Johann, Duke of Oschtauch

Johann Albrecht Leischmeir (1853-1946), was an Apfeldonian General, Duke, and the Chief of Staff of the Apfeldonian Army from 1910 to 1922. He served in most of Apfeldonia's major engagements in the late 19th and early 20th century.

Early Life
Johann Albrecht Leischmeir was born July 2, 1853 to Ernst Leischmeir, an officer in the Apfeldonian Army, and his wife, Alma. Johann's father Ernst, and grandfather, Frederick, were both officers in the Army.

In 1869, at age 16, Johann joined the Army as an enlisted man and was assigned to the 4th Oschtauchen Infantry Regiment, and served for a year. He worked extremely hard the following year to receive an appointment to the Lahn Military Academy, and served as a riverboat guard for seven months to draw extra pay. In 1870, he was granted an appointment to the Lahn Military Academy, and graduated 2nd in his class in 1874. A newly commissioned Second Lieutanant, Johann was transferred to the 1st Oschtauchen Cavalry Regiment, and later became it's commander.

Leischmeir married in 1874 to Elsa Holheim and later had three children together: Hans, Joseph, and Theda. Also in 1874, Johann got his first combat experience in the First Mahboombian Colonial War. His regiment was one of the greatest performing units, and gained notoriety at the Battle of Haldreck's Hill.

Early Military Career
After graduating the Lahn Military Academy, then serving in the First Mahboomban War, Johann was promoted to Captain, and served as Executive Officer of the 1st Oschtauchen Cavalry. In 1878 his unit, along with the 1st, 17th, 12th Oschtauchen Infantry, the 3rd, 8th, 19th Oschtauchen Cavalry, the 2nd, 5th, 9th, 12th, 32nd Royal Infantry, and and 7th, 9th, and 11th Royal Cavalry were dispatched to the Lunarian Wars. Leischmeir emerged in 1881 from the Lunarian Wars as a major, and was awarded the Apfeldonian Cross of Honor. He was promoted to full Colonel in 1886, and transferred to the 1st Royal Cavalry Regiment. He became the commanding officer of the unit, and led it through the Pang Dong Colonial Expedition of 1888-89. In 1890, Colonel Leishmeir trained the 1st Royal Cavalry to be the best trained, best performing unit in the entire Army. It is stated that the King himself was exceptionally pleased with the 1st Cavalry.

Mahboomban Rebellion
In 1892, the Yuluz tribes of the Colony of Maboombah(Mabouhm) rebelled against the colonial government. Troops of the Infantry and Cavalry were dispatched, including the 1st Cavalry Regiment. Colonel Leischmeir, having had fought these tribes once before, was well aware of the fight ahead, as well as the terrain, and the type of tactics these tribes used. He served partly as an advisor to younger, less experienced combat commanders during this war. This war was much tougher than the previous, as some of the tribes had acquired firearms from an unknown source.

Perhaps the most famous engagement of the two year war was the Battle of Mount H'manghjla. Colonel Leischmeir and the 1st Cavalry Regiment were tasked with holding the stronghold of Mount H'manghjla in the eastern part of the colony, with the regiment numbering 2,450. The Yuluz tribes attacking, under the command of Chief Kalmanzodo Jug'wholme numbered around 6,980. A strenuous three-day battle soon began. The cavalrymen were dug in tight on the mountain, and had the height advantage. Wave after wave of tribesmen attacked the position, day and night. The cavalrymen soon ran out of ammunition and vicious hand to hand combat ensued. Eventually, the tribes stopped their attack after the third day. The weary cavalrymen were soon relieved by the 4th Infantry Regiment. Having kept their horses on top of the mountain, the cavalry always had an escape plan, yet they battled it out for those three days. This battle was one of the major turning points in the war, and each engagement afterwards resulted in an Apfeldonian victory.

Three months later, the Army of Apfeldonia prevailed in ending the rebellion. The total number of casualties in the Mahboomban Rebellion were as follows:

Apfeldonia: 2,436 (Dead) 438 (Wounded)

Yuluz Tribes: 10,300 (Dead) (Approximate) 13,000+ (Wounded) (Approximate)

The Casualties of the 1st Cavalry Regiment were as follows:

178 (Dead) 21 (Wounded)

The men of the 1st Cavalry Regiment were immortalized in newspapers across the country, and they returned home as war heros. Colonel Leischmeir and four of his junior officers were awarded Apfeldonia's Highest Military Honor, the Grand Cross of Valor. In 1894, Colonel Leischmeir became the Military Colonial Governor of Mahbouhm, and later Tigeria, he increased the economies of both colonies and they became the greatest colonies of the continent of Afrekka. In 1899, Leischmeir was promoted to Brigadier General, and became an instructor of Cavalry at Lahn Military Academy until 1906, when he was given the command of the first Army Corps, the main guarding force around the Lahn area.



Leischmeir kept the command of the First Army Corps until 1910, when he was promoted to Full General and was appointed the Army's Chief of Staff. He oversaw the Army throughout the Great War of 1913-1919.

The Great War
In 1913, a coalition of smaller nations declared war on Apfeldonia due to it's colonial expansion. The previous King, William, had seen this coming, and had done nothing. The new King, Travis III, allowed Leischmeir to run the war he saw fit. Many bloody battles raised casualties on both sides, but the war turned out to be a victory for Apfeldonia. In 1919, the smaller nations surrendered to Apfeldonia.

Throughout the war, Leischmeir pushed for new innovations in military technology, such as the military version of the new airplane, and the tank. A new, fully armored cavalry division was created under Leischmeir, and slowly, horses were phased out, the final horse cavalry regiment was retired in 1923. A new branch of service, the Army Air Service was established in 1915, and was later renamed the Air Force in 1922.

Post Great War
Leischmeir served as the Army's Chief of Staff until 1922. In 1922, having served the mandatory 12 years as Chief of Staff, he turned his position over to General Tolv von Retzloff. Leischmeir took up his new command as Vice Chief of Staff of the Apfeldonian Army.

Personal Life and Death
Throughout his life, Leischmeir enjoyed hunting, fishing, and spending time outdoors with his wife and children. He encouraged his officers to go hunting, as he found it to enhance horsemanship, leadership, developing an eye for terrain and rapid decision-making under danger.

Leischmeir battled throughout his life not just enemies of the country, but also alcoholism. It was known only by his family and by close friends. Despite this, he lived to be 93 years old, and died November 17th, 1946.