With Karl Albert von Kamptz, the Justice minister, he contributed significantly to the end of the Prussian reforms and was one of the driving forces of the Restoration era in Prussia.

With the help of Sophie Marie von Voß, his family friend, Wittgenstein was brought into king Friedrich Wilhelm III's circle.

Along with the crown prince, later Friedrich Wilhelm IV, he was one of the leaders of the reactionary party in opposition to Prussian reforms led by Hardenberg.

After the assassination of August von Kotzebue, he pushed forward the reactionary reorganization of German Confederation and the 'Persecution of Demagogues' and implemented Carlsbad Decrees strictly.

Wittgenstein and his reactionary circles in the Prussian court harassed and spied upon Hegel and his pupils,[2] such as Leopold von Henning, Friedrich Wilhelm Carové etc.