Otto Reinhold Föll

Otto Reinhold Föll
Birth date	19 May 1893(1893-05-19)
Place of birth	Göppingen, Kingdom of Württemberg, German Empire
Death date	19 October 1918 (aged 25)
Place of death	Cöln, Kingdom of Prussia, German Empire
Allegiance	German Empire
Service/branch	Army of Württemberg Imperial German Army
Rank	Leutnant der Reserve
Battles/wars	World War I
Awards	Iron Cross House Order of Hohenzollern
Other work	Teacher

Otto Reinhold Föll (sometimes Foell; 19 May 1893 – 19 October 1918) was a German teacher and reserve officer of the Army of Württemberg and the Imperial German Army, finally Leutnant der Reserve and observer in the Fliegertruppe during World War I.

Life

After his Abitur, Föll studied to become a teacher. He began his compulsory military service as a one-year volunteer (Einjährig-Freiwilliger) with the Füsilier-Regiment „Kaiser Franz Josef von Österreich, König von Ungarn“ (4. Württembergisches) Nr. 122 on 1 April 1913 and was honorably discharged on 31 March 1914. He then began his professional life as a teacher in Rottenacker.

WWI

When WWI broke out, he joined the replacement battalion of the Infanterie-Regiment „Kaiser Wilhelm, König von Preußen“ (2. Württembergisches) Nr. 120 on 4 August 1914. On 8 September 1914, his regiment moved into the field. During World War I, the regiment always fought within the 27. Division (2. Königlich Württembergische) only on the Western Front. He had proved himself during the bloody battles in the Forest of Argonne and in Flanders. On 30 June 1915, he was wounded (minor), stayed with his company, but was transferred to military hospital on 15 August 1915.

After convalescence time, he was commanded to the officer aspirant course on 8 September 1915, was promoted to Reserve 2nd Lieutenant on 13 July 1916 and completed the course successfully on 6 November 1916. He received two weeks of home leave and returned to his regiment on the front on 20 November 1916. He was then commanded to an Army Air Park (Armeeflugpark 14) until 10 January 1917 where he was chosen for observer school (Beobachterschule), which began on 15 January 1917. After completion on 10 March 1917, he was commanded to the Armee-Flug-Park 1 (AFP 1) on the Western Front.

He was commanded to the Bavarian FA (A) 288 or Fliegerabteilung 288 b (Artillerie) on 23 March 1917 and officially transferred on 1 May 1917. On 17 November 1917, he was commanded to the RBZ 6 or Reihenbildzug 6 (Reihenbild = image series) for a course as photo officer (aerial reconnaissance). On 9 January 1918, he was transferred to the Armeeflugpark 6 and later to the FA 5 or Fliegerabteilung 5 Lb (Lb = Lichtbild = photograph) under Hauptmann Schlieben. Among other tasks, long-distance reconnaissance was part of the Abteilung's service

Death

Leutnant d. R. Otto Reinhold Föll was severely wounded and transported to the Reserve-Lazarett Augustinerkloster in Köln. His recovery in the military hospital was progressing well when he contracted the flu, the consequences of which he died on 19 October 1918.

Awards and decorations

• Iron Cross (1914), 2nd and 1st Class
  • EK II on 12 November 1914
  • EK I on 20 September 1917
• Military Merit Medal (Württemberg) for Bravery in Silver (WMVM2/WsM) on 30 May 1916
• German Army Observer’s Badge (Abzeichen für Beobachtungsoffiziere aus Flugzeugen) on 9 June 1917
• Hamburg Hanseatic Cross (Hamburgisches Hanseatenkreuz; HH) on 17 November 1917
• Bavarian Military Merit Order, 4th Class with Swords (BMV4⚔)
• House Order of Hohenzollern, Knight's Cross with Swords (HOH3⚔) on 2 August 18
• Wound Badge (Verwundetenabzeichen 1918) in Black