Otto Graf zu Castell-Castell

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Otto Graf zu Castell-Castell
Flügeladjutant Otto Friedrich Graf zu Castell-Castell.jpeg
Flügeladjutant Otto Friedrich Graf zu Castell-Castell, since 22 April 1829, the family also carries the title "Erlaucht" (Highness);[1] He is wearing the uniform with Adjutantenschnur or Achselband (adjutant cord or aguilette) in silver for Flügeladjutanten.
Birth name Otto Friedrich Graf zu Castell-Castell
Birth date 12 May 1868(1868-05-12)
Place of birth Schloß Castell, Lower Franconia, Kingdom of Bavaria
Death date 8 July 1939 (aged 71)
Place of death Schloß Hochburg, Hochburg-Ach, Reichsgau Oberdonau, Ostmark, German Reich
Allegiance Coat of arms of the Kingdom of Bavaria.jpg Kingdom of Bavaria
 German Empire
Service/branch Fahne der Bayerischen Armee.png Royal Bavarian Army
Iron Cross of the Luftstreitkräfte.png Imperial German Army
Years of service 1886–1914
1914–1918
Rank Generalmajor
Battles/wars World War I
Awards Red Eagle Order
Iron Cross
Bavarian Military Merit Order
Relations ∞ 1903 Amélie Prinzessin zu Löwenstein-Wertheim-Freudenberg

Otto Friedrich Graf zu Castell-Castell (12 May 1868 – 8 July 1939) was a German officer of the Bavarian Army and the Imperial German Army, finally Generalmajor as well as Flügeladjutant of Prince Regent Luitpold (1900–1912), Prince Regent Ludwig (1912–1913) and King of Bavaria Ludwig III (1913–1918), one and the same person.

Life

Royal guests and relatives at the wedding of Alexandrine Louise Princess of Denmark and Dr. jur. Luitpold Count of Castell-Castell at Christiansborg Palace in Copenhagen on 22 January 1937. The couple met for the first time in Berlin during the 1936 Summer Olympics. Following their first meeting, Luitpold and Alexandrine Louise spent nearly every day together. Before her departure from Berlin, Luitpold proposed marriage and Alexandrine Louise accepted. On this photo, the groom is wearing the Grand Cross of the Danish Order of the Dannebrog.
Graf zu Castell-Castell as a young adjutant
Otto Graf zu Castell-Castell (3. from left) with the King of Bavaria (4. from left) in Straßburg, 1915
Otto Graf zu Castell-Castell, in: Militär-Handbuch des Königreiches Bayern, 1916, p. 2

After attending Gymnasium and passing his exams (with Abitur), Graf zu Castell-Castell voluntarily joined the Königlich Bayerisches 1. Ulanen-Regiment „Kaiser Wilhelm II., König von Preußen“ as a Fähnrich on 19 August 1886. He was sent to military school, was commissioned and was commanded to the Royal Bavarian Riding School (Equitations-Anstalt) for two years. From 1897 to 1900, he studied at the War Academy (Königlich Bayerische Kriegsakademie). He graduated the 30th course with the qualification to become a senior adjutant (Höhere Adjutantur); secondarily General Staff.

He became Adjutant of the IV. Armee-Inspektion on 19 September 1900 and, still Oberleutnant, was named Flügeladjutant of King Otto Wilhelm Luitpold Adalbert Waldemar von Wittelsbach (de facto serving the Prince Regent Luitpold, Otto was unfit to rule) on 6 December 1900,[2] which was unusual given his age and rank, but due to his name and position. He served in WWI, being promoted to Generalmajor in May 1918, but was not elevated to an appointment as General à la suite or General-Adjutant and retired still in the appointment of a Flügel-Adjutant with Major-General's rank on 28 December 1918.

Family

Descent

Otto was the son of lord of the manor Major à la suite Friedrich Karl Wilhelm Ernst Graf zu Castell[3] (1826–1886), Hereditary Imperial Councilor of the Crown of Bavaria (Erblicher Reichsrath der Krone Bayern[4]), and his wife Emma, née Gräfin zu Solms-Rödelheim und Assenheim (1831–1904). He had six siblings:[5]

  • Emilie Amalie Johanne Bertha Elise Agnes Gräfin zu Castell-Castell (1857–1893)
  • Agnes Ida Adelheid Clotilde Gräfin zu Castell-Castell (1858–1938)
  • Clotilde Marie Gräfin zu Castell-Castell (1860–1906)
  • Amalie Charlotte Gräfin zu Castell-Castell (1862–1927)
  • Friedrich Carl Graf zu Castell-Castell, since 1901 Fürst zu Castell-Castell (1864–1923)
  • Jenny Gräfin zu Castell-Castell (1866–1923); ⚭ Castell 25 July 1907 Hauptmann Karl Franz zu Solms-Rödelheim und Assenheim (1864–1923), officer, lord of the manor and politician[6]

Marriage

On 5 October 1903 at Schloß Langenzell, Graf zu Castell-Castell married his fiancée Serene Highness (Durchlaut) Amélie Caroline Ludwiga Gabriele Prinzessin zu Löwenstein-Wertheim-Freudenberg (1883–1978),[7] daughter of Alfred Ludwig Wilhelm Leopold Prinz zu Löwenstein-Wertheim-Freudenberg (1855–1925). They had four children:[8]

  • Luitpold Alfred Friedrich Karl (1904–1941), Dr. jur.; ⚭ Castle Christiansborg in Kopenhagen 22 January 1937 Alexandrine Louise Caroline Mathilde Dagmar Prinzessin von Dänemark (1914–1962), daughter Prince Harald of Denmark, three children;[9] Alexandrine never married again, Luitpold was her first and only love.
    • Luitpold, Oberleutnant (1st Lieutenant) of the Wehrmacht, was severely wounded as a flight passenger when the Ju 52 (CE + AS; Werknummer: 5382) he was on, during a courier flight from Belgrade to Athens, crashed due to ice on the wings on 28 October 1941. He died on 6 November 1941 in the Kriegslazarett 1/602 in Bankya near Sofia.[10] Luitpold was interred at Bankya, and later reinterred in the Castell-Castell family plot at the cemetery in Hochburg.
  • Pauline Emma Amalie Gertrud Elisabeth Madeleine (1906–2002); ⚭ München 4 May 1935 Georg Ulrich Prinz von Schönburg-Waldenburg (1908–1982)
  • Gustav Friedrich Wilhelm Ernst Franz Ulrich Richard Udo Hermann (1911–1941), Luftwaffe officer, ⚔; ⚭ Bråby Sogn (Denmark) 14 July 1936 Vibeke Marie Malvina Freiin von Lotzbeck (1915–2000), two children;[11] Widow Vibeke later married Danish noble Erik Baron Juel-Brockdorff (1906–1995).
    • Gustav joined the Reichswehr as Fahnenjunker in 1931, but had to retire as Leutnant in order to receive civilian first flight training at the German Commercial Pilot School (DVS) Deutsche Verkehrsfliegerschule Cottbus (military flying was officially still forbidden due to the Treaty of Versailles). At his side other students of aviation, like Werner Mölders, who would become a great fighter ace, but also Walter Oesau and Hans-Henning Freiherr von Beust, among others. Gustav then returned to the Luftwaffe in 1935. After being trained as an officer and pilot, he transferred to the 1. Staffel/Kampfgeschwader 154 „Boelcke“ in Langenhagen. In July 1937, he volunteered for Condor Legion and served with the 2. Staffel/Kampfgruppe 88, earning himself, among other awards, the Spanish Cross. After his return to Germany, he was transferred to Kampfgeschwader 1 „Hindenburg“, would become Squadron commander and was active during the Poland Campaign, the Battle of France and the Battle of Britain, earning himself both classes of the Iron Cross and the (Frontflugspange). On 19 January 1941, Pilot Graf zu Castell-Castell would start his last mission (Feindflug) against targets in England. His He 111 H-3 (Werknummer: 3325) was hit by anti-aircraft fire, and they crashed at at Wyckham Farm, Steyning, West Sussex. With him had fallen: Beobachter (observer) Oberfeldwebel Heinz Schubert, Bordfunker (wireless operator) Oberfeldwebel Günter Janson, Bordfunker (wireless operator) Stabsfeldwebel Xaver Kroiss and Bordmechaniker (flight engineer) Gefreiter Günther Lenning. They were all buried in the North East corner of St Andrew and St. Cuthman Churchyard, Steyning, West Sussex, England. At the request of the family, Gustav Graf zu Castell-Castell's body was repatriated to Germany in September 1962 and reburied next to the grave of the father at Friedhof Hochburg (Braunau am Inn district, Upper Austria).[12]
  • Marie Therese Pauline Mechthild Ludmilla Antonie (1917–2002); ⚭ Hochburg 3 July 1937 (o¦o 1979) Philipp Franz Friedrich Conrad Wilhelm Chlodwig Prinz zu Salm-Horstmar (1909–1996)

Gut Hochburg

In 1912, Amélie Gräfin zu Castell-Castell (and with that, also her husband) inherited the manor and lands of Hochburg in Austria from her grandmother Amélie Gräfin von Reichenbach-Lessonitz, née Reichsfreiin Göler von Ravensburg (1838–1912), who had owned it since 1887. After WWI, the family moved there and from 1920 to 1925, a majestic castle was built. Otto and Amélie managed the estate together and, after Otto's death, Amélie until her death in 1978. Friedrich Carl Otto Luitpold Graf zu Castell-Castell, second son of fallen Luftwaffe Hauptmann Gustav Graf zu Castell-Castell, moved, when he turned 20 years, from Denmark to Hochburg, went to the Bundesheer and then slowly took over the estate, which he inherited in 1978. He has four children (and 10 grandchildren) with his first wife Adelheid (they divorced 2004) and married again in December 2004.[13]

Promotions

  • Fähnrich (Officer Cadet): 19 August 1886 (überzähliger Portepeefähnrich[14])
    • Offiziersreife (Officer Maturity) after passing exams: 1888
  • Second-Lieutenant (2nd Lieutenant): 15 February 1889
  • Premier-Lieutenant (1st Lieutenant): 7 November 1896
  • Rittmeister: 28 October 1901
  • Major: 5 April 1908 (without Patent)[15]
    • received Patent on 28 October 1908
    • with the rank of a regimental commander (mit dem Range eines Regiments-Kommandeurs)
  • Oberstleutnant (Lieutenant Colonel): 22 February 1913
  • Oberst (Colonel): 11 October 1914
  • Generalmajor: 28 May 1918

Awards and decorations

  • Prussian Order of the Crown (Preußischer Kronenorden), 4th Class (PK4)
  • Red Eagle Order (Roter Adlerorden), 4th Class (PRAO4/PrA4)
    • later received the Crown to his 4th Class (PrA4m.Kr)
  • Austrian Order of the Iron Crown, Knight III. Class (ÖEK3)
  • Order of the White Falcon (Hausorden vom Weißen Falken), Knight's Cross 1st Class (SWwF3a/SF3a)
  • Military Merit Order (Bavaria), Knight's Cross II. Class
  • Baden Order of the Zähringer Lion (Orden vom Zähringer Löwen), Knight's Cross I. Class (BdZL4)
  • House and Merit Order of Peter Frederick Louis, Knight of Honour 1st Class (OP3/OP3a)
  • Saxon Albrechts-Orden, Knight 1st Class with the Crown (SA4am.Kr)
  • Prinz-Regent-Luitpold Jubiläums-Medaille für die Armee 1905 in Silver (BayJM2)[16]
    • received the Crown on 24 October 1909 (Militär-Jubiläumsmedaille mit Krone)[17]
    • received the Medal in Gold with Crown in February 1911 (Prinz-Regent-Luitpold-Jubiläums-Medaille mit Krone in Gold)
  • Knight of Honour (Ehrenritter) of the Johanniter-Orden on 24 February 1908
  • Princely House Order of Hohenzollern (Fürstlich Hohenzollern'sches Ehrenzeichen), Cross of Honour III. Class (HE3/HEK3)
  • Order of the Oak Crown (Grand Duchy of Luxembourg), Officer's Cross (LEK3/LEK4)
  • Saxe-Ernestine House Order (Herzoglich Sachsen-Ernestinischer Hausorden), Knights Cross 1st Class (SEH4/SEH3a)
  • Bavarian Long Service Cross (Königlich Bayerisches Dienstauszeichnungskreuz), II. Class for 24 years (BD2)
  • Austrian Order of the Iron Crown, Knight II. Class (ÖEK2)
  • Spanish Cross of Military Merit, 2nd Class (SpMV2)
  • Order of Henry the Lion (Herzoglich Braunschweigischer Orden Heinrichs des Löwen), Officer's Cross (BrsL3a/BrsL3)
  • Mecklenburg Order of the Griffon (Großherzoglich Mecklenburgischer Greifenorden), Honour Cross (MG3/MG2c)
  • Spanish Order of Isabella the Catholic, Commander 2nd Class (SpJ2b)
  • Order of Saint Michael (Bavaria), Cross of Honour[18]
  • Baden Order of the Zähringer Lion, Commander's Cross II. Class (BdZL3/BdZL2b)
  • Red Eagle Order, 3rd Class (PrA4)
    • as of Rangliste 1914 Crown to his 3rd Class (PrA3m.Kr)
  • Saxon Albrechts-Orden, Officer's Cross (SA3)
  • Order of Henry the Lion (Herzoglich Braunschweigischer Orden Heinrichs des Löwen), Commander 2nd Class (BrsL2b)[19]
  • Hesse Order of Merit of Philip the Magnanimous (Verdienstorden Philipps des Großmütigen), Commander 2nd Class (HP2b)
  • Austrian-Hungarian Imperial Order of Leopold, Commander (ÖL2)
  • Franz-Joseph-Orden, Commander's Cross with Star (ÖFJ2m.St/ÖFJ2a)
  • Friedrichs-Orden, Commander's Cross (Kommenturkreuz) 2nd Class (WF3/WF2b)

WWI (excerpt)

  • Iron Cross (1914), 2nd Class
  • Swords to his Baden Order of the Zähringer Lion Commander's Cross II. Class (BdZL3m.Schw/BdZL2b⚔)
  • Military Merit Order (Bavaria), Officer's Cross with Swords
  • Military Merit Cross (Austria-Hungary), 2nd Class with War Decoration (Österreichisches Militärverdienstkreuz, II. Klasse mit der Kriegsdekoration; ÖMVK2KrD)
  • Princely House Order of Hohenzollern (Fürstlich Hohenzollern'sches Ehrenzeichen), Commander's Cross of Honour (Ehrenkomturkreuz) with Swords (He2am.Schw/HEK2a⚔)
  • Order of Merit of the Bavarian Crown, Knight's Cross (BCV3/BKr3)

Post-WWI

Gallery

  • Major Otto Friedrich Graf zu Castell-Castell.jpg

  • König Ludwig III., Freiherr von Stengel and Flügeladjutant Otto Graf zu Castell-Castell (in the background between the King and the Freiherr)

  • Militär-Handbuch des Königsreichs Bayern, 1914

  • Hof- und Staats-Handbuch des Königreichs Bayern, 1914

  • Rangliste, April 1918

  • Death of Oberleutnant Dr. jur. Luitpold Alfred Friedrich Karl Graf zu Castell-Castell (1904–1941)

  • Grave of Gustav Graf zu Castell-Castell's widow, Skellerup Cemetery, Denmark

  • Grave

References

  1. ↑ Gothaischer Hof-Kalender, 1898, p. 125
  2. ↑ Militär-Handbuch des Königreiches Bayern, 1901, p. 2
  3. ↑ Gothaischer Genealogischer Hofkalender, 1862, p. 243
  4. ↑ Gothaischer Hof-Kalender, 1878, p. 97
  5. ↑ CASTELL, part 1
  6. ↑ Graf und Herr zu Castell-Castell
  7. ↑ Prinzessin Amelie Caroline Ludwiga Gabriele zu Löwenstein-Wertheim-Freudenberg
  8. ↑ Gothaischer Hofkalender: Genealogisches Taschenbuch der Fürstlichen Häuser, 1935, p. 181
  9. ↑ Amélie Alexandrine Helene Caroline Mathilde Pauline (b. 25 May 1938 in Berlin); ⚭ 5 September 1965 Oscar Ritter von Miller zu Aichholz; Thyra Antonie Marie-Therese Feodora Agnes (b. 14 September 1939 in Berlin); ⚭ 3 November 1961 Karl Moritz Moes; Otto Luitpold Gustav Friedrich Christian Harald Carl (b. 13 March 1942 in Berlin; d. 19 March 1943)
  10. ↑ All together at least eight men died, three survived. Among the dead were three of four crew members: Pilot Oberfeldwebel Hermann Reichert, radio operator Feldwebel Johannes "Hans" Kleinke and flight engineer Feldwebel Walter Kürzdörfer. Further dead include military doctor Oberstabsarzt Johannes Günther (b. 11 August 1878 in Clausthal) and military pharmacist Stabsapotheker Dr. Max Wilhelm Dautert (b. 22 August 1910 in Hindenburg, Upper Silesia). Source: Ju 52 CE+AS (Archive)
  11. ↑ Christa Fanny Amélie Friederike (b. 19 May 1939 in Kolberg); ⚭ Kopenhagen 18 August 1962 Franz von Walderdorff (b. 20 November 1930 in Hauzenstein); Friedrich Carl Otto Luitpold (b. 5 July 1940 in Kolberg); I ∞ 24 May 1967 Adelheid Jördis von Lohhausen; II ∞ 10 December 2004 Heike Schrage
  12. ↑ During the war, Graf zu Castell-Castell and his crew had been declared missing, no information was given to the German side. On 28 November 1946, he was officially declared dead by sentence of the Amtsgericht Berlin-Mitte with effect from 11 July 1941. Only a few years later was the family informed by the Red Cross, when and where exactly Gustav had fallen.
  13. ↑ Großer Name in einem jungen Schloss, 2018
  14. ↑ Bamberger Neueste Nachrichten, 25 August 1886, p. 1
  15. ↑ Ranking lists of active officers and officers à la suite of the Royal Bavarian Army, 1908, p. 32
  16. ↑ Deutscher Ordens-Almanach, 1908/09, p. 228
  17. ↑ Hof- und Staatshandbuch des Königreichs Bayern, 1910, p. 296
  18. ↑ Hof- und Staatshandbuch des Königreichs Bayern, 1912, p. 263
  19. ↑ Hof- und Staatshandbuch des Königreichs Bayern, 1914, p. 282
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