery Regiment No. 7 and 1894 to the General Staff of the 34. Division transferred to Metz. on the 30th Promoted to Major on May 18, 1896, he joined the General Staff in Berlin. In 1901 he became commander of the 1. Lorraine Field Artillery Regiment No. 33 and 1902 lieutenant colonel.

In 1903 he was transferred to the Great General Staff as head of the deployment department, he was appointed here on 15 April 1903. Promoted to colonel on September 1, 1905, in 1908 entrusted with the management of the business of a quartermaster and in 1910, promoted to major general, to the quartermaster and soon afterwards also a member of the study commission of the war academy. on the 22nd On April 13, 1912 he became lieutenant general and on 13. On September 1, he assumed command of the 41. Division in Deutsch-Eylau.

At 16. On June 19, 1913, on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the reign of Kaiser Wilhelm II. elevated to the hereditary Prussian nobility.

At the beginning of the war he acted as quartermaster general in August and September 1914 and was responsible for writing the German army report. Then it was from 14. September 1914 Commanding General of the XIV. Reserve Corps. During the Race to the Sea, his corps was transferred to the Combles-Bapaume area and the 2. Army subordinate. During the Battle of the Somme in July 1916, his corps was in the focus of British attacks in the Thiepval area. On the 28th. October 1916 he handed over his corps to Generalleutnant Georg fuchs . From the 29th October 1916 to 9 October 1918 he acted as Prussian Minister of War.

family

Stein married on May 5. May 1883 in Magdeburg Elise Julie Friederike, nee Meyer (* 17. June 1861 in Seehausen; † 15 April 1890 in Wittenberg).

honors

15. October 1914: Honorary doctorate from the University of Halle-Wittenberg (Dr. phil. hc)