Hans Karl was educated at the
Berlin cadet school, but by the desire of his father,
Frederick II's
aide-de-camp who had passed into the
service of Russia, he also did the same in 1801. He served in the campaign of 1805 against
Napoleon and the
Grande Armée, was wounded at
Austerlitz, fought at
Eylau and
Friedland, and after Friedland was promoted captain. During the next five years of peace, he devoted himself to the study of military science, engaging once more in active service in the War of 1812. He distinguished himself very greatly in
Wittgenstein's campaign, and in particular at
Polotsk (18 and 19 October), after which combat, he was raised to the rank of major-general. In the latter part of the campaign, he served against the Prussian contingent of
General Yorck (von Wartenburg), with whom, through
Clausewitz, he negotiated the celebrated
convention of Tauroggen, serving thereafter with Yorck in the early part of the
German Campaign of 1813. After the
battle of Lützen (1813), he served in Silesia and took part in negotiating the secret
treaty of Reichenbach. Having distinguished himself at the battles of
Dresden and
Leipzig he was promoted lieutenant-general. At the crisis of the campaign of 1814, he strongly urged the march of the allies on Paris; and after their entry the
emperor Alexander conferred on him the
order of St. Alexander Nevsky. In 1815 he attended the Congress of Vienna and was afterwards made adjutant-general to the emperor, with whom, as also with his successor
Nicholas, he had great influence. By Nicholas he was created baron, and later count. In 1820 he had become chief of the general staff, and in 1825 he assisted in suppressing the
Decembrist revolt. His greatest exploits were in the
Russo-Turkish War of 1828–1829, which, after a period of doubtful contest, was decided by Diebitsch's brilliant campaign of
Adrianople; this won him the rank of field-marshal and the
victory title of Zabalkansky (meaning "Trans-
Balkan"; ) to commemorate his crossing of the Balkans. In 1830 he was appointed to command the great army destined to suppress the
November Uprising in Poland. After the inconclusive
battle of Grochow on 25 February, he won the
battle of Ostrołęka on 26 May, but soon afterwards died of
cholera at
Kleszewo near Pułtusk, on 10 June 1831. ==Notes==