Wilhelm Ernst Karl Freiherr von und zu Egloffstein  
(12.10.1853 - 15.09.1925)
place of birth:  Weimar, Thüringen
Königreich Preußen:  KG,  Stellv KG,  General der Infanterie z.D.


German baron and General der Infanterie von und zu Egloffstein was in command of Germany's VIII. Reserve-Korps at the outbreak of World War One. He initially enlisted in the Germany Imperial Naval but transferred to Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 26 just as the Franco-Prussian War 1870-71 began. After the War, Egloffstein remained attached to Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 26 for the subsequent 15 years.

Having assumed in early 1910 the post of Straßburg's Military Governor, Egloffstein and local corps commander General Max von Fabeck became high-ranking victims of the 1913 Straßburger Köpenikiade hoax. An unemployed local resident, August Wolter, dressed up as a mail carrier to deliver a supposed telegram from Berlin announcing an upcoming state visit by Kaiser Wilhelm II. Without authenticating the message, both Egloffstein and Fabeck planned an elaborate military parade and festivities to officially receive the Kaiser. As thousands of civilians and uniformed soldiers awaited Wilhelm's arrival, it became clear that they had been duped (the Kaiser was instead at the opposite end of the Empire overseeing a ceremony in Königsberg.) In the aftermath of the fiasco, General Fabeck was transferred to another command and Wolter was committed to an asylum. General Egloffstein decided to submit an application for retirement, and it was accepted.

Just over a year later, however, Germany mobilized for the Great War and Egloffstein was reactivated in order to command VIII. Reserve-Korps on the Western Front. He gave up that command in January 1915 and remained without an assignment for over two years. In late summer 1917, General von und zu Egloffstein was tasked with serving as General von Heineccius' acting commander at VI. Armee-Korps headquarters in Breslau. He worked at this posting until War's end, passing away in 1925.

	General der Infanterie	12.04.1910
	Eisernes Kreuz II	Deutsch-Französischer Krieg  1870–1871