Ludwig Freiherr von Gebsattel  
(16.01.1857 - 20.09.1930)
place of birth:  Würzburg, Unterfranken
Königreich Bayern:  KG,  Stellv KG,  General der Kavallerie


Bavarian baron and cavalry officer Ludwig von Gebsattel was one of Bavaria's most highly decorated officers. He commanded Bavaria's III. Armeekorps during the first half of the Great War. Freiherr von Gebsattel spent the great part of his pre-war military career serving in a light cavalry (Uhlan) regiment and as a staff officer. He accompanied Graf Yorck von Wartenburg to Peking in 1900, serving as a general staff officer during the Boxer Rebellion. Also prior to the War, von Gebsattel spent over six years in Berlin serving in the capacity of Bavaria's military representative at Great General Staff headquarters and the Bundesrat (Germany's Federal Council.) He was promoted to Generalleutnant on 22.04.1910 conferring him the title of Exzellenz (Excellency.)

General der Kavallerie von Gebsattel was in place as commander of Bavarian III. Armee-Korps at War's outbreak, an office he held until January 1917. His troops received their baptism by fire in early August 1914 as they entered Lorraine on the right flank of Crown Prince Rupprecht's 6. Armee-Oberkommando. On 25.09.1914 near St Mihiel, Gebsattel's planning and leadership during the seizure of Fort Camp des Romains resulted in his being recognized by King Ludwig III. with the Ritterkreuz (Knight's Cross) of Bavaria's highest military order - the Militär-Max-Joseph-Orden. He was officially presented with the decoration on 13.05.1915 and later received the Kommandeur class of the order.

The Bavarian III. Armee-Korps remained part of the 6. Armee-Oberkommando until the summer of 1916, when it was transferred to the River Somme sector in order to support the 1. Armee-Oberkommando. Gebsattel's infantry divisions performed to such a degree that Kaiser Wilhelm awarded him the Pour le Merite medal for his efforts. In July 1917, the year-old General von Gebsattel was sent home to Bavaria to serve as Otto von Stetten's Acting Commander at Bavarian II. Armee-Korps Headquarters in Würzburg. Following the War, Freiherr von Gebsattel contributed writings to the Imperial German Archives work entitled From Nancy to Camp des Romains, 1914.

	General der Kavallerie	19.03.1914
	China-Denkmünze	Ostasiatisches Expeditionskorps  1900-01
	Militär-Max-Joseph	25.09.1914  Ritter  (07.01.1917:  Kommandeur)
	Pour le Mérite	04.10.1916