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Paul Demetrius von Kotzebue | |
|---|---|
 General Paul Demetrius Von Kotzebue. | |
| Born | 10 August 1801 Berlin, Kingdom of Prussia, Holy Roman Empire |
| Died | 19 April 1884 (aged 82) Reval, Governorate of Estonia, Russian Empire (now Tallinn, Estonia) |
| Allegiance |  Russian Empire |
| Service | Imperial Russian Army |
| Years of service | 1819–1884 |
| Rank |  General of the Infantry |
| Battles / wars | Caucasian Wars Russo-Persian War (1826–1828) Russo-Turkish War (1828–1829) November Uprising Crimean War |
Paul Demetrius Graf[1] von Kotzebue (Russian: Па́вел Евста́фьевич Коцебу́, tr. Pavel Evstaf'evich Kotsebu; 10 August 1801 – 19 April 1884) was a Baltic German statesman and general who was in the service of the Russian Empire. One of 18 children of the famous German dramatist August von Kotzebue, P. D. Kotzebue was most notable for his military career, especially during the Crimean War as he gained a reputation as a capable and orderly commander. However, Kotzebue was criticised by Russian historians for being highly Germanophile and had an certain level of condescension toward the Russians since he was German.
In additions to his achievements, he was elevated to count in 1874. He was Governor-General of Novorossiysk-Bessarabia and commander of the Odessa Military District from 1862 to 1874, and also Governor-General of Warsaw and commander of the Warsaw Military District from 1874 to 1880. During that period, Austrian observers perceived a buildup of fortresses in Russian Poland,[2] and cavalry maneuvers near the border with Prussia prompted a verbal response from Prussian authorities.[3] In August 1879, the czar arrived in Warsaw to witness military maneuvers himself.[4]
That Germans like Kotzebue should hold the highest position in Russian Poland was not strange: "Germans in Russia were noted for traditional German orderliness, discipline, frugality, and calculation. Germans in high government positions were noted for their efficiency and incorruptibility – both characteristics in sharp contrast with Russian officials."[5]
- ^ Regarding personal names: Until 1919, Graf was a title, translated as Count, not a first or middle name. The female form is Gräfin. In Germany, it has formed part of family names since 1919.
- ^ "CURRENT FOREIGN TOPICS". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 13 September 2024.
- ^ "TOPICS OF INTEREST ABROAD". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 13 September 2024.
- ^ "EUROPEAN GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS; BISMARCK AND MANTEUFFEL--DEFENCE OF BRITISH COLONIES--MATTERS IN TURKEY". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 13 September 2024.
- ^ Sowell, Thomas (1996). Migrations and cultures: a world view by Thomas Sowell (Basic Books, 1996). Basic Books. ISBN 9780465045891.