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Eugen Otto
Freiherr von Hügel
(28.09.1853 - 03.01.1928)
place of birth: Stuttgart, Württemberg
Königreich
Württemberg: KG,
Stellv KG, General der Infanterie
Royal Württemberg baron
and general officer Otto von Hügel
was in command of the XXVI. Reserve Corps throughout most of the Great
War. Upon graduating from the military academy at
Ludwigsburg in July 1870, von Hügel
was sent directly to the front
to fight with the Infantry Regiment Nr. 122 (4th Württemberg) in the Franco-Prussian War.
He received a war-time promotion to Second Lieutenant in December 1870.
Returning home to a peacetime military career
saw Otto von Hügel
serve on
numerous regimental staffs, ultimately taking command of IR Nr.121 in
Ludwigsburg. After heading up 2nd Infantry Division in East Prussia,
Generalleutnant von Hügel
was placed on
reserve officer status and was simultaneously brevetted as General der
Infanterie.
General von Hügel was reactivated
in August 1914 as German troops were mobilized. He was initially
assigned to XIII. Corps headquarters in Stuttgart to serve as General
Max von Fabeck's in-garrison commander. At the end of August, however,
he was selected to lead the group of volunteer soldiers making up the
newly-formed XXVI. Reserve Corps. His troops were soon
transported in October to support Duke Albrecht's Fourth Army near
Ypres in Flanders. The corps remained there over the next two years,
engaged in trench warfare, and they were some of the first German units
to use gas as a weapon. General von Hügel's
outstanding leadership was recognized by the Kaiser when he awarded the
Pour le Merite in August 1916.
The following month, XXVI. Reserves moved
south to participate in a support role during the Battle of
the Somme. Von Hügel
briefly commanded a Second Army detachment south of the Somme
in October, but soon thereafter his reservists were sent to join
General von Einem's Third Army engaged in the Champagne
area. It was here in the spring of 1917 that troops under von Hügel's command were designated as "Gruppe
Dormoise". Shortly before Germany's 1918 Spring Offensive,
General von Hügel was relieved
of his command and replaced by fellow Württemberger,
General Oskar Freiherr von Watter.
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