Born at Briesen near Friesack in Brandenburg, to Major Friedrich von Bredow and Bernhardine Sophie (née von Wulffen), he joined the Garde-Husaren-Regiment in 1832. By 1859, he had been given command of the 4th Dragoon Regiment. As a colonel, von Bredow led the 2nd Cavalry Brigade in the Austro-Prussian War of 1866, and was promoted to Major general. He is best known as a hero of the Franco-Prussian War after the battle of Mars-la-Tour on August 16, 1870. During this battle he commanded the Prussian 12th Cavalry Brigade on one of the last successful massed cavalry charges in warfare. Before his assault von Bredow stated of that "it will cost what it will." "Von Bredow's Death Ride" resulted in massive casualties on the Prussian forces but he managed to defeat a French force that outnumbered