William Balck

Konrad Friedrich August Henry William Balck (October 19, 1858 in Osnabrück – July 15, 1924 in Aurich) was a Prussian officer and military officer who reached the rank of Generalleutnant during World War I.

William Balck
Born19 October 1858
Osnabrück, Kingdom of Hanover
Died15 July 1924(1924-07-15) (aged 65)
Aurich, Province of Hanover, Free State of Prussia, Weimar Republic
Allegiance German Empire
Service/branchHeer
Years of service1876–1919
RankGeneralleutnant
Commands held13th Landwehr Division
51. Reserve-Division
Battles/warsWorld War I
AwardsPour le Mérite
RelationsHermann Balck (son)

Life

He was the son of British Lieutenant Colonel George Philipp Balck[1] and his wife Charlotte née Lütgen, daughter of Major General Conrad Friedrich Lütgen (1790–1854) and his wife Dorothee Charlotte Lackemann.

His 1903 six-volume work Taktik (English: Tactics) was translated into English by Walter Krueger and published in the United States in two volumes, Introduction and Formal Tactics of Infantry in 1911 and Cavalry, Field and Heavy Artillery in Field Warfare in 1914.[2] This translation attracted the attention of Major General Leonard Wood, the Chief of Staff of the United States Army, and was widely read, and acclaimed, by American Army officers.[3] He was appointed as Chief Inspector of Telegraphy/Signals Troops on 9 May 1914.[4]

At the first year of the World War I, he continued his role as chief inspector of telegraphy/signals troops. Later, he commanded the 13th Landwehr Division (August 1915 - September 1916) and 51st Reserve Division (September 1916 - March 1918).

Awards

Writings
  • Taktik (Tactics) (Berlin: Eisenschmitt, 1903)[5]
  • Kriegsspiel und Übungsritt als Vorschule für die Truppenführung, (War Games and Exercise Rides as Preschool for the Leading of Combined Arms Formations) (Berlin: Eisenschmitt, 1913)
  • Die englische Armee im Felde, (The English Army in the Field), (Berlin : Bath, 1913)
  • Nachtgefechte und Nachtübungen, (Night Engagements and Night Exercises), (Berlin : Eisenschmidt, 1910)
  • Kleiner Krieg, (Small Wars), (Berlin-Charlottenburg : Verlag Offene Worte, 1923)
  • Entwickelung der Taktik im Weltkriege, (Development of Tactics in the World War), first edition (Berlin : Eisenschmidt, 1920)
  • Entwickelung der Taktik im Weltkriege, (Development of Tactics in the World War), expanded edition (Berlin : R. Eisenschmidt, 1922)

References
  • Hildebrand, Karl-Friedrich and Zweng, Christian (1999). Die Ritter des Ordens Pour le Mérite des I. Weltkriegs, Band 1: A-G. Osnabrück, Germany: Biblio Verlag. ISBN 3-7648-2505-7.
  1. Deutsche Biographie
  2. "Walter Krueger". Internet Archive Open Library. Retrieved 27 January 2020.
  3. MacDonald, John H. (1989). General Walter Krueger: A Case Study on Operational Command (PDF). Fort Leavenworth, Kansas: U.S. Army Command and General Staff College. p. 17. Archived from the original on 8 April 2013. Retrieved 4 October 2012.
  4. "William Balck". prussianmachine.com. Retrieved 7 December 2021.
  5. "Taktik (Revised Edition) [6 Volumes]". Goodreads. Retrieved 27 January 2020.
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