Georg von Stackelberg



Georg August Paul Freiherr von Stackelberg (Георгий Карлович Штакельберг; 30 July 1851 – 25 July 1913) was a Baltic German cavalry general in the service of the Imperial Russian Army. He was noted for his role during the Russo-Japanese War, especially during the Battle of Sandepu, in which he was awarded the Order of St. George afterwards.

Biography
Stackelberg was from a Baltic German noble family and graduated from the Nicholas General Staff Academy in 1869. His older brother Konstantin was a famous composer and the director of the Imperial Music Choir. (now the St. Petersburg Philharmonic Orchestra)

As a commander in the 1st Semirechye Cossacks from 1874 to 1876, Stackelberg distinguished himself during the Russian conquest of the Khanate of Khiva and the Kokand expedition of 1875 under General Konstantin von Kaufman. He was wounded in combat, and although nominated for numerous awards, he refused to accept any.

From August 18, 1886, to December 5, 1890, Stackelberg commanded the 25th Dragoon Regiment at Kazan. He was then assigned to command the Trans-Caspian Cossacks until December 3, 1897, followed by the 15th Cavalry Division to May 31, 1899.

Stackelberg was commander of the Russian 10th Cavalry Division during the suppression of the Boxer Rebellion in China and Russian occupation of Manchuria. Afterwards, he was assigned command of the 2nd Siberian Army Corps from April 25, 1901, to February 11, 1902. He was then commander of the 1st Cavalry Corps from February 11, 1902, to February 3, 1904.

From April 5, 1904, during the Russo-Japanese War, Stackelberg was commander of the Russian 1st Siberian Army Corps, which played a major role in the Battle of Te-li-Ssu. Hampered by orders from Russian commander-in-chief General Aleksei Kuropatkin not to commit his entire reserves, and to fight a defensive battle rather than push forward in an offense, his forces were decisively defeated by the Second Japanese Army under General Oku Yasukata. In the subsequent Battle of Sandepu, Stackelberg chose to ignore Kuropatkin's orders and made gains against entrenched Japanese positions, albeit with heavy casualties, but was forced to withdraw when reinforcements were denied. Relieved of his command for insubordination, he was sent back to St Petersburg after the battle, where he was awarded the Order of St. George (4th class) for his actions.

Honours and awards

 * RUS_Order_św._Stanisława_(baretka).svg Order of St. Stanislaus, 3rd class
 * Order_of_Saint_Anna_ribbon_bar.svg Order of St. Anne 3rd class with Swords
 * RUS_Order_św._Stanisława_(baretka).svg Order of St. Stanislaus, 2nd class with swords (1873)
 * Order_of_Saint_Vladimir,_ribbon_bar.svg Order of St. Vladimir, 4th class with Swords (1876)
 * Order_of_Saint_Anna_ribbon_bar.svg Order of St. Anne 2nd class with Swords (1877)
 * RUS_Order_św._Stanisława_(baretka).svg Order of St. Stanislaus, 1st class (1894)
 * Order_of_Saint_Anna_ribbon_bar.svg Order of St. Anne 1st class (1898)
 * Order_of_Saint_Vladimir,_ribbon_bar.svg Order of St. Vladimir, 2nd class with Swords (1901)
 * RUS_Order_White_Eagle_BAR.png Order of the White Eagle (1901)
 * RUS_Order_of_St._Alexander_Nevsky_BAR.png Order of St. Alexander Nevsky (1905)
 * RUS Order of Saint George 4th class ribbon 2000.svg Order of St. George, 4th class (1905)
 * RUS Order of Saint George 4th class ribbon 2000.svg Golden Weapon with the inscription "For Bravery" (1876)