WORLD HISTORY

Detailed explanation-1: -Moltke was selected as chief of the Prussian General Staff in 1857 and confirmed in that office in September 1858. Thus began the era of the great triumvirate-Otto von Bismarck (chancellor), Moltke, and Albrecht von Roon (1803–79; minister of war from 1859)-that within 13 years was to change the map of Europe.

Detailed explanation-2: -King Frederick the Great, a formidable battle commander, led the disciplined Prussian troops to victory during the 18th-century Silesian Wars and greatly increased the prestige of the Kingdom of Prussia.

Detailed explanation-3: -He became a major general in 1850, a lieutenant general and member of the commission to reorganize the army, minister of war in 1859, and minister of the navy in 1861. As war minister, Roon reorganized the Prussian army, thus contributing to its victories of 1866 and 1870–71.

Detailed explanation-4: -Helmuth von Moltke, in full Helmuth Karl Bernhard, Count (graf) von Moltke, (born October 26, 1800, Parchim, Mecklenburg [Germany]-died April 24, 1891, Berlin, Germany), chief of the Prussian and German General Staff (1858–88) and the architect of the victories over Denmark (1864), Austria (1866), and France (1871).

Detailed explanation-5: -Because the occupying French prohibited the Prussians from forming divisions, the Prussian Army was divided into six brigades, each consisting of seven to eight infantry battalions and twelve squadrons of cavalry. The combined brigades were supplemented with three brigades of artillery.