Siegmund Freiherr[1] von Pranckh (5 December 1821, Altötting, Upper Bavaria – 8 May 1888, Munich), descendant of the ancient Austrian noble family Pranckh, originally residentiary in the former March and later Duchy of Styria, was a Bavarian general and Minister of War.

Pranckh was born in upper Bavaria, as a son of a lieutenant colonel of the Bavarian Army.

Pranckh joined the army in Munich in 1840, being in the cadet corps before, and in 1849 (having risen to captain) worked on the staff of the Generalquartiermeister.

He overhauled the conscription and replacement system, introduced the modern M1869 Werder Rifle, and changed military training and education.

[2] Immediately after the outbreak of the Franco-Prussian War he was promoted to Lieutenant General, and prudently and effectively organized the Bavarian Army and its munitions after it had suffered considerable losses.