Julius von Verdy du Vernois

Julius von Verdy du Vernois.

Julius von Verdy du Vernois (19 July 1832 – 30 September 1910), often given the short name of Verdy, was a German general and staff officer, chiefly noted both for his military writings and his service on Graf Moltke's staff during the Franco-Prussian War.

Life and career

Verdy was born in Freystadt, Silesia, and entered the Prussian infantry in 1850. After some years of regimental service he came to the attention of Moltke, the newly appointed Chief of the Prussian General Staff, and at the outbreak of the Austro-Prussian War (1866) he was appointed major on the staff of the Second Army (commanded by Crown Prince Frederick). He took part in the campaign on the upper Elbe and participated in the Battle of Königgrätz, which saw the defeat of the Austrians.

Promoted shortly after this to the rank of lieutenant-colonel, in 1867 Verdy was placed at the head of the intelligence section of the general staff, becoming thereby one of Moltke's principal confidential assistants. In this capacity he served at the headquarters of the German army throughout the Franco-Prussian War (1870–71), and became known as one of Moltke's famed "demigods."

At the close of the war he continued to serve on the general staff, and also lectured at the War Academy (Kriegsakademie). It was in the latter position that he developed the system of thorough tactical education which is considered the abiding result of his work. His method may be studied in English translations of his Studies in Troop-leading, and may be summarized as the assumption of an actual military situation on the actual ground, followed by critical discussion of the successive measures that a commander, whether of a brigade, division or larger force, should take in the sequel, given his orders and his knowledge of the general situation. Moltke's own series of tactical problems, extending from 1859 to 1889, contributed very powerfully, of course, to the education of the selected young officers who passed through Verdy's hands, but Moltke dealt rather with a great number of separate problems, while Verdy developed in detail the successive events and ruling ideas of a whole day's or week's work in the same units. Moltke therefore may be said to have developed the art of forming correct ideas and plans, Verdy that of applying them, but these are after all merely tendencies, not sharply divided schemes, in the teaching of Prussian staff officers during the years of intellectual development between 1870 and 1888. In all this Moltke, Verdy and Bronsart von Schellendorf worked in close co-operation.

In 1876 Verdy was promoted to Generalmajor, from 1879-1883 he held an important position in the ministry of war, and in 1881 he was promoted lieutenant-general. In 1887 he became governor of Strasbourg, in 1888 was promoted to General of the Infantry. From 1889 to 1890 he served as Prussian Minister of War, after which he retired from the active list. In 1894 the University of Königsberg made him a Dr. Phil, honoris causa.

Julius von Verdy du Vernois died in Stockholm, Sweden, in 1910.

Writings

Geschichte des 3. Pommerschen Infanterie-Regiments (Nr 14) während der Kriegsjahre 1813, 14 und 15' [History of the 3. Pomeranian Infantry Regiment, Number 14, during the War Years 1813, 1814, and 1815](Bromberg: Gruenauer, 1860)

Die Theilnahme der II. Armee unter dem Ober-Commando Seiner Königlichen Hoheit des Kronprinzen von Preussen am Feldzuge von 1866 [Participation of the Second Army under the Command of His Royal Highness the Crown Prince of Prussia during the Campaign of 1866] (Berlin: A. Bath 1866)

Studien über Truppenführung, Theil 1, 1. Heft, Die Infanterie-Division im Verbande des Armee-Korps [Studies in the Leading of Combined Arms Formations, Part 1, 1st Volume, the Infantry Division as Part of an Army Corps] (Berlin: E.S. Mittler, 1870)

Studien über Truppenführung, Theil 1, 2. Heft, Die Infanterie-Division im Verbande des Armee-Korps [Studies in the Leading of Combined Arms Formations, Part 1, 2nd Volume, the Infantry Division as Part of an Army Corps] (Berlin: E.S. Mittler, 1872)

Studien über Truppenführung, Theil 1, 3. Heft, Die Infanterie-Division im Verbande des Armee-Korps [Studies in the Leading of Combined Arms Formations, Part 1, 3rd Volume, the Infantry Division as Part of an Army Corps] (Berlin: E.S. Mittler, 1873)

Studien über Truppenführung, Theil 1, 3. Heft, Die Infanterie-Division im Verbande des Armee-Korps [Studies in the Leading of Combined Arms Formations, Part 1, 4th Volume, the Infantry Division as Part of an Army Corps] (Berlin: E.S. Mittler, 1873)

Studien über Truppenführung, Theil 2, 1. Heft, Die Kavallerie-Division im Armee-Verbande [Studies in the Leading of Combined Arms Formations, Part 2, 1st Volume, the Cavalry Division as Part of an Army] (Berlin: E.S. Mittler, 1874)

Studien über Truppenführunng, Theil 2, 2. Heft, Die Kavallerie-Division im Armee-Verbande [Studies in the Leading of Combined Arms Formations, Part 2, 2nd Volume, the Cavalry Division as Part of an Army] (Berlin: E.S. Mittler, 1874)

Studien über Truppenführungn, Theil 2, 3. Heft, Die Kavallerie-Division im Armee-Verbande [Studies in the Leading of Combined Arms Formations, Part 2, 3rd Volume, the Cavalry Division as Part of an Army] (Berlin: E.S. Mittler, 1874)

Kriegsgeschichtliche Studien nach der applikatorischen Methode: I. Heft, Taktische Details aus der Schlacht von Custoza am 24. Juni 1866 [Studies in Military History by means of the Applicatory Method: Volume I, Tactical Events from the Battle of Custozza on 24 June 1866] (Berlin: E.S. Mittler, 1876) (Note: This is the only volume in this series to be published.)

Beitrag zu den Kavallerie-Übungs-Reisen [A Contribution to the Tactical Rides of Cavalry] (Berlin: E.S. Mittler, 1876)

Beitrag zum Kriegsspiel [A Contribution to the War Game] (Berlin: E.S. Mittler, 1876)

Ueber praktische Felddienst-Aufgaben [On Practical Field Service Problems] (Berlin: R. Eisenschmidt, 1884)

Studien über Felddienst auf Grund der Felddienst-Ordnung vom 23. Mai 1887. Heft 1, Selbständige Kavallerie, Vorposten derselben und gemischte Vorposten [Studies in Field Service on the Basis of the Field Service Regulation of 23 May 1887, Volume 1, Independent Cavalry, Advanced Posts of the Same, and Mixed Advanced Posts] (Berlin: E.S. Mittler, 1887)

Studien über Felddienst auf Grund der Felddienst-Ordnung vom 23. Mai 1887. Heft 2, Avantgarden-Kavallerie; gemischte Vosposten mit Vorposten-Kavallerie [Studies in Field Service on the Basis of the Field Service Regulation of 23 May 1887, Volume 1, Cavalry of the Advanced Guard, Mixed Advanced Posts with Advanced Post Cavalry] (Berlin: E.S. Mittler, 1887)

(with Paul von Schmidt) Das 3. Pommersche Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 14 von seiner Gründung bis zum Jahre 1888, [The 3rd Pomeranian Infantry Regiment, Number 14, from its Founding through the Year 1888] (Berlin: 1888)

Studien über den Krieg auf Grundlage des deutsch-französischen Krieges 1870/71, Band 1, Ereignisse in den Grenzbezirkes : vom 15. Juli bis 2. August 1870 [Studies of War on the Basis of the Franco-German War, 1870/71, Volume 1, Events in the Border Districts: from 15 July to 2 August 1870] (Berlin: E.S. Mittler, 1891-1892)

Studien über den Krieg auf Grundlage des deutsch-französischen Krieges 1870/71, Band 2, Operationspläne [Studies of War on the Basis of the Franco-German War, 1870/71, Volume 2, Plans of Operation] (Berlin: E.S. Mittler, 1891-1892)

Alarich, König der Westgoten : Trauerspiel [Alaric, King of the West Goths, a Tragedy] (Berlin: E.S. Mittler, 1894)

Studien über Felddienst : Neu bearbeite auf Grund der Felddienst-Ordnung von 20. Juli 1894 [Studies in Field Service: Newly Reworked on the Basis of the Field Service Regulation of 20 July 1894] (Berlin: E.S. Mittler, 1895-1896)

Im grossen Hauptquartier 1870-1871, persönliche Erinnerungen [In the Supreme Headquarters 1870-1871, Personal Remembrances] (Berlin: E.S. Mittler, 1895)

Heer und Flotte [Army and Navy] (Berlin: G. Stilke, 1900)

Translations and Adaptations

J.R. MacDonnell (translator), The Tactical War Game (London: William Clowes, 1884)

G. Peloux, Etudes sur le service en campagne : d'après l'ordonnance royale du 23 mai 1887 (Paris: Berger-Levrault, 1889)

C W Boudler Bell, Studies in troop leading. The cavalry division (London: Harrison and Son, 1890)

Henri Monet (translator), Études de guerre ayant pour base la guerre franco-allemande de 1870-1871. Première partie, événements ayant eu lieu dans la zone-frontière (du 15 juillet au 2 août 1870) (Paris: L. Westhausser, 1892)

G.F.R. Henderson (translator), "A Tactical Study, Based on the Battle of Cuztozza" (London: Gale and Polden, 1895)

Eben Swift (adapter), A Simplified War Game (Kansas City: Hudson Kimberly, 1897)

Literature

• Trevor N. Dupuy, A Genius for War: The German Army and General Staff, 1807-1845 (Englewood Cliffs: Prentice Hall, 1977)
• von Janson, "General von Verdy du Vernois: Eine Lebeskizze" [General von Verdy du Vernois: A Brief Biography], Militärwochenblatt, Volume 95, Numbers 130 (18 October 1910) through 134 (27 October 1910)

Political offices
Preceded by Paul Bronsart von Schellendorf	Prussian Minister of War 1889–1890	Succeeded by Hans von Kaltenborn-Stachau

 This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: