# Paul Ludwig Ewald von Kleist

> German field marshal (1881–1954)

**Wikidata**: [Q57137](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q57137)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Ludwig_Ewald_von_Kleist)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/paul-ludwig-ewald-von-kleist

## Summary
Paul Ludwig Ewald von Kleist was a German field marshal and military officer who served from 1900 to 1944. He participated in both World War I and World War II, leading forces in major conflicts including the Battle of Tannenberg, the Invasion of Poland, the Battle of France, and the Battle of the Caucasus. A recipient of numerous international decorations, he held citizenship in Germany and Nazi Germany and is recognized for his role in the armored battles of the Eastern Front.

## Biography
- **Born:** August 8, 1881
- **Nationality:** Germany, Nazi Germany
- **Education:** Not specified in provided source material
- **Known for:** Service as a Field Marshal in World War I and World War II; leadership in the Battle of the Caucasus, Battle of Kiev, and Battle of France
- **Employer(s):** German Armed Forces (Implied by service period and conflicts)
- **Field(s):** Military Service, Armed Forces

## Contributions
Paul Ludwig Ewald von Kleist led military operations across two World Wars. In World War I, he contributed to the German war effort during the Battle of Tannenberg. During World War II, he commanded units in the 1939 Invasion of Poland and the subsequent Battle of France. He played a significant role on the Eastern Front, leading forces in the Battle of Brody, the Battle of Uman, the Battle of Kiev, the Second Battle of Kharkov, and the Battle of the Caucasus. His service spanned from 1900 until 1944, culminating in his rank as Field Marshal.

## FAQs
**When was Paul Ludwig Ewald von Kleist born and when did he die?**
He was born on August 8, 1881, and died on November 13, 1954.

**Which wars did Paul Ludwig Ewald von Kleist fight in?**
He fought in both World War I (1914–1918) and World War II (1939–1945).

**What major battles was he involved in during World War II?**
He was involved in the 1939 Invasion of Poland, the Battle of France, the Battle of Brody, the Battle of Uman, the Battle of Kiev, the Second Battle of Kharkov, and the Battle of the Caucasus.

**What awards did Paul Ludwig Ewald von Kleist receive?**
He received the Order of Michael the Brave, the Military Merit Order (Bavaria), the Hanseatic Cross, the Clasp to the Iron Cross, the Honour Cross of the World War 1914/1918, the Wehrmacht Long Service Award, the Eastern Medal, the Military Merit Cross (Austria-Hungary), the Military Order of Italy, and the Hungarian Order of Merit.

**What was his rank and nationality?**
He achieved the rank of Field Marshal and held citizenship in Germany and Nazi Germany.

## Why They Matter
Paul Ludwig Ewald von Kleist matters as a high-ranking military leader who shaped the operational conduct of the German Army during pivotal moments of the 20th century. His leadership in the Battle of the Caucasus and the encirclement battles at Kiev and Uman had significant strategic impacts on the Eastern Front of World War II. His receipt of awards from multiple nations, including Romania, Italy, and Hungary, highlights the international scope of his military engagements and recognition.

## Notable For
- **Military Rank:** Attained the rank of Field Marshal, the highest rank in the German army.
- **World War I Service:** Fought in the Battle of Tannenberg against the Russian Empire.
- **World War II Leadership:** Commanded forces in the Invasion of Poland and the Battle of France.
- **Eastern Front Campaigns:** Key leader in the Battle of Brody, Battle of Uman, Battle of Kiev, Second Battle of Kharkov, and Battle of the Caucasus.
- **Decorations:** Recipient of the Order of Michael the Brave (Romania), the Clasp to the Iron Cross (Nazi Germany), and the Eastern Medal.
- **Service Duration:** Active military service from 1900 to 1944.

## Body

### Military Service and Career
Paul Ludwig Ewald von Kleist was a member of the species *Homo sapiens* and pursued a career as a military personnel and military officer. His work period began in 1900 and ended in 1944. Throughout his career, he held citizenship in Germany and later Nazi Germany. He ultimately rose to the rank of Field Marshal, serving as a commander during major global conflicts.

### World War I Conflicts
During World War I, Kleist participated in the Battle of Tannenberg, a significant 1914 battle between Russia and Germany. This conflict occurred during the existence of the Russian Empire, a sovereign state and historical empire that spanned Eurasia and, for a period, North America. The Russian Empire was founded by Peter the Great on October 22, 1721, and functioned as an absolute monarchy until its dissolution on September 1, 1917, following the February Revolution. Kleist's engagement in this war placed him against the forces of an empire that, at its height in 1865, covered 23.7 million square kilometers and had a population of over 181 million by 1916.

### World War II Operations
Kleist's military career continued into World War II, where he was involved in numerous critical operations:
*   **1939 Invasion of Poland:** He participated in the German, Soviet, and Slovak attack on Poland that marked the beginning of World War II.
*   **Battle of France:** He was involved in the Nazi German invasion of France in 1940.
*   **Battle of Brody:** He commanded forces during this tank battle which took place between June 23 and 30, 1941.
*   **Battle of Uman:** He played a role in the encirclement of the 6th and 12th Soviet armies during the 1941 German offensive on the Eastern Front.
*   **Battle of Kiev:** He participated in the 1941 battle that resulted in a large encirclement of Soviet troops near Kiev.
*   **Second Battle of Kharkov:** He was involved in this May 1942 battle.
*   **Battle of the Caucasus:** He led operations during this 1942 military campaign.

### Awards and Recognition
Throughout his service, Kleist received a wide array of military decorations from various nations and periods:
*   **Order of Michael the Brave:** The highest Romanian order of gallantry for individuals and military units, instituted in 1916.
*   **Military Merit Order (Bavaria):** A Bavarian Order of Merit and War Honour active from 1866 to 1921.
*   **Hanseatic Cross:** A military decoration of the Hanseatic city-states of Bremen, Hamburg, and Lübeck (German Empire) during World War I, instituted in 1915.
*   **Clasp to the Iron Cross:** A courage award in two classes in Nazi Germany for soldiers who had already received the Iron Cross in the First World War, active from 1939 to 1945.
*   **Honour Cross of the World War 1914/1918:** An award for participants and surviving dependants of participants in the First World War in Nazi Germany, active from 1934 to 1945.
*   **Wehrmacht Long Service Award:** A military service award in Nazi Germany in four classes and one special class, active from 1936 to 1945.
*   **Eastern Medal:** A German campaign medal awarded from 1942 to 1944.
*   **Military Merit Cross:** A military decoration of Austria-Hungary, founded in 1849, with later additions including war decoration and swords.
*   **Military Order of Italy:** A military order of the Italian Republic, instituted in 1947.
*   **Hungarian Order of Merit:** An order established in 1991.

### National Context: Germany
Kleist served under the banner of Germany, a sovereign state in Central Europe. Germany is a federal parliamentary republic with a population of over 83 million people, making it one of the most populous countries in the world. The modern state was established on May 23, 1949, marking the establishment of the Federal Republic of Germany. The capital is Berlin, which has been the seat of government since October 3, 1990. The official language is German, and the currency is the euro. The national motto is "Einigkeit und Recht und Freiheit" (Unity and Justice and Freedom), and the flag features black, red, and gold horizontal stripes. Germany is a member of the United Nations, the European Union, NATO, the G7, the G20, and the OECD. It has a strong economy with a GDP of approximately €4.12 trillion in 2023 and is known for its contributions to manufacturing, services, and technology.

### Geopolitical Context: Russian Empire
During World War I, Kleist's adversaries included the Russian Empire. This empire was a transcontinental state situated in Eurasia and North America (Russian America). It was proclaimed on October 22, 1721, by Peter the Great and existed until September 1, 1917. The empire transitioned from an absolute monarchy to a constitutional monarchy in 1905. It covered vast territories, with an area of 23,700,000 km² in 1865. The official religion was Russian Orthodoxy, and the official language was Russian, though Polish, Finnish, and Swedish were used in certain regions. The empire was succeeded by the Russian Republic following the abolition of the monarchy and the October Revolution.

## References

1. general catalog of BnF
2. Virtual International Authority File
3. [Source](https://kalliope-verbund.info/DE-611-BF-117120)
4. SNAC
5. Find a Grave
6. Encyclopædia Britannica Online
7. BnF authorities
8. Croatian Encyclopedia
9. Munzinger Personen
10. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
11. [Nuremberg Trials Project](https://nuremberg.law.harvard.edu/documents/151682-title-page-table-of-contents?q=laternser#p.1)