Pfuel, often spelled “Phull,” was born to a prominent Württemberg noble family. He began service in the Württemberg Army in 1774 and transferred as a lieutenant in the Prussian Army in 1779. Beginning in 1781, Pfuel served on the Prussian general staff and participated in the campaigns against France. After the Prussian debacle in 1806, he entered Russian service on 8 January 1807, receiving the rank of major general.
Promoted to lieutenant general on 11 September 1809, he served at the main Russian headquarters in 1810–1811 and prepared a strategic plan of the defense of Russia in case of French invasion, known as the Drissa Plan. This plan required the 1st Western Army to retreat to a fortified camp and pin down the French forces there, while the 2nd Western Army was to operate against the enemy flanks and rear. Despite major flaws in this strategy, Tsar Alexander, who completely trusted Pfuel, ordered construction of the fortified camp at Drissa, despite opposition from many senior Russian officers. At the start of the campaign in 1812, Alexander realized the potential dangers of deploying his army at Drissa and allowed General Mikhail Barclay de Tolly to withdraw farther into Russia. Pfuel was recalled to St. Petersburg and did not participate in any military decision making during the campaigns of 1813–1814. After the war, he was appointed Russian envoy to Holland, where he served before retiring in May 1821. He died on 25 April 1826.
References and further reading Mikaberidze, Alexander. 2005. The Russian Officer Corps in the Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, 1792–1815. New York: Savas Beatie.
