Carl Heinrich von Wedel
| Carl Heinrich von Wedel | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1712 Uckermark, Margraviate of Brandenburg |
| Died | 1782 (aged 69–70) |
| Allegiance |
 Prussia
|
| Rank | Lieutenant General |
| Battles/wars | |
| Awards | Pour le Mérite |
Carl Heinrich von Wedel was a Prussian general in the Seven Years' War, who fought in the Battle of Tornow in 1758, and the Battle of Kay in 1759.
The noble family Wedel belongs to the Pomeranian nobility. Carl Heinrich Von Wedel's father Georg Wilhelm was the district of Uckermark's Superior Court Director, and owner of the Goritz manor—his mother was Marie Salome of Eichstedt. At fifteen years of age Wedel went to the Prussian military and enlisted as Corporal in the King's Leibregiment (Nr. 6). In 1730 he was promoted to Ensign, on 1 March 1735 to Second Lieutenant. Shortly after his accession, on 23 June 1740, Frederick II appointed him Captain and company commander of the Grenadier Guards Battalion (Nr. 6).
Wedel took part in the Silesian Wars, though his regiment did not see battle. Nevertheless, Wedel received on 14 August 1743 a promotion to Major in the Infantry Regiment of Kleist (Nr. 26), to which be belonged for the following 14 years. He was wounded in the Battle of Soor in 1745.
Wedel was promoted to lieutenant colonel on 8 September 1751, and awarded the Pour le Mérite on 31 May 1752. After the court-martial hearing of Captain Ernst Joachim von Virgin, he was promoted on 17 June 1755 to the rank of Colonel.
The first battle experience Wedel's regiment had in the Seven Years' War was at the Battle of Prague on 6 May 1757. Six days later, he was appointed regimental commander. At the Battle of Rossbach, he participated, but did little to fight. At Leuthen his regiment fulfilled their role with such success that 14 members were awarded the Pour La Mérite.
On 5 January 1758 Wedel took over the Infantry Regiment Schultze (Nr. 29), though he moved to the head office of his prior regiment only three weeks later. In the spring he came to the siege corps before Olomouc. Wedel repulsed Laudon's attacks in Littau on 20 June, and in Gundersdorf on 28 June. In September, he was transferred to a corps in Uckermark to free it from Swedish control. Wedel mastered the task until October.
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