August Willich
Prussian-American general and communist revolutionary / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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August Willich (November 19, 1810 – January 22, 1878), born Johann August Ernst von Willich, was a military officer in the Prussian Army, later enlisting and receiving a commission in the United States Army. Born into Prussian nobility, he formally discarded his title in 1847 actively participated in the Revolutions of 1848. Willich's militant attitudes towards revolution made him a leading early proponent of communism.[1][2][3] Although these revolutions were unsuccessful, he remained an ardent communist. Disagreements with Karl Marx as Willich saw Marx as unacceptably conservative[4] swayed his decision to emigrate to the United States alongside many German radicals. His political beliefs greatly influenced his decision to serve in the Union Army during the American Civil War. Willich saw combat in several high profile battles including the Battle of Shiloh and Chickamauga. After the war's conclusion and Lincoln's assassination, Willich left the Union Army and offered his expertise to the Prussian military during the Franco-Prussian War but was refused on account of his political beliefs. Willich returned to the United States and lived the remainder of his life quietly in Ohio until his death in 1878. Following his death he was eulogized by his rival Marx and the First International.
August Willich | |
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Birth name | Johann August Ernst von Willich |
Born | (1810-11-19)November 19, 1810 Braunsberg, East Prussia, Prussia |
Died | January 22, 1878(1878-01-22) (aged 67) St. Marys, Ohio, U.S. |
Place of burial | Elmgrove Cemetery, St. Marys, Ohio |
Allegiance | Prussia United States (Union) |
Service/ | Prussian Army Union Army |
Years of service | 1828–1846 1861–1865 |
Rank | Second Lieutenant (Prussian Army) Brigadier General Brevet Major General |
Unit | 9th Ohio Infantry Regiment 7th (1st Westphalian) Field Artillery Regiment |
Commands held | 32nd Indiana Infantry Regiment Horn Brigade |
Battles/wars | German revolutions of 1848–49 |
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