Thielemann, Generallieutenant Johann Adolf Freiherr von (1765-1824)

Johann Adolf von Thielemann commanded the 3rd Corps in the June 1815 battles, the smallest of the Prussian corps in the 1815 campaign. He was, however, a relative newcomer to the Prussian army, joining in March 1815. Born in Dresden, he joined the Saxon army as a young cadet in 1780. He saw combat from various sides during his military career; he fought against the French at Jena, and then with them, in a Saxon brigade of the Grande Armée, at Heilsberg and Friedland. He was decorated for bravery in the service of the French at Borodino, during the 1812 Russian campaign. He finally left Saxon service after being ordered to hand over the fortress Torgau, leading his troops to defect to the allies. During the campaigns of 1813 and 1814, he fought in Russian service. Before joining the Prussians, he had commanded the 3rd German Federal Corps on the Lower Rhine for some months. Thielemann’s corps, with General Clausewitz as Chief of Staff, defended Wavre on 18 June whilst the rest of the Prussians marched on to Waterloo.