Otto Friedrich Graf zu Castell-Castell

[Deutschritter]

This is what I have put together, also using the information by many members of this forum. 

 

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 commisioned 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 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, Otto was unfit to rule) on 6 December 1900, which was unusual given his age and rank, but due to his name and position. He also served Prince Regent Ludwig (1912–1913) and King of Bavaria Ludwig III (1913–1918), one and the same person. 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.

 

If anyone can add or correct anything, I would be, as always, thankful:

 

Fähnrich (Officer Cadet): 19 August 1886 (überzähliger Portepeefähnrich)

... 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)

... 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

 

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)

... received the Crown on 24 October 1909 (Militär-Jubiläumsmedaille mit Krone)

... 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

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)

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)

Order of Merit of the Bavarian Crown, Knight's Cross (BCV3/BKr3)

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)

Knight of Justice (Rechtsritter) of the Johanniter-Orden

Ehrenkreuz für Frontkämpfer

 

Edited October 14, 2023 by Deutschritter

[ccj]

Nice work. How’d you find the photo? 

 

Edited October 14, 2023 by ccj
Error

[Deutschritter]

13 hours ago, ccj said:

Nice work. How’d you fin the photo? 

 

Thanks! Pure luck. https://lokalgeschichte.de/aus-der-muenchner-hofgesellschaft

[ccj]

Usually photos of Graf zu Castell-Castell Ive seen are along side the King. Here’s a good one, Castell is the tall thin man to the left in the rear with the aiguillette. 

 

[Deutschritter]

Added a few things according to Militär-Handbuch des Königreiches Bayern 1916, one can only imagine he got several more things until 1918.