Richard Heinrich Karl von Conta  
24.11.1856 - 20.01.1941
place of birth:  Tuchel, Westpreußen  (Tuchola, Pol)
Königreich Preußen:  KG,  General der Infanterie


German General der Infanterie Richard von Conta was in command of 1st Infantry Division defending against the Russian onslaught at Stallupönen and Gumbinnen during the early stages of the Great War. Subordinate to General von Francois' I. Army Corps, 1st Infantry Division achieved probably its greatest success during the late August Battle of Tannenberg. The division was soon thereafter engaged against the Russians at the First Battle of Masurian Lakes.

1st Infantry Division moved to Hungary in early 1915 in order to fight alongside Germany's Südarmee in the Carpathians. The following year, in the spring of 1916, the troops were transferred to the Verdun theater on the Western Front. General von Conta was selected in July of that year to head up the so-called Karpathen-Korps. This force, which included Conta's former division, joined the Austro-Hungarian Seventh Army and fought in the so-called September Battle of the Carpathians, for which General von Conta was decorated with the Pour le Mérite.

In December 1917, Conta's headquarters once again returned west to France, where his staff took command of the newly redesignated IV. Reserve Corps (aka Gruppe Conta). This unit battled alongside troops from the 18th Field Army, and took part in the late-March action to break through at St Quentin. By late April, the IV. Reserves had switched over to fight with the 7th Field Army which was engaged at Soissons and then Reims.  General von Conta continued his exemplary leadership until the Armistice was signed on 11 November, and thereafter lead his corps troops back to headquarters in Magdeburg. He lived in retirement until the year 1941, when he passed away in Frankfurt an der Oder.

 
 

	General der Infanterie	18.08.1918
	Pour le Mérite	15.10.1916  (Eichenlaub:  26.03.1918)