Baron Léon Alphonse Ernest Bruno de Witte de Haelen, born Léon de Witte (12 January 1857 – 15 July 1933) was a Belgian army officer and

general A general officer is an Officer (armed forces), officer of highest military ranks, high rank in the army, armies, and in some nations' air forces, space forces, and marines or naval infantry. In some usages the term "general officer" refers t ...

who served during

World War I World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...

. He is particularly known for commanding the Belgian Cavalry Division at the

Battle of Haelen The Battle of Halen, also known as the Battle of the Silver Helmets ( nl, Slag der Zilveren Helmen, french: Bataille des casques d'argent) because of the many cavalry helmets left behind on the battlefield by the German cuirassiers, took place on ...

in 1914.

Military career

De Witte entered the Royal Military Academy in 1874. He was promoted to Sous-lieutenant in 1878. In 1880, he requested a transfer to the cavalry and was posted to the 2nd Chasseurs à Cheval. He received his

Brevet d'état-major A ''Brevet d'état-major'' ( French) or ''Staf Brevet'' (Dutch), both literally "General Staff Brevet", is a form of military distinction in France and Belgium Belgium, ; french: Belgique ; german: Belgien officially the Kingdom of Be ...

(BEM) in 1887, and between 1906 and 1910 served as commander of the 1st Guides Regiment. He held command of the 2nd Cavalry Brigade between 1910 and 1913 and was in command of the newly created Cavalry Division when Belgium was invaded by Germany in 1914. He was promoted to Lieutenant-General in August 1914, just 6 days before commanding his division at the

. The Belgian victory at the battle, nicknamed the "Battle of the Silver Helmets" after the cavalry helmets left on the battlefield after the fighting, was an important incident of the campaign. In 1915, he was named Inspector-General of the Cavalry, which he held until 1919.

Honours

* : Grand Cordon Order of Leopold, RD 1924. * : Grand Officer Order of the Crown * : War Cross * Royal Order of the Sword , Sweden *

Croix de guerre 1914–1918 (France) The ''Croix de guerre 1914–1918'' ( en, War Cross) is a French military decoration, the first version of the '' Croix de Guerre''. It was created to recognize French and allied soldiers who were cited for valorous service during World War I, s ...

* Grand officer Military Order of the Bath, UK * Jubilee medal HM George V

References

External links

De Witte de Haelen
at ''Ars Morendi'' {{DEFAULTSORT:De Witte De Haelen, Leon 1857 births 1933 deaths People from Ixelles Barons of Belgium Belgian Army generals of World War I Commandeurs of the Légion d'honneur Grand Crosses of the Order of the Crown (Belgium) Recipients of the Order of St. Anna Honorary Knights Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath Commanders of the Order of Saints Maurice and Lazarus Royal Military Academy (Belgium) alumni Cavalry commanders