GdC26 Posted July 8, 2012 Posted July 8, 2012 (edited) Sorry for the funny header, this post got away from me before I was finished. Gents (ladies not excluded), I'm looking for information and, if possible, a picture of Otto Graf zu Castell-Castell, longtime Flügelajutant of HM the king of Bavaria. Set out below is the information I have compiled from various copies of the Bavarian Militärhandbuch, including the 1916 version. I'd appreciate it if someone could fill in the missing details. As said, any further information you may be able to provuide is also highly appreciated, as is a picture. Many thanks in advance for your help. Kind regards, Sandro Otto Graf zu Castell-Castell Geburtsjahr: 1868 Gestorben: [*] Dienstgrad Patent Offiziersreife: 1888 Leutnant: 15. Februar 1889 Oberleutnant: 7. November 1896 Hauptmann: 28. Oktober 1901 Major: 28. Oktober 1908 Oberstleutnant: 22. Februar 1913 Oberst: [*] Generalmajor ausser Dienst: [*] Stellenbesatzung 1900 1. Ulanen-Regiment Kaiser Wilhelm II, könig von Preussen 1903 – 1918 Flügeladjutant S.M. des Königs Orden und Ehrenzeichen (laut Angabe in das Militärhandbuch des Kgr. Bayerns 1916, S. 2) Bayern Militär Verdienstorden, Offizierskreuz mit Schwertern Bayern Militär Verdienstorden 4. Klasse Bayern Verdienstorden vom heiligen Michael, Offizierskreuz Bayern Prinzregent Luitpoldmedaille mit der Krone in Gold Bayern Jubileumsmedaille mit der Krone Bayern Dienstauszeichnungskreuz der 2. Klasse (XXIV Jahren) Baden Orden vom Zähringer Löwen, Komturkreuz mit Schwertern Braunschweig Orden Heinrich des Löwen, Komturkreuz Hessen Orden Philips des Grossmüthigen, Komturkreuz Hohenzollern Hohenzollern Hausorden, Ehrenkomturkreuz mit Schwertern Mecklenburg Greiffenorden, Offizierskreuz Oldenburg Hausorden, Ritterkreuz 1. Klasse Preussen Eisernes Kreuz 2. Klasse Preussen Rote Adlerorden 3. Klasse mit der Krone Preussen Kronenorden 4. Klasse Preussen Johanitterorden, Kreuz der Ehrenritter Sachsen Albrechtorden, Ritterkreuz 1. Klasse Sachsen Weimar Orden der Wachsamkeit oder des weissen Falcken, Ritterkreuz 1. Klasse Sächsische Herzogtümer Sachsen-Ernestinischer Hausorden, Ritterkreuz 1. Klasse Württemberg Friedrichsorden, Ritterkreuz 1. Klasse Lüxemburg Orden der Eichenkrone, Offizierskreuz Österreich Leopoldsorden, Komturkreuz Österreich Orden der eiserne Krone, Komturkreuz Österreich Franz Josefsorden, Komturkreuz mit der Stern Österreich Militär Verdienstorden, Komturkreuz mit Krigsdekoration Spanien Orden Isaballa la Catolica, Komturkreuz 2. Klasse Spanien Militär Verdienstorden 2. Klasse Edited July 8, 2012 by GdC26
arb Posted July 8, 2012 Posted July 8, 2012 Sandro, He was born 12.05.1868 in Castell (Unterfranken) and died 08.07.1939 in Hochburg-Ach. He was married to Amalie Prinzessin zu Löwenstein-Wertheim-Freudenberg. After attending Gymnasium, he voluntarily joined the 1. Ulan. R. as a Fähnrich on 19.08.1886. He became Adjutant of the IV. Armee Insp. on 19.09.1900. He was promoted Oberst on 11.10.1914 and Gen. Maj. in 1918 (sorry, no exact date). Andy
GdC26 Posted July 8, 2012 Author Posted July 8, 2012 Many thanks Andy, very much appreciated. Regards, Sandro
GdC26 Posted July 10, 2012 Author Posted July 10, 2012 I didnt see th EK1 listed Charles, The Militaerhandbuch 1916 merely lists an EK 2. On what basis do you believe von Castell - Castell received an EK 1? Sandro
Dave Danner Posted July 10, 2012 Posted July 10, 2012 Bayern Verdienstorden vom heiligen Michael, Offizierskreuz Ehrenkreuz Also: Bayern: Verdienst-Orden der Bayerischen Krone, Ritterkreuz.
GdC26 Posted July 10, 2012 Author Posted July 10, 2012 Ehrenkreuz Also: Bayern: Verdienst-Orden der Bayerischen Krone, Ritterkreuz. Thanks Dave, I stand corrected on the first, and must have missed the second. Any sign von Castell-Castell was awarded an EK 1, as Charles has suggested?
Dave Danner Posted July 10, 2012 Posted July 10, 2012 Thanks Dave, I stand corrected on the first, and must have missed the second. Any sign von Castell-Castell was awarded an EK 1, as Charles has suggested? No idea. The 1918 Bavarian Army seniority list only shows Bavarian decorations and the Militär-Wochenblatt stopped listing Bavarian EKs sometime in 1917, so many late war awards are missing. There is no Kriegsrangliste for Castell-Castell at Ancestry.com . To give you an idea of why they stopped listing the lower awards, here are the wartime volumes of the Verordnungsblatt des Königlich bayerischen Kriegsministeriums. The volume for the second half of 1916 is possibly the thickest book I have ever seen.
GdC26 Posted July 10, 2012 Author Posted July 10, 2012 No idea. The 1918 Bavarian Army seniority list only shows Bavarian decorations and the Militär-Wochenblatt stopped listing Bavarian EKs sometime in 1917, so many late war awards are missing. There is no Kriegsrangliste for Castell-Castell at Ancestry.com . To give you an idea of why they stopped listing the lower awards, here are the wartime volumes of the Verordnungsblatt des Königlich bayerischen Kriegsministeriums. The volume for the second half of 1916 is possibly the thickest book I have ever seen. Wow ..... You've got to hand it to the German's (of whatever state), they are thorough administrators. Even if you would think that by 1917, they'd have other things to worry about. Anyway, it looks like I'll need to update my library with a copy of the 1918 seniority list. Thanks Dave, this has been really valuable input. Personally, I doubt von Castell-Castell, who served as a Flügeladjutant to the King of Bavaria throughout the war, received an EKI - diplomatic awards, yes, plenty, as is evidenced by the list above. But I'm not sure why a foreign state (Prussia) would grace him with what at the time was seen as a fairly high award for personal bravery. Anyway, I stand to be corrected. Regards, Sandro
ccj Posted April 14, 2013 Posted April 14, 2013 (edited) Sandro, I didn't find anything showing the EKI. I was mistaken on what I remembered from researching this man when his uniform came up for sale last year, or many the year before. Edited April 14, 2013 by ccj
freiherr Posted June 30, 2013 Posted June 30, 2013 Here's a tiny pic. With a lot of the Bavarian Offiziere à la suite der Armee, the names end with a Erl. or D. What does that mean? Otto had his entry as Graf zu Castell-Castell Erl. Cheers Elwyn
arb Posted June 30, 2013 Posted June 30, 2013 These were abbreviations for titles of nobility: D. = Durchlaut (Serene Highness) and Erlaucht (Highness). Andy
GdC26 Posted June 30, 2013 Author Posted June 30, 2013 Many thanks, Gents, much appreciated. Freiherr, should you decide to part with that pic then please let me know, small as it is I'll happily buy it from you. Cheers, Sandro
ccj Posted June 30, 2013 Posted June 30, 2013 Finally a photo of the man. I too had interest in this man for a time.
freiherr Posted June 30, 2013 Posted June 30, 2013 (edited) Ah... Erl must be Erlaucht, D must be Durchlaucht.. Oops you replied already. I can send you the whole pic I downloaded from the internet at some point. I don't own any pics like you guys do. I am just an information addict. Elwyn Edited June 30, 2013 by freiherr
GdC26 Posted June 30, 2013 Author Posted June 30, 2013 Yes please, that would be great. I'll send you a PM with my email address. Many thanks, Sandro
ccj Posted June 30, 2013 Posted June 30, 2013 I'd love to see the entire photo. I study Bavarian uniforms
freiherr Posted June 30, 2013 Posted June 30, 2013 So we see the big wigs. FlüAdj Graf zu C-C as stated, der König, Militärbevollmächtigter in Berlin Karl FrHr Nagel zu Aichberg, Kriegsminsiter Otto FrHr Kreß v Kressenstein, GenAdj Wilhelm Walter v Walderstötten Cheers Elwyn
GdC26 Posted June 30, 2013 Author Posted June 30, 2013 Thank you Elwyn, that is a very nice pic. Kind regards, Sandro
Glenn J Posted June 8, 2019 Posted June 8, 2019 Charles, Most likely. Graf Castell-Castell was promoted to Generalmajor on 28 May 1918, Patent of 28.5.18 (4) 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. I am not aware of any other individuals in that rank serving as Flügeladjutanten at this period. Regards Glenn 1
ccj Posted June 8, 2019 Posted June 8, 2019 (edited) Are these the correct collar tabs? I thought the tabs on the 1910 type tunic were longer. Wasn’t Wilhelm Freiherr von Leonrod also an adjutant? Edited June 8, 2019 by ccj
Glenn J Posted June 9, 2019 Posted June 9, 2019 Charles, Freiherr von Leonrod was listed as an "Offizier à la suite der Armee" with the uniform of a Flügel-Adjutant. He was a senior official at the court of the Bavarian King. His final rank was that of an Oberst (11.10.14). He was appointed as a Flügeladjutant to King Ludwig on 23 December 1912, having previously been the then Prince Ludwig's personal adjutant. He retired from active service on 12 June 1913 and was appointed à la suite der Armee with his previous uniform. Regards Glenn
ccj Posted June 9, 2019 Posted June 9, 2019 (edited) Thank you Glenn, I'm always amazed at your knowledge and resources. This topic is extremely confusing to me. If Leonrod’s tunic is of a Flugaladjutant then I assume a Flugeladjutant tunic should have breast pockets and Costell-Costell’s doesn’t. The photo of Costello above shows him wearing a tunic exactly like Leonrod. Another tunic of Costell Weitze once sold. I understand the insignia is correct for his position. to clarify, below is a M16 Bluse, no Kleiner Rock or litewka.. Edited September 24, 2022 by ccj
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