The House Order of Hohenzollern (german: link=no, Hausorden von Hohenzollern or ') was a dynastic order of knighthood of the House of Hohenzollern awarded to military

commissioned officer An officer is a person who holds a position of authority as a member of an armed force or uniformed service. Broadly speaking, "officer" means a commissioned officer, a non-commissioned officer, or a warrant officer. However, absent context ...

s and civilians of comparable status. Associated with the various versions of the order were crosses and medals which could be awarded to lower-ranking soldiers and civilians.

History

The Princely House Order of Hohenzollern originated in 1841, by joint decree of Prince Konstantin of and Prince Karl Anton of . These two principalities in southern Germany were Catholic collateral lines of the House of Hohenzollern, cousins to the Protestant ruling house of

Prussia Prussia, , Old Prussian: ''Prūsa'' or ''Prūsija'' was a German state on the southeast coast of the Baltic Sea. It formed the German Empire under Prussian rule when it united the German states in 1871. It was ''de facto'' dissolved by an em ...

. On 23 August 1851, after the two principalities had been annexed by Prussia, the order was adopted by the Prussian branch of the house. Also, although the two principalities had become an administrative region of the Prussian kingdom, the princely lines continued to award the order as a house order. The Prussian version was then known as the Royal House Order of Hohenzollern (' or '), to distinguish it from the Princely House Order of Hohenzollern (' or '). It was awarded mainly for service to the royal family. Although Kaiser Wilhelm II abdicated in 1918 as German Emperor and King of Prussia, he did not relinquish his role as Head of the Royal House and as such he was still able to confer the Royal House Order. The Princely House Order continued to be awarded, unofficially, after the fall of the German Monarchy. Another development occurred in 1935. Prince Karl Anton's second son, Karl Eitel Friedrich of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen, had become prince and then king of Romania as

Carol I Carol I or Charles I of Romania (20 April 1839 – ), born Prince Karl of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen, was the monarch of Romania from 1866 to his death in 1914, ruling as Prince (''Domnitor'') from 1866 to 1881, and as King from 1881 to 1914. He w ...

. Carol I had died childless and was succeeded by his nephew Ferdinand I, also of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen. During the reign of Ferdinand's son King Carol II, the Romanian government established its own version of the House Order of Hohenzollern, known in Romanian as ' ("Order of 'Bene Merenti' of the Ruling House"). This form of the order existed until the Romanian monarchy was abolished in 1947;

King Michael Michael may refer to: People * Michael (given name), a given name * Michael (surname), including a list of people with the surname Michael Given name "Michael" * Michael (archangel), ''first'' of God's archangels in the Jewish, Christian and ...

also awarded a slightly altered order in exile.

Classes

Royal House Order

The Royal House Order of Hohenzollern came in the following classes: * Grand Commander (') * Commander (') * Knight (') * Member (') "Member" was a lesser class for soldiers who were not officers, as well as civilians. The Members' Cross ('), especially with swords, was a rare distinction for

non-commissioned officer A non-commissioned officer (NCO) is a military officer who has not pursued a commission. Non-commissioned officers usually earn their position of authority by promotion through the enlisted ranks. (Non-officers, which includes most or all enli ...

s and the like. Another decoration, the Members' Eagle (') was often given as a long-service award to lesser officials such as schoolteachers. The "Eagles" (the Members' Eagle and the Knights' Eagle, or ') were solely civilian awards, and could not be awarded with swords. All other grades could be awarded with swords. During

World War I World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...

, the Knight's Cross with Swords of the Royal House Order of Hohenzollern became in effect an intermediate award between the

Iron Cross The Iron Cross (german: link=no, Eisernes Kreuz, , abbreviated EK) was a military decoration in the Kingdom of Prussia, and later in the German Empire (1871–1918) and Nazi Germany (1933–1945). King Frederick William III of Prussia est ...

1st Class and the ' for Prussian junior officers. When awarded with swords it was worn on the ribbon of the Iron Cross.

Princely House Order

The Princely House Order of Hohenzollern came in the following classes: * Cross of Honour 1st Class (') * Commander's Cross of Honour (') * Cross of Honour 2nd Class (') * Cross of Honour 3rd Class (') * Golden Cross of Merit (') * Silver Cross of Merit (') * Golden Medal of Honour (') * Silver Medal of Merit (') The Crosses of Merit, Golden Medal of Honour and Silver Medal of Merit were lesser grades for non-commissioned officers, enlisted men and their civilian equivalents. All grades could be awarded with swords. During World War I, the appropriate grade of the Princely House Order was often awarded to officers and men of ', an infantry regiment raised in the principalities of Hohenzollern and whose honorary chief was the Prince of Hohenzollern. Soldiers in the regiment's sister reserve and ' regiments also often received the decoration. Unlike the Royal House Order, awards of the Princely House Order were made on the standard ribbon of the order (the "statute" ribbon) regardless of whether they were with or without swords.

Romanian House Order

The classes of the Romanian version of the House Order were essentially the same as those of the Princely House Order, except that the Cross of Honour 3rd Class of the Romanian version could be awarded with Oak leaves, and the Golden and Silver Medals could be awarded with a Crown. As with the Prussian and Hohenzollern versions, crossed swords could be used to indicate a wartime or combat award. Given the short existence of the order and the fact that Romania had a number of other decorations for valor and military merit (

Order of Michael the Brave The Order of Michael the Brave ( ro, Ordinul Mihai Viteazul) is Romania's highest military decoration, instituted by King Ferdinand I during the early stages of the Romanian Campaign of the First World War, and was again awarded in the Second Wor ...

Order of the Star of Romania The Order of the Star of Romania (Romanian: ''Ordinul Steaua României'') is Romania's highest civil Order and second highest State decoration after the defunct Order of Michael the Brave. It is awarded by the President of Romania. It has five r ...

, Order of the Crown of Romania, Air Force Bravery Order, Cross of Military Virtue, Air Force and Naval Bravery Crosses, Crosses and Medals for Faithful Service, Medals for Steadfastness and Loyalty), awards of the Romanian version of the House Order with swords are uncommon.

Insignia

The ''badge'' of the House Order of Hohenzollern was a cross pattée with convex edges and curved arms (sometimes called an "Alisee" cross). There were differences in the enameling of the arms of the cross for the Royal, Princely and Romanian versions, but all featured white enamel on the higher classes and a black enameled stripe near the sides of the cross. Between the arms of the cross was a wreath of laurel leaves (left side) and oak leaves (right side). The cross bore a center medallion; the medallion and its band bore different coats of arms, mottos, dates and ciphers for each of the Royal, Princely and Romanian versions: * The white-enameled ''medallion'' of the Royal House Order of Hohenzollern bore a black Prussian royal eagle with the Hohenzollern house coat of arms on a shield on the eagle's chest. Around the center medallion, a gold-rimmed band of blue enamel bore the motto in gold letters: ' ("From the cliffs to the sea"), with a wreath of laurel below. The white-enameled medallion on the reverse bore the cipher of King

Frederick William IV of Prussia Frederick William IV (german: Friedrich Wilhelm IV.; 15 October 17952 January 1861), the eldest son and successor of Frederick William III of Prussia, reigned as King of Prussia from 7 June 1840 to his death on 2 January 1861. Also referred to ...

, the king when the order was founded. A gold-rimmed band of blue enamel bore the date ' with a wreath of laurel leaves (left side) and oak leaves (right side). * The white-enameled ''medallion'' of the Princely House Order of Hohenzollern bore the Hohenzollern coat of arms (a quartered shield of black and white) under a princely crown. Around the center medallion, a gold-rimmed band of blue enamel bore the motto in gold letters: ' ("For loyalty and merit") with a smaller wreath of oak leaves below. On most grades, the white-enameled medallion on the reverse bore the intertwined ciphers ("F" and "A") of Princes Friedrich (Konstantin's actual first name) and Anton, the princes who founded the order, under a princely crown. The gold-rimmed band of blue enamel bore one of several dates, depending on the class, such as ' for the 2nd and 3rd Classes, with a wreath of laurel leaves below. Ordinul Bene Merenti cl 2

* The white-enameled ''medallion'' of the Romanian House Order bore a black Romanian eagle with the Hohenzollern coat of arms on a shield on the eagle's chest. Around the center medallion, a gold-rimmed band of blue enamel bore the motto in gold letters: ' ("Nothing without God"). The white-enameled medallion on the reverse bore the crowned cipher of King Carol. The gold-rimmed band of blue enamel bore the date of the founding of the Romanian kingdom, '. The statute ''ribbon'' of the order was white with three black stripes (with slight variations among the Royal, Princely and Romanian versions).

Notable recipients

As noted above, the Knight's Cross with Swords of the Royal House Order was the intermediate decoration between the

1st Class and the

Pour le Mérite The ' (; , ) is an order of merit (german: Verdienstorden) established in 1740 by Frederick the Great, King Frederick II of Prussia. The was awarded as both a military and civil honour and ranked, along with the Order of the Black Eagle, the Or ...

for Prussian junior officers. There were over 8,000 awards during World War I of this class (there were far fewer awards of the other classes, or of any class before the war). Thus, among the ranks of

Imperial German Army The Imperial German Army (1871–1919), officially referred to as the German Army (german: Deutsches Heer), was the unified ground and air force of the German Empire. It was established in 1871 with the political unification of Germany under the l ...

junior officers who earned the Royal House Order as lieutenants, captains or majors in World War I are several hundred who reached the rank of general in the in World War II.

Grand Commanders

* Prince Adalbert of Prussia (1811–1873) * Prince Adalbert of Prussia (1884–1948) *

Prince Albert of Prussia (1809–1872) Prince Frederick Henry Albert of Prussia (german: Friedrich Heinrich Albrecht; 4 October 1809 – 14 October 1872) was the fifth son and youngest child of King Frederick William III of Prussia and Louise of Mecklenburg-Strelitz. His parents had f ...

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Albert, King of Saxony en, Frederick Augustus Albert Anthony Ferdinand Joseph Charles Maria Baptist Nepomuk William Xavier George Fidelis , image = Albert of Saxony by Nicola Perscheid c1900.jpg , image_size = , caption = Photograph by Nicola Persch ...

* Archduke Albrecht, Duke of Teschen *

Duke Alexander of Oldenburg , house =House of Holstein-Gottorp , father = Duke Peter of Oldenburg , mother = Princess Therese of Nassau-Weilburg , birth_date = , birth_place =St. Petersburg, Russian Empire , death_date = , ...

* Prince Alexander of Prussia *

Alexander II of Russia Alexander II ( rus, Алекса́ндр II Никола́евич, Aleksándr II Nikoláyevich, p=ɐlʲɪˈksandr ftɐˈroj nʲɪkɐˈlajɪvʲɪtɕ; 29 April 181813 March 1881) was Emperor of Russia, Congress Poland, King of Poland and Gra ...

Alexander III of Russia Alexander III ( rus, Алекса́ндр III Алекса́ндрович, r=Aleksandr III Aleksandrovich; 10 March 18451 November 1894) was Emperor of Russia, King of Poland and Grand Duke of Finland from 13 March 1881 until his death in 18 ...

* Grand Duke Alexei Alexandrovich of Russia *

Alfred, Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha Alfred (Alfred Ernest Albert; 6 August 184430 July 1900) was the sovereign duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha from 1893 to 1900. He was the second son and fourth child of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert. He was known as the Duke of Edinburgh from ...

Amadeo I of Spain Amadeo ( it, Amedeo , sometimes latinized as Amadeus; full name: ''Amedeo Ferdinando Maria di Savoia''; 30 May 184518 January 1890) was an Italian prince who reigned as King of Spain from 1870 to 1873. The first and only King of Spain to come fr ...

* Prince Arnulf of Bavaria *

Prince Arthur, Duke of Connaught and Strathearn Prince Arthur, Duke of Connaught and Strathearn (Arthur William Patrick Albert; 1 May 185016 January 1942), was the seventh child and third son of Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom and Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha. He served as Gov ...

Prince August of Württemberg , image = August of Wurttemberg.jpg , spouse = Marie Bethge , issue = Helene von Wardenberg , house =House of Württemberg , father =Prince Paul of Württemberg , mother =Princess Charlotte of Saxe-Hildburghausen , ...

* Prince August Wilhelm of Prussia *

Bernhard III, Duke of Saxe-Meiningen Bernhard III, Duke of Saxe-Meiningen (1 April 1851 – 16 January 1928), was the last reigning duke of Saxe-Meiningen. Biography Bernhard was born on 1 April 1851 at Meiningen in what was then the German Confederation, as the eldest son of Georg ...

* Theobald von Bethmann Hollweg * Herbert von Bismarck *

Otto von Bismarck Otto, Prince of Bismarck, Count of Bismarck-Schönhausen, Duke of Lauenburg (, ; 1 April 1815 – 30 July 1898), born Otto Eduard Leopold von Bismarck, was a conservative German statesman and diplomat. From his origins in the upper class of J ...

* Borwin, Duke of Mecklenburg * Julius von Bose *

Felix Graf von Bothmer Felix Ludwig Graf von Bothmer (10 December 1852 – 18 March 1937) was a German general from Bavaria. He notably served in the Brusilov offensive of World War I. Military Career and After In 1871 Bothmer joined the Bavarian Army. He spent most ...

Paul Bronsart von Schellendorff Paul Leopold Eduard Heinrich Anton Bronsart von Schellendorf (25 January 1832 – 23 June 1891) was a Prussian general and writer, who served as Minister of War from 1883 to 1889. Family Bronsart was born in Danzig (present-day Gdańsk, Poland) ...

Bernhard von Bülow Bernhard Heinrich Karl Martin, Prince of Bülow (german: Bernhard Heinrich Karl Martin Fürst von Bülow ; 3 May 1849 – 28 October 1929) was a German statesman who served as the foreign minister for three years and then as the chancellor of t ...

Karl von Bülow Karl Wilhelm Paul von Bülow (24 March 1846 – 31 August 1921) was a German field marshal commanding the German 2nd Army during World War I from 1914 to 1915. Biography Born in Berlin to the distinguished Prussian military family von Bülow, ...

Leo von Caprivi Georg Leo Graf von Caprivi de Caprara de Montecuccoli (English: ''Count George Leo of Caprivi, Caprara, and Montecuccoli''; born Georg Leo von Caprivi; 24 February 1831 – 6 February 1899) was a German general and statesman who served as the cha ...

Prince Charles of Prussia Prince Frederick Charles Alexander of Prussia (german: Friedrich Karl Alexander; 29 June 1801 – 21 January 1883) was a younger son of Frederick William III of Prussia. He served as a Prussian general for much of his adult life and became the fir ...

Charles I of Württemberg Charles (german: Karl Friedrich Alexander; 6 March 18236 October 1891) was King of Württemberg, from 25 June 1864 until his death in 1891. Early life Charles was born on 6 March 1823 in Stuttgart as the son of King William I and his third wif ...

* Charles Alexander, Grand Duke of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach * Chlodwig, Prince of Hohenlohe-Schillingsfürst * Prince Christian of Schleswig-Holstein *

Constantine, Prince of Hohenzollern-Hechingen , spouse = , issue = , house = Hohenzollern-Hechingen , father = Friedrich Hermann Otto, Prince of Hohenzollern-Hechingen , mother = Princess Pauline of Courland , birth_date = , birth_place = Schloss S ...

Edward VII Edward VII (Albert Edward; 9 November 1841 – 6 May 1910) was King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and Emperor of India, from 22 January 1901 until his death in 1910. The second child and eldest son of Queen Victoria an ...

* Prince Eitel Friedrich of Prussia * Ernst I, Duke of Saxe-Altenburg *

Ernest II, Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha Ernest II (german: Ernst August Karl Johann Leopold Alexander Eduard, link=no; 21 June 181822 August 1893) was Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha from 29 January 1844 to his death in 1893. He was born in Coburg to Ernest I, Duke of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld ...

Ernest Louis, Grand Duke of Hesse , spouses = , issue = , house = Hesse-Darmstadt , father = Louis IV, Grand Duke of Hesse and by Rhine , mother =Princess Alice of the United Kingdom , birth_date = , birth_place = New Palace, Darmstadt, Gran ...

Archduke Eugen of Austria Archduke Eugen Ferdinand Pius Bernhard Felix Maria of Austria-Teschen (21 May 1863 – 30 December 1954) was an Archduke of Austria-Hungary, Austria and a Prince of Kingdom of Hungary, Hungary and Bohemia. He was the last Grand Master of the Teu ...

Botho zu Eulenburg Botho Wendt August Graf zu Eulenburg (31 July 1831 – 5 February 1912) was a Prussian statesman. Early life and career Eulenburg was born in Wicken near Bartenstein Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria Archduke Franz Ferdinand Carl Ludwig Joseph Maria of Austria, (18 December 1863 – 28 June 1914) was the heir presumptive to the throne of Austria-Hungary. His assassination in Sarajevo was the most immediate cause of World War I. F ...

Franz Joseph I of Austria Franz Joseph I or Francis Joseph I (german: Franz Joseph Karl, hu, Ferenc József Károly, 18 August 1830 – 21 November 1916) was Emperor of Austria, King of Hungary, and the Grand title of the Emperor of Austria, other states of the Habsburg m ...

* Prince Friedrich Heinrich Albrecht of Prussia *

Prince Friedrich Karl of Prussia (1828–1885) Prince Friedrich Karl Nikolaus of Prussia (20 March 1828 – 15 June 1885) was the son of Prince Charles of Prussia (1801–1883) and his wife, Princess Marie of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach (1808–1877). Prince Friedrich Karl was a grandson of King ...

* Prince Friedrich Karl of Prussia (1893–1917) *

Prince Friedrich Leopold of Prussia Prince Friedrich Leopold of Prussia (german: Joachim Karl Wilhelm Friedrich Leopold; 14 November 1865 – 13 September 1931) was a son of Prince Frederick Charles of Prussia and Princess Maria Anna of Anhalt-Dessau, married in 1854. Family ...

Prince Friedrich Sigismund of Prussia (1891–1927) Prince Joachim Viktor Wilhelm Leopold Friedrich Sigismund of Prussia (17 December 1891 – 6 July 1927) was a German World War I fighter pilot and member of the House of Hohenzollern. He was the son of Prince Friedrich Leopold of Prussia and Prin ...

Frederick Francis II, Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin Frederick Francis II (German: ''Friedrich Franz II;'' 28 February 1823 – 15 April 1883) was a Prussian officer and Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin from 7 March 1842 until 15 April 1883. Biography He was born in Schloss Ludwigslust, the e ...

Frederick Francis IV, Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin Frederick Francis IV (Friedrich Franz Michael; 9 April 1882 – 17 November 1945) was the last Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin and regent of Mecklenburg-Strelitz. He inherited the throne when he was fifteen years old in 1897 and was forced to ...

Frederick I, Duke of Anhalt , image = Friedrich I Anhalt.jpg , caption = Frederick I, Duke of Anhalt , succession = Duke of Anhalt , reign = 22 May 1871 – 24 January 1904 , coronation = , predecessor = Leopold IV , successor ...

Frederick II, Grand Duke of Baden Frederick II (9 July 1857 – 9 August 1928; german: Großherzog von Baden Friedrich II.) was the last sovereign Grand Duke of Baden, reigning from 1907 until the abolition of the German monarchies in 1918. The state of Baden originated from the ...

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Prince Frederick of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen , name = Prince Frederick of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen , image = Prince Frederick of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen.jpg , caption = , spouse = Princess Louise of Thurn and Taxis , issue = , house =Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen ...

* Prince Frederick of Prussia (1794–1863) *

Prince Frederick of the Netherlands Prince Frederick of the Netherlands, Prince of Orange-Nassau (full names: Willem Frederik Karel; 28 February 1797, in Berlin – 8 September 1881, in Wassenaar), was the second son of William I of the Netherlands and his wife, Wilhelmine of Pru ...

* Frederick William, Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Strelitz *

Prince George, Duke of Cambridge Prince George, Duke of Cambridge (George William Frederick Charles; 26 March 1819 – 17 March 1904) was a member of the British royal family, a grandson of King George III and cousin of Queen Victoria. The Duke was an army officer by professio ...

Prince George of Prussia Prince George of Prussia (Frederick William George Ernest; 12 February 1826 – 2 May 1902) was a member of the House of Hohenzollern. A man of many talents, George was at various periods of his life a Prussian general, poet and writer, often goin ...

* George, King of Saxony *

George II, Duke of Saxe-Meiningen Georg II, Duke of Saxe-Meiningen (2 April 1826 – 25 June 1914), was the penultimate Duke of Saxe-Meiningen, reigning from 1866 to 1914. For his support for his successful court theatre he was also known as the ''Theaterherzog'' (theatre duk ...

George V George V (George Frederick Ernest Albert; 3 June 1865 – 20 January 1936) was King of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions, and Emperor of India, from 6 May 1910 until Death and state funeral of George V, his death in 1936. Born duri ...

* George Victor, Prince of Waldeck and Pyrmont * Günther Friedrich Karl II, Prince of Schwarzburg-Sondershausen * Gustaf V *

Gustaf VI Adolf Gustaf VI Adolf (Oscar Fredrik Wilhelm Olaf Gustaf Adolf; 11 November 1882 – 15 September 1973) was King of Sweden from 29 October 1950 until his death in 1973. He was the eldest son of Gustaf V and his wife, Victoria of Baden. Before Gustaf Ado ...

Gustav, Prince of Vasa Prince Gustav of Vasa, Count Itterburg (german: Gustav, Prinz von Wasa; 9 November 1799 at Stockholm – 4 August/5 August 1877 at Pillnitz), born Crown Prince of Sweden, was the son of King Gustav IV Adolf of Sweden and Queen Frederica. His Austr ...

Gottlieb Graf von Haeseler Gottlieb Ferdinand Albert Alexis Graf von Haeseler (January 19, 1836 – October 25, 1919) was a German military officer of the Imperial Wilhelmine period, with final rank of ''Generalfeldmarschall''. Biography Haeseler was born in Potsdam to ...

Wilhelm von Hahnke Wilhelm Gustav Karl Bernhard von Hahnke (1 October 1833 in Berlin – 8 February 1912) was a Prussian Field Marshal, and Chief of the German Imperial Military Cabinet from 1888 to 1901. Biography Born into an old Prussian family of offic ...

Prince Henry of Prussia (1862–1929) en, Albert William Henry , image = Prince Henry of Prussia (1862–1929), brother of Kaiser Wilhelm II.jpg , caption = , birth_date= , birth_place= Berlin, Kingdom of Prussia , spouse = , house = Hohenzollern , ...

Heinrich VII, Prince Reuss of Köstritz Heinrich VII, Prince Reuss of Köstritz (german: Heinrich VII. Reuß zu Köstritz; 14 July 1825, Klipphausen – 2 May 1906, Trzebiechów) was a German diplomat. Early life Prince Heinrich VII Reuss of Köstritz was born in 1825 as the f ...

* Hermann, Prince of Hohenlohe-Langenburg * Prince Hermann of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach (1825–1901) *

Karl Eberhard Herwarth von Bittenfeld Karl Eberhard Herwarth von Bittenfeld (4 September 1796 – 2 September 1884) was a Prussian field marshal (German: ''Generalfeldmarschall''). Biography Herwarth von Bittenfeld was born in Werther, Thuringia, into an aristocratic family which h ...

Paul von Hindenburg Paul Ludwig Hans Anton von Beneckendorff und von Hindenburg (; abbreviated ; 2 October 1847 – 2 August 1934) was a German field marshal and statesman who led the Imperial German Army during World War I and later became President of Germany fro ...

* Prince Joachim of Prussia *

Prince Johann Georg of Hohenzollern , image = Wedding of Princess Birgitta and Johan Georg von Hohenzollern 1961 004.jpg , caption = Princess Birgitta and the bridegroom, Johan Georg von Hohenzollern, after their wedding ceremony , spouse = , issue = Prince Carl ChristianPrinc ...

* Karl Anton, Prince of Hohenzollern *

Karl Friedrich, Prince of Hohenzollern , succession = Prince of Hohenzollern , image = Karl Friedrich von Hohenzollern (2012).jpg , caption = Karl Friedrich in 2012 , reign = 16 September 2010 – present , reign-type = Tenure , predecessor = ...

Archduke Karl Ludwig of Austria Archduke Karl Ludwig Josef Maria of Austria (30 July 1833 – 19 May 1896) was the younger brother of both Franz Joseph I of Austria and Maximilian I of Mexico, and the father of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria (1863–1914), whose assassin ...

* Karl Theodor, Duke in Bavaria * Gustav von Kessel * Grand Duke Konstantin Nikolayevich of Russia * Leopold II of Belgium * Prince Leopold of Bavaria * Leopold, Prince of Hohenzollern *

Walter von Loë Friedrich Karl Walter Degenhard Freiherr von Loë (9 September 1828 – 6 July 1908) was a Prussian soldier and aristocrat. Loë had the distinction of being one of the few Roman Catholics to reach the rank of ''Generalfeldmarschall'' (field mars ...

Louis III, Grand Duke of Hesse Louis III, Grand Duke of Hesse and by Rhine (german: link=no, Großherzog Ludwig III von Hessen und bei Rhein; 9 June 1806, Darmstadt – 13 June 1877, Seeheim) was Grand Duke of Hesse and by Rhine from 1848 until his death in 1877. Biograph ...

* Louis IV, Grand Duke of Hesse * Louis Ferdinand, Prince of Prussia *

Erich Ludendorff Erich Friedrich Wilhelm Ludendorff (9 April 1865 – 20 December 1937) was a German general, politician and military theorist. He achieved fame during World War I for his central role in the German victories at Liège and Tannenberg in 1914. ...

Luitpold, Prince Regent of Bavaria ''Leopold Charles Joseph William Louis'' , image_size = , image = Luitpold Wittelsbach cropped.jpg , succession = Prince Regent of Bavaria , reign = 10 June 1886 – 12 December 1912 , reign-type = Tenure , regent = Ludw ...

August von Mackensen Anton Ludwig Friedrich August von Mackensen (born Mackensen; 6 December 1849 – 8 November 1945), ennobled as "von Mackensen" in 1899, was a German field marshal. He commanded successfully during World War I of 1914–1918 and became one of the ...

* Maria Emanuel, Margrave of Meissen * Prince Maximilian of Baden *

Grand Duke Michael Alexandrovich of Russia Grand Duke Michael Alexandrovich of Russia (russian: Михаи́л Алекса́ндрович, r=Mikhail Aleksandrovich; 13 June 1918) was the youngest son and fifth child of Emperor Alexander III of Russia and youngest brother of Nicholas ...

Helmuth von Moltke the Elder Helmuth is both a masculine German given name and a surname. Notable people with the name include: Given name; *Helmuth Theodor Bossert (1889–1961), German art historian, philologist and archaeologist *Helmuth Duckadam (born 1959), Romanian forme ...

Georg Alexander von Müller Georg Alexander von Müller (24 March 1854 – 18 April 1940) was an Admiral of the Imperial German Navy and a close friend of the Kaiser in the run up to the First World War. Career Müller grew up in Sweden, where his father worked as a pro ...

Grand Duke Nicholas Konstantinovich of Russia Grand Duke Nicholas Constantinovich of Russia (14 February 1850 – 26 January 1918) was the first-born son of Grand Duke Konstantin Nikolayevich of Russia, Grand Duke Konstantin Nikolayevich and Grand Duchess Alexandra Iosifovna of Russia and a ...

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* Nicholas II of Russia * Oscar II *

Alexander August Wilhelm von Pape Alexander August Wilhelm von Pape (2 February 1813 – 7 May 1895) was a Royal Prussian infantry Colonel-General with the special rank of Generalfeldmarschall. Biography Pape was born in Berlin. He started his military career in 1830 as Fahn ...

Hans von Plessen Hans Georg Hermann von Plessen (26 November 1841 – 28 January 1929) was a Prussian Colonel General with the rank of Generalfeldmarschall and Canon of Brandenburg. He held the office of His Majesty's Orderly Adjutant General (german: SM diensttue ...

* Prince Friedrich Wilhelm of Prussia * Albrecht von Roon * Rudolf, Crown Prince of Austria *

Alfred von Schlieffen Graf Alfred von Schlieffen, generally called Count Schlieffen (; 28 February 1833 – 4 January 1913) was a German field marshal and strategist who served as chief of the Imperial German General Staff from 1891 to 1906. His name lived on in the ...

* Otto Graf zu Stolberg-Wernigerode *

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* Alfred von Tirpitz *

Prince Tommaso, Duke of Genoa Prince Tommaso of Savoy, 2nd Duke of Genoa (Tommaso Alberto Vittorio; 6 February 1854 – 15 April 1931), who is also known as ''Thomas Albert Victor of Savoy'', was an Italian royal prince,Enache, Nicolas. ''La Descendance de Marie-Therese de ...

Victor I, Duke of Ratibor Victor I, Duke of Ratibor, Prince of Corvey, Prince of Hohenlohe-Schillingsfürst (german: Viktor Moritz Carl 1.Herzog von Ratibor, 1.Fürst von Corvey, Prinz zu Hohenlohe-Schillingsfürst; 10 February 181830 January 1893) was a member of House ...

Victor Emmanuel III of Italy Victor Emmanuel III (Vittorio Emanuele Ferdinando Maria Gennaro di Savoia; 11 November 1869 – 28 December 1947) was King of Italy from 29 July 1900 until his abdication on 9 May 1946. He also reigned as Emperor of Ethiopia (1936–1941) and K ...

Viktor II, Duke of Ratibor , house = Hohenlohe-Schillingsfürst , father =Victor I, Duke of Ratibor , mother = Princess Amélie of Fürstenberg , birth_date = , birth_place =Schloss Rauden, Kingdom of Prussia , death_date = , death_place =C ...

Grand Duke Vladimir Alexandrovich of Russia Grand Duke Vladimir Alexandrovich of Russia (russian: Влади́мир Александрович; 22 April 1847 – 17 February 1909) was a son of Emperor Alexander II of Russia, a brother of Emperor Alexander III of Russia and the senior Gra ...

* Prince Waldemar of Prussia (1889–1945) * Alfred von Waldersee * Wilhelm, German Crown Prince *

Wilhelm II, German Emperor Wilhelm II (Friedrich Wilhelm Viktor Albert; 27 January 18594 June 1941) was the last German Emperor (german: Kaiser) and King of Prussia, reigning from 15 June 1888 until his abdication on 9 November 1918. Despite strengthening the German Empir ...

William I, German Emperor William I or Wilhelm I (german: Wilhelm Friedrich Ludwig; 22 March 1797 – 9 March 1888) was King of Prussia from 2 January 1861 and German Emperor from 18 January 1871 until his death in 1888. A member of the House of Hohenzollern, he was the f ...

* William II of Württemberg *

William III of the Netherlands William III (Dutch: ''Willem Alexander Paul Frederik Lodewijk''; English: ''William Alexander Paul Frederick Louis''; 19 February 1817 – 23 November 1890) was King of the Netherlands and Grand Duke of Luxembourg from 1849 until his death in 18 ...

William Ernest, Grand Duke of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach William Ernest, Grand Duke of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach (Wilhelm Ernst Karl Alexander Friedrich Heinrich Bernhard Albert Georg Hermann, '' en, William Ernest Charles Alexander Frederick Henry Bernard Albert George Herman''; 10 June 1876 – 24 April 19 ...

William, Prince of Hohenzollern , title = , image = William, Prince of Hohenzollern.jpg , caption = , succession = Prince of Hohenzollern , reign=8 June 1905 – 22 October 1927, reign-type=Tenure, predecessor = Leopold , successor = Frederick , spouse ...

Duke William of Mecklenburg-Schwerin german: Friedrich Wilhelm Nicolas , spouse = Alexandrine of Prussia , issue = Duchess Charlotte , house =House of Mecklenburg-Schwerin , father =Paul Frederick, Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin , mother = Alexandrine of Prussia , birth_date = , ...

William, Prince of Wied , house =Wied-Neuwied , father =Hermann, Prince of Wied , mother = Princess Marie of Nassau , birth_date = , birth_place =Neuwied, Duchy of Nassau , death_date = , death_place =Neuwied, Kingdom of Prussia William V, Pri ...

* Friedrich Graf von Wrangel

Commanders

Hans Hartwig von Beseler Hans Hartwig von Beseler (27 April 1850 – 20 December 1921) was a German colonel general. Biography Beseler was born in Greifswald, Province of Pomerania (1815–1945), Pomerania. His father Georg Beseler, was a law professor at the Univers ...

* Moritz von Bissing *

Adolf von Deines Johann Georg Adolf Ritter von Deines (May 30, 1845–November 17, 1911) was a Prussian soldier, diplomat, and educator, as well as a member of the lower nobility. As a member of the Prussian Army, Deines rose to the rank of Cavalry Gener ...

* Karl von Einem *

Prince Heinrich of Hesse and by Rhine Prince Heinrich Ludwig Wilhelm Adalbert Waldemar Alexander of Hesse and by Rhine (November 28, 1838 - September 16, 1900) was a member of the House of Hesse-Darmstadt and a General of the Cavalry. Biography He was the second son of Prince Charle ...

Henning von Holtzendorff Henning Rudolf Adolf Karl von Holtzendorff (9 January 1853 – 7 June 1919) was a German admiral during World War I, who became famous for his December 1916 memo about unrestricted submarine warfare against the United Kingdom. He was a recipient ...

* Gilbert Hamilton *

Dietrich von Hülsen-Haeseler Dietrich Graf von Hülsen-Haeseler (February 13, 1852 – November 14, 1908) was an infantry general of the German Empire. He attended the War College and was attached to the German General Staff in 1882. In 1889 he was made aide de camp to Kai ...

Friedrich von Ingenohl Gustav Heinrich Ernst Friedrich von Ingenohl (30 June 1857 – 19 December 1933) was a German admiral from Neuwied best known for his command of the German High Seas Fleet at the beginning of World War I. He was the son of a tradesman. H ...

Georg von der Marwitz Georg Cornelius Adalbert von der Marwitz (7 July 1856 – 27 October 1929) was a Prussian cavalry general, who commanded several German armies during the First World War on both the Eastern and Western fronts. Early military career Marwitz was b ...

Philipp, Prince of Eulenburg Philipp, Prince of Eulenburg and Hertefeld, Count of Sandels (german: Philipp Friedrich Karl Alexander Botho Fürst zu Eulenburg und Hertefeld Graf von Sandels; 12 February 1847 – 17 September 1921) was a diplomat and composer of Imperial Germ ...

Walther Reinhardt Walther Gustav Reinhardt (; 24 March 1872 in Stuttgart – 8 August 1930 in Berlin) was a German officer who served as the last Prussian Minister of War and the first head of the army command (''Chef der Heeresleitung'') within the newly created ...

Gustav von Senden-Bibran Gustav Freiherr (Baron) von Senden-Bibran (23 July 1847, Reisicht, Lower Silesia, Germany – 23 November 1909 in Berlin) was an admiral of the German Imperial Navy. Biography His father was a Silesian landowner who had served in the Austr ...

Julius von Verdy du Vernois Adrian Friedrich Wilhelm Julius Ludwig von Verdy du Vernois (19 July 1832 – 30 September 1910), often given the short name of Verdy, was a German general and staff officer, chiefly noted both for his military writings and his service on ...

Honor Crosses

* Prince Adalbert of Prussia (1811–1873) * Prince Adalbert of Prussia (1884–1948) * Duke Adolf Friedrich of Mecklenburg * Adolphus Frederick VI, Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Strelitz *

Adolphus Frederick V, Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Strelitz , spouse = , issue = Marie, Princess Julius Ernst of Lippe Jutta, Crown Princess of MontenegroAdolphus Frederick VI, Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-StrelitzDuke Karl Borwin , father = Frederick William, Grand Duke of Mecklenbu ...

Albert I of Belgium Albert I (8 April 1875 – 17 February 1934) was King of the Belgians from 23 December 1909 until his death in 1934. Born in Brussels as the fifth child and second son of Prince Philippe, Count of Flanders and Princess Marie of Hohenzollern-S ...

Albert, 8th Prince of Thurn and Taxis , title = Prince of Thurn and Taxis , image =AlbertThurnTaxis.jpg , caption = , reign = 2 June 1885 – 22 January 1952 , reign-type = Period , coronation = , predecessor = Maximilian Maria , ...

* Albrecht, Duke of Württemberg * Prince Alexander of Prussia *

Prince Alfons of Bavaria , image =Wedding Louise d'Orléans Alfons von Bayern.jpg , image_size = 200px , caption = , spouse = , house = Wittelsbach , father = Prince Adalbert of Bavaria , mother = Infanta Amalia of Spain , ...

Alfred, 2nd Prince of Montenuovo Alfred, 2nd Prince of Montenuovo and Grandee of Spain (16 September 18546 September 1927) was one of the highest court officials of Emperor Franz Joseph I of Austria. Among his ancestors were members of the House of Habsburg and the Medici family. ...

Prince Anton of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen Prince Anton of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen (7 October 1841 – 6 August 1866) was a German prince and soldier. He was a member of the Princely House of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen. During the Austro-Prussian War, while serving with the First Foot Gu ...

* Prince Arnulf of Bavaria * Prince August, Duke of Dalarna * Prince August Wilhelm of Prussia *

Prince Augustus of Prussia Prince Frederick William Henry Augustus of Prussia (german: Friedrich Wilhelm Heinrich August; 19 September 1779 – 19 July 1843) was a Prussian royal and general. Born on Friedrichsfelde Palace, he was the youngest son of Prince Augustus Ferdin ...

* Theobald von Bethmann Hollweg *

Werner von Blomberg Werner Eduard Fritz von Blomberg (2 September 1878 – 13 March 1946) was a German General Staff officer and the first Minister of War in Adolf Hitler's government. After serving on the Western Front in World War I, Blomberg was appointed chi ...

* Paul von Bruns * Carol I of Romania * Charles Egon III, Prince of Fürstenberg *

Kurt von der Chevallerie __NOTOC__ Kurt von der Chevallerie (23 December 1891 – missing as of 18 April 1945) was a German general in the Wehrmacht during World War II who commanded the German 1st Army. He was a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak ...

Eduard, Duke of Anhalt Eduard Georg Wilhelm, Duke of Anhalt (german: Herzog Eduard Georg Wilhelm Maximilian von Anhalt; 18 April 1861 – 13 September 1918) was a German prince of the House of Ascania and the penultimate ruler of the Duchy of Anhalt from April to Sep ...

* Prince Eitel Friedrich of Prussia *

Duke Elimar of Oldenburg Anton Gunther Friedrich Elimar (23 January 1844 – 17 October 1895) was a duke of Oldenburg, and the son of Augustus, Grand Duke of Oldenburg and Princess Cecilia of Sweden. Family Anton Gunther Friedrich Elimar was a child of Augustus, Grand ...

Emich, Prince of Leiningen , house = Leiningen , father = Ernst, Prince of Leiningen , mother = Princess Marie of Baden , birth_date = , birth_place =Osborne House, Isle of Wight, England , death_date = , death_place =Mudau, Free People's State of Württe ...

Prince Ferdinand of Bavaria Prince Ferdinand Maria of Bavaria (Ferdinand Maria Ludwig Franz von Assisi Isabellus Adalbert Ildefons Martin Bonifaz Joseph Isidro; 10 May 1884 – 5 April 1958) was a prince of the House of Wittlesbach and Infante of Spain, the eldest son and c ...

Ferdinand I of Romania Ferdinand (Ferdinand Viktor Albert Meinrad; 24 August 1865 – 20 July 1927), nicknamed ''Întregitorul'' ("the Unifier"), was King of Romania from 1914 until his death in 1927. Ferdinand was the second son of Leopold, Prince of Hohenzollern and ...

Hermann von François Hermann Karl Bruno von François (31 January 1856 – 15 May 1933) was a German ''General der Infanterie'' during World War I, and is best known for his key role in several German victories on the Eastern Front in 1914. Early life and military ...

* Prince Franz of Bavaria *

Friedrich II, Duke of Anhalt Frederick II (; 19 August 185621 April 1918) was the Duke of Anhalt from 1904 until 1918. Early life He was born in Dessau in 1856, he was the second son of Hereditary Prince Frederick of Anhalt-Dessau and his wife Princess Antoinette of Saxe-Alt ...

Frederick Francis III, Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin Frederick Francis III (german: Friedrich Franz Paul Nikolaus Ernst Heinrich; 19 March 1851 – 10 April 1897) was the penultimate Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin. Biography He was born in Schloss Ludwigslust as the son of Frederick Francis II, ...

* Frederick I, Grand Duke of Baden *

Frederick, Prince of Hohenzollern , succession = Prince of Hohenzollern , image = FriedrichHohenzollern1.jpg , caption = , reign=22 October 1927 – 6 February 1965, reign-type=Tenure, predecessor = William , successor = Frederick William , spouse ...

* Prince Frederick of Prussia (1794–1863) *

* Archduke Friedrich, Duke of Teschen *

Maximilian Egon II, Prince of Fürstenberg Maximilian Egon II, Prince of Fürstenberg (13 October 1863 – 11 August 1941) was a German landowner, investor and nobleman who was the head of the House of Fürstenberg from 1896 to 1941. Background Born as Prince Maximilian Egon Christian Ka ...

Georg, Crown Prince of Saxony en, Frederick Augustus George Ferdinand Albert Charles Anthony Paul Marcellus , title = Crown Prince of Saxony , image = PrinceGeorgSaxony.jpg , image_size = , caption = Crown Prince George of Saxony in 1911 , spo ...

* Georg Alexander, Duke of Mecklenburg *

* Colmar Freiherr von der Goltz *

* Prince Hermann of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach (1825–1901) *

* Wilhelm Heye *

* Joseph, Duke of Saxe-Altenburg * Prince Kan'in Kotohito *

Prince Karl Anton of Hohenzollern Prince Karl Anton of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen (german: Karl Anton Friedrich Wilhelm Ludwig Prinz von Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen) (1 September 1868 – 21 February 1919) was a member of the Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen, Princely House of Hohenzollern- ...

* Karl Anton, Prince of Hohenzollern *

Prince Karl Theodor of Bavaria en, Charles Theodore Maximilian Augustus , spouse = , issue = , house = Wittelsbach , father = Maximilian I Joseph of Bavaria , mother = Princess Augusta Wilhelmine of Hesse-Darmstadt , birth_date = , birth_pl ...

* Karl Theodor, Duke in Bavaria *

Werner Kienitz __NOTOC__ Werner Kienitz (3 June 1885 – 31 December 1959) was a German general in the Wehrmacht during World War II who commanded the XVII. Corps. He was a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross of Nazi Germany. Awards * Knight's ...

Leopold, Hereditary Prince of Anhalt , spouse =Princess Elisabeth of Hesse-Kassel , issue = Antoinette, Princess Frederick of Schaumburg-Lippe , house =House of Ascania , father =Frederick I, Duke of Anhalt , mother ...

* Prince Leopold of Bavaria * Leopold, Prince of Hohenzollern * Friedrich Wilhelm von Lindeiner-Wildau *

Fritz von Loßberg Friedrich Karl "Fritz" von Loßberg (30 April 1868 – 4 May 1942) was a German colonel and later general, of the First World War. He was an operational planner, especially of defence, who served as chief of staff in the 2nd, 3rd and 4th armies ...

* Manuel II of Portugal *

Franz Mattenklott Franz Mattenklott (19 November 1884 – 28 June 1954) was a German general in the Wehrmacht of Nazi Germany during World War II. He was a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross. Born in Silesia, Mattenklott became a military office ...

* Prince Maximilian of Baden *

Klemens von Metternich Klemens Wenzel Nepomuk Lothar, Prince of Metternich-Winneburg zu Beilstein ; german: Klemens Wenzel Nepomuk Lothar Fürst von Metternich-Winneburg zu Beilstein (15 May 1773 – 11 June 1859), known as Klemens von Metternich or Prince Metternic ...

August Ludwig von Nostitz August Ludwig Ferdinand Count von Nostitz-Ransen (27 December 1777, Zessel, near Öls – 28 May 1866, on his estates at Zobten, near Löwenberg in Schlesien) was a Prussian general who acted as adjutant general to Frederick William III of Pru ...

Oscar I of Sweden Oscar I (born Joseph François Oscar Bernadotte; 4 July 1799 – 8 July 1859) was King of Sweden and Norway from 8 March 1844 until his death. He was the second monarch of the House of Bernadotte. The only child of King Charles XIV John, Oscar i ...

* Prince Oskar of Prussia *

Pedro V of Portugal , house = Braganza , house-type = House , father = Prince Ferdinand of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha-Koháry , mother = Queen Maria II of Portugal , birth_date = , birth_place = , death_date = , death_place = Necessida ...

Prince Philippe, Count of Flanders nl, Filips Eugeen Ferdinand Marie Clemens Boudewijn Leopold Joris , image = Philippe comte de Flandre (1880).jpg , caption = , spouse = , issue = , house = Saxe-Coburg and Gotha , father ...

Karl von Plettenberg Karl Freiherr von Plettenberg (18 December 1852, in Neuhaus – 10 February 1938, in Bückeburg) was a Prussian officer, and later General of Infantry during World War I. He was Commandant-General of the Guards Corps, Adjutant General of the Ge ...

Georg-Wilhelm Postel __NOTOC__ Georg-Wilhelm Postel (25 April 1896 – 20 September 1953) was a German general during World War II. He was a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords of Nazi Germany. Postel was taken prisoner by t ...

* Antoni Wilhelm Radziwiłł *

Duke Robert of Württemberg , image = DukeRobertWürttemberg.jpg , caption = , spouse = Archduchess Maria Immakulata of Austria , issue = , house = House of Württemberg , father = Duke Philipp of Württemberg , mother ...

Rupprecht, Crown Prince of Bavaria Rupprecht, Crown Prince of Bavaria, Duke of Bavaria, Franconia and in Swabia, Count Palatine by (the) Rhine (''Rupprecht Maria Luitpold Ferdinand''; English: ''Robert Maria Leopold Ferdinand''; 18 May 1869 – 2 August 1955), was the last hei ...

* August Schmidt (Luftwaffe) * Walther Schroth *

Emil Uzelac Milan Emil Uzelac (26 August 1867 – 7 January 1954) was an Austro-Hungarian military commander who was a leading figure in the air forces of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, Kingdom of Yugoslavia and the Independent State of Croatia. Early life and ...

Prince Waldemar of Prussia (1817–1849) Prince Waldemar of Prussia (''Friedrich Wilhelm Waldemar von Preußen'') (Berlin, 2 August 1817 – Münster, 17 February 1849) was a son of Prince Wilhelm of Prussia and Landgravine Marie Anna of Hesse-Homburg. He was a Major general in the Prus ...

* Prince Waldemar of Prussia (1889–1945) *

Wilhelm Karl, Duke of Urach Prince Wilhelm of Urach, Count of Württemberg, 2nd Duke of Urach (''Wilhelm Karl Florestan Gero Crescentius''; German: ''Fürst Wilhelm von Urach, Graf von Württemberg, 2. Herzog von Urach''; 30 May 1864 – 24 March 1928), was a German prince w ...

* Prince Wilhelm of Prussia (1783–1851) *

* William II of Württemberg *

Hans Ritter von Adam Hans Ritter von Adam, born Hans Adam (24 May 1886 – 15 November 1917), was a Bavarian flying ace in World War I, with 21 victories before being killed in action. He enlisted as an infantry private, and rose through the ranks to be commissione ...

Karl Allmenröder ''Leutnant'' Karl Allmenröder (3 May 1896 – 27 June 1917) was a German World War I flying ace credited with 30 aerial victories. The medical student son of a preacher father was seasoned in the trenches as an 18-year-old artilleryman in ...

* Ernst Freiherr von Althaus * Hans am Ende *

Joachim von Amsberg (general) Joachim von Amsberg (26 August 1869 in Schwerin – 5 September 1945 in Rostock) was a German general, aristocrat and a member of the House of Amsberg. Biography Born as the youngest son of Gabriel Ludwig Johann von Amsberg (1822–1899) and his w ...

Karl Angerstein __NOTOC__ Karl Angerstein (4 December 1890 – 20 September 1985) was a German general during World War II who commanded the 1st Air Corps. He was a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross of Nazi Germany. Awards * German Cross in Go ...

Lothar von Arnauld de la Perière ''Vizeadmiral'' Lothar von Arnauld de la Perière (; March 18, 1886 – February 24, 1941), born in Posen, Prussia, and of French-German descent, was a German U-boat commander during World War I. With 194 ships and sunk, he is the most successfu ...

Harald Auffarth Eduard Florus Harald Auffarth (also Auffahrt) (~1896 – 12 October 1946) Royal House Order of Hohenzollern, Iron Cross, Silver Wound Badge, Hanseatic Cross, was a World War I German fighter ace credited with 29 victories. After the war, he ...

* Gustav Bachmann *

Curt Badinski __NOTOC__ Curt Rudolf Theodor Badinski (17 May 1890 – 27 February 1966) was a German general in the Wehrmacht during World War II who held several divisional commands. He was a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross of Nazi Germany. ...

Hermann Balck Georg Otto Hermann Balck (7 December 1893 – 29 November 1982) was a highly decorated officer of the German Army who served in both World War I and World War II, rising to the rank of General der Panzertruppe. Early career Balck was born in ...

Hartmuth Baldamus Leutnant Hartmuth Baldamus (first name sometimes rendered Hartmut) (10 August 1891 – 14 April 1917) was a German World War I flying ace credited with 18 aerial victories. Early life Hartmuth Baldamus was born in Dresden on 10 August 1891.Franks ...

* Hermann Bauer *

Wilhelm Baur Wilhelm Baur or Wilhelm Baur de Betaz (17 February 1883 in Metz – 26 May 1964 in Lindenfels) was a German Lieutenant General ('' Generalleutnant'') of the Heer during Second World War. Biography Wilhelm Baur was born in Metz (February 17, 1883 ...

* Ludwig Beck * Carl Becker (general) * Hermann Becker *

Hans Behlendorff Hans Behlendorff (13 August 1889 – 16 March 1961) was a German general during World War II. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross of Nazi Germany. Awards and decorations * Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 11 Octo ...

Wilhelm Behrens __NOTOC__ Wilhelm Behrens (23 August 1888 – 15 August 1968) was a German general in the Wehrmacht during World War II who commanded several divisions. He was a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross of Nazi Germany. Behrens was disch ...

Wilhelm Berlin __NOTOC__ Wilhelm Berlin (28 April 1889 – 15 September 1987) was a German general during World War II. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross of Nazi Germany. Awards and decorations * Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on ...

Fritz Otto Bernert ''Oberleutnant'' Fritz Otto Bernert (commonly called Otto) (6 March 1893 – 18 October 1918) was a leading German fighter ace of World War I. After being invalided from infantry duty after his fourth wound, Bernert joined the aviation branch. Afte ...

Hans Berr ''Oberleutnant'' Hans Berr (20 May 1890–6 April 1917) was a German professional soldier and World War I flying ace. At the start of the First World War, he served in a scout regiment until severely wounded; he then transferred to aviation duty. ...

* Rudolf Berthold * Hans Bethge (aviator) *

Helmuth Beukemann __NOTOC__ Wilhelm Berthold Helmuth Beukemann (9 May 1894 – 13 July 1981) was a general in the Wehrmacht of Nazi Germany during World War II. He was a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross. Awards and decorations * Iron Cross (1914) ...

Arnold Freiherr von Biegeleben __NOTOC__ Arnold Freiherr von Biegeleben (16 April 1883 – 11 October 1940) was a German general during World War II who commanded the 6th Infantry Division of the ''Wehrmacht''. He was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross. Biegeleben d ...

Paul Billik Paul may refer to: *Paul (given name), a given name (includes a list of people with that name) *Paul (surname), a list of people People Christianity * Paul the Apostle (AD c.5–c.64/65), also known as Saul of Tarsus or Saint Paul, early Chri ...

Georg von Bismarck __NOTOC__ Georg von Bismarck (15 February 1891 – 31 August 1942) was a German general during World War II who commanded several divisions. He was a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross of Nazi Germany. Bismarck joined the army i ...

Johannes Blaskowitz Johannes Albrecht Blaskowitz (10 July 1883 – 5 February 1948) was a German ''Generaloberst'' during World War II. He was a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords. After joining the Imperial German Army in 1 ...

Walter Blume (aircraft designer) Walter Blume (10 January 1896 – 27 May 1964) was a German fighter ace of World War I. During World War I, he flew with two fighter squadrons, ''Jagdstaffel 26'' and ''Jagdstaffel 9'' gaining 28 aerial victories and earning the Iron Cross, Royal ...

Leonhard Graf von Blumenthal Karl Konstantin Albrecht Leonhard Graf von Blumenthal (30 July 1810 – 21 December 1900) was an officer of the Prussian Army and field marshal of the Imperial German Army, chiefly remembered for his decisive intervention at the Battle of Königg ...

* Günther Blumentritt * Fedor von Bock * Max von Boehn (general) *

Oswald Boelcke Oswald Boelcke PlM (; 19 May 1891 – 28 October 1916) was a World War I German professional soldier and pioneering flying ace credited with 40 aerial victories. Boelcke is honored as the father of the German fighter air force, and of air ...

* Paul Bäumer *

Walter Boenicke __NOTOC__ Walter Boenicke (15 December 1895 – 21 April 1947) was a German general (General der Flieger) in the Luftwaffe during World War II who commanded the 3. Flieger Division. He was a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross. Boen ...

* Erwin Böhme * Carl Bolle *

Heinrich Bongartz Heinrich Bongartz PlM, HOH, IC (31 January 1892 – 23 January 1946), was a German World War I fighter pilot and flying ace credited with 33 confirmed victories and one unconfirmed. He also served as a night fighter commander in World War II. ...

Walter Böning '' Leutnant'' Walter Böning was a German World War I flying ace from the Grand Duchy of Oldenburg credited with 17 aerial victories. He began his World War I military service as an infantryman. He distinguished himself by winning both the Gold Me ...

Kuno-Hans von Both __NOTOC__ Kuno-Hans von Both (9 April 1884 – 22 May 1955) was a German general during World War II. He was a recipient of both the Pour le Mérite of the German Empire and the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross of Nazi Germany. He was also awar ...

* Walter Braemer * Franz Brandt *

Walther von Brauchitsch Walther Heinrich Alfred Hermann von Brauchitsch (4 October 1881 – 18 October 1948) was a German field marshal and the Commander-in-Chief (''Oberbefehlshaber'') of the German Army during World War II. Born into an aristocratic military family ...

Otto Brauneck Otto Brauneck (27 February 1896 – 26 July 1917) was a German World War I flying ace credited with ten confirmed and five unconfirmed aerial victories. Originally assigned to fly on the Macedonian Front to support Germany's ally, the Ottoman Empir ...

Ferdinand von Bredow Ferdinand von Bredow (16 May 1884 – 30 June 1934) was a German ''Generalmajor'' and head of the ''Abwehr'' (the military intelligence service) in the Reich Defence Ministry and deputy defence minister in Kurt von Schleicher's short-lived cabin ...

* Hermann Breith * Franz Breithaupt *

Arthur von Briesen Arthur von Briesen (26 September 1891 – 15 May 1981) was a Generalmajor in the Wehrmacht during World War II. Biography Arthur von Briesen was born in Metz, in Alsace-Lorraine, at the time part of the German Empire. He began his military ca ...

* Kurt von Briesen *

Fritz von Brodowski Friedrich Wilhelm Konrad von Brodowski, known as ''Fritz'', (November 26, 1886 – October 28, 1944) was a German army general of the Second World War, successively Commander in Kiev, Ukraine, Commander in Lille, and commanding officer at Clermo ...

Helmut Brümmer-Patzig Helmut Patzig, also known as Helmut Brümmer-Patzig (26 October 1890 – 11 March 1984) was a German U-boat commander in the Kaiserliche Marine in World War I, and the Kriegsmarine in World War II. He was captain of , the vessel that sank a Canadi ...

* Franz Büchner *

Hans-Joachim Buddecke Hans-Joachim Buddecke (22 August 1890 – 10 March 1918) was a German flying ace in World War I, credited with thirteen victories. He was the third ace, after Max Immelmann and Oswald Boelcke, to earn the Blue Max (Pour le Mérite). He saw ...

Walther Buhle General Walther Buhle (26 October 1894 – 28 December 1959) was an infantry General in the German army who was the Chief of the Army Staff of the Oberkommando der Wehrmacht from 1942 and chief of armaments for the army in 1945. Career He was ...

Harry von Bülow-Bothkamp Harry von Bülow-Bothkamp (19 November 1897 – 27 February 1976) was a German fighter pilot notable for being one of the few two-war aces in history. After scoring six victories in World War I, he became a Luftwaffe ace in World War II, with 12 ...

* Friedrich-Karl Burckhardt * Wilhelm Burgdorf * Hans Krebs (Wehrmacht general), Hans Krebs * Ernst Busch (field marshal) * Theodor Busse * Eduard von Capelle * Friedrich-Wilhelm von Chappuis * Friedrich Christiansen * Gerhard Conrad (pilot) * Theodor Croneiss * Hermann Dahlmann * Alexander Edler von Daniels * Jakob Ritter von Danner * Franz Xaver Danhuber * Carl Degelow * Friedrich-Wilhelm Dernen * Karl Dönitz * Kurt-Bertram von Döring * Albert Dossenbach * Eduard Ritter von Dostler * Kurt Eberhard * Johann-Heinrich Eckhardt * Theodor Endres * Erwin Engelbrecht * Franz Ritter von Epp * Waldemar Erfurth * Rudolf von Eschwege * Walter Ewers * Alexander von Falkenhausen * Kurt von Falkowski * Hans Feige * Hermann Flörke * Hermann Foertsch * Werner Forst * Helmuth Förster * Otto-Wilhelm Förster * Victor Franke * Bruno Frankewitz * Wilhelm Frankl * Hans von Freden * Otto Fretter-Pico * Wilhelm Frickart * Kurt Fricke * Helmut Friebe * Friedrich Friedrichs * Werner von Fritsch * Hermann Frommherz * Heinz Furbach * Martin Gareis * Alfred Gerstenberg * Hermann Geyer * Werner von Gilsa * Hermann Göring * Heinrich Gontermann * Walter Göttsch * Justus Grassmann * Ulrich Grauert * Robert Ritter von Greim * Karl-Albrecht von Groddeck * Horst Großmann * Curt Haase * Siegfried Haenicke * Erich Hahn * Otto Hahn * Kurt von Hammerstein-Equord * Christian Hansen (general) * Ludwig Hanstein * Georg von Hantelmann * Wilhelm Hasse (general) * Bruno Ritter von Hauenschild * Hans Hecker * Heino von Heimburg * Gotthard Heinrici * Walter Heitz * Franz Hemer * Georg Ritter von Hengl * Sigfrid Henrici * Albert Henze * Friedrich Herrlein * Ernst Hess * Wilhelm Heye * Edmund Hoffmeister * Adolf Wild von Hohenborn * Fritz Höhn * Walter Höhndorf * Gustav Höhne * Otto Höhne * Harry Hoppe * Hermann Hoth * Hans Howaldt * Hans-Valentin Hube * Werner Hühner * Joachim-Friedrich Huth * Max Immelmann * Erich Jaschke * Ferdinand Jühlke * Ernst Jünger * Leonhard Kaupisch * Walter Keiner * Wilhelm Keitel * Alfred Keller * Hans von Keudell *

* Eberhard Kinzel * Heinrich Kirchheim * Stefan Kirmaier * Hans Kirschstein * Heinrich Kittel * Johannes Klein * Günther von Kluge * Hans von Koester * Paul König * Waldemar Kophamel * Dietrich Kraiss * Walther Krause * Friedrich Freiherr Kress von Kressenstein * Hans Kreysing * Friedrich Wilhelm Kritzinger (theologian) * Heinrich Kroll * Friedrich Kühn * Walter Kuntze * Eberhard von Kurowski * Walter Kypke * Otto Lancelle * Arthur Laumann * Gustav Leffers * Hans Leistikow * Joachim Lemelsen * Richard Lepper * Hans-Georg Leyser * Wilhelm List * Bruno Loerzer * Johannes Lohs *

* Erich Loewenhardt * Alfons Luczny * Erich Lüdke * Hartwig von Ludwiger * Günther Lütjens * Kurt-Jürgen Freiherr von Lützow * Friedrich Lützow * Siegfried Macholz * Erich von Manstein * Wilhelm Marschall * Rudolf Meister * Carl Menckhoff * Georg Meyer (aviator) * Walter Model * Arthur Mülverstedt * Max Näther * Ulrich Neckel * Karl August Nerger * Friedrich Noltenius * Theo Osterkamp * Eugen Ott (general) * Richard Pellengahr * Rudolf Peschel * Nicolae Petrescu-Comnen * Walter Petzel * Max Pfeffer *

* Gunther Plüschow * Werner Preuss * Fritz Pütter * Friedrich von Rabenau * Antoni Wilhelm Radziwiłł * Erich Raeder * Adolf Raegener * Johann von Ravenstein * Hubert von Rebeur-Paschwitz * Hermann Reinecke * Wilhelm Reinhard (pilot) * Georg-Hans Reinhardt * Ludwig von Reuter * Lothar von Richthofen * Manfred von Richthofen * Hans Rolfes * Hans Rose * Karl Rothenburg * Hellmuth von Ruckteschell * Günther Rüdel * Alfred Saalwächter * Erwin Sander * Werner Sanne * Dietrich von Saucken * Karl Emil Schäfer * Bruno Schatz * Hans-Karl von Scheele * Reinhard Scheer * Hans Schilling (aviator) * Alfred Schlemm * Georg Schlenker * Eberhard Graf von Schmettow * Arthur Schmidt (general) * August Schmidt (Luftwaffe) * Gustav Schmidt (general) * Hans Schmidt (general of the Infantry) * Otto Schmidt (aviator) * Eugen Ritter von Schobert * Viktor Schobinger * Carl-August von Schoenebeck * Otto von Schrader * Walther Schroth * Otto Schultze * Johannes Schulz * Günter Schwartzkopff * Viktor von Schwedler * Walther von Seydlitz-Kurzbach * Johann Sinnhuber * Friedrich Sixt von Armin * Karl-Wilhelm Specht * Hugo Sperrle * Paul Strähle * Peter Strasser * Adolf Strauss (general) * Kurt Student * Otto von Stülpnagel * Wolff von Stutterheim * Walter Surén * Emil Thuy * Horst Julius Freiherr Treusch von Buttlar-Brandenfels * Adolf von Trotha * Adolf Ritter von Tutschek * Ernst Udet * Max Ulich * Walter von Unruh * Josef Veltjens * Heinrich von Vietinghoff * Werner Voss * Franz Walz * Walter Warzecha * Erich Rüdiger von Wedel * Friedrich-August Weinknecht * Wilhelm Wetzel * Hans Weiss (aviator) * Walther Wever (general) * Thomas-Emil von Wickede * Gustav Anton von Wietersheim * Helmuth Wilberg * Rudolf Windisch * Erwin von Witzleben * Kurt Wolff (aviator) * Eberhard Wolfram * Kurt Wüsthoff * Heinz Ziegler * Hans Zorn

Members

* Prince Albert of Saxe-Altenburg * Fritz Beckhardt * Sebastian Festner * Friedrich Wilhelm Prinz von Hohenzollern * Fritz Kosmahl * Prince Kraft of Hohenlohe-Ingelfingen * Max Ritter von Müller * Prince Nicholas of Romania * Karl Thom

Unknown Class

* Leopold Anslinger * Erwin Böhme * Adolf von Bonin * Hans-Eberhardt Gandert * Franz Halder * Paul Hausser * Erich Hoepner * Hermann Köhl * Günther Korten * Wilhelm Ritter von Leeb * Walter von Reichenau * Wilhelm Reinhard (SS officer) * Hugo Rüdel * Gerd von Rundstedt * Franz Schleiff * Albrecht von Thaer * Wilhelm Werner (SS officer)

References

{{Orders of Imperial Germany House of Hohenzollern, * Orders, decorations, and medals of Prussia Orders of chivalry of Germany Awards established in 1841