After serving as a military
attaché in Vienna and on the
Transylvanian frontier during the
Crimean War, Kraft was made a captain on the
general staff, and in 1856 personal aide-de-camp to the king, remaining, however, in close touch with the artillery. In 1864, having become major and then lieutenant colonel, he resigned the staff appointments to become commander of the new Guard Field Artillery regiment. In the following year, he became colonel. Kraft saw his first real active service in 1866. In the hold advance of the Guard corps on the
Austrian right wing at
Königgrätz during the
Austro-Prussian War, he led the Guard reserve artillery with success, and after the short war ended he turned his energies, now fortified by experience, to the tactical training of the Prussian artillery. in Dresden. In 1868 Kraft was made a major-general and assigned to command the Guard artillery brigade. At the same moment he became a member of the
Artillerie Prüfungskommission. As commander of the Guard artillery brigade Kraft gained great distinction during the
Franco-Prussian War, especially at
Gravelotte and
Sedan. He was in control of the artillery attack on the fortifications of
Paris. In 1873 he was placed in command of an infantry division, and three years later was promoted to lieutenant-general. While he retired in 1879, he was made general of infantry in 1883 and then general of artillery in 1889. == Writings ==