Emil Eduard Karl Ilse
(14.03.1864 - 14.04.1943)
place of birth:  Kempfeld, Württemberg
Königreich Preußen:  KG,  Generalleutnant  (Fußart)


Imperial German artillery specialist Emil Ilse served as Duke Albrechts' Fourth Army Chief of Staff during most of the Great War. General Ilse spent much of his pre-War military career at the Strasbourg headquarters of Foot Artillery Regiment Nr.10.  Ilse had worked his way up to an assignment as foot artillery brigade commander in Cologne a couple years prior to the outbreak of hostilities in Europe. It was during this phase that he became a great advocate for incorporating aircraft into Germany's military strategy. 

Generalmajor Ilse led troops of the 5th Foot Artillery Brigade into war on the Western Front as the Germans crossed into Belgium in August 1914. He was transferred in late August to Duke Albrecht's Fourth Army Headquarters to function as Chief of Staff, a position he held for the subsequent three years. It was in this capacity that he received his promotion to Generalleutnant in 1915, and for which he was awarded the Pour le Merite medal. He was then selected to replace General von Deimling as commander of the XV. Army Corps. Following the Armistice, General Ilse led his troops back Kassel for the demobilization process. He remained in command of XV. Corps until retiring from active duty in April 1919. In retirement, Ilse was awarded the brevet rank of General der Artillerie (Charakter) on 27 August 1939 for Tannenberg Remembrance Day. He was laid to rest in Cologne in April of 1943.

	Generalleutnant	18.08.1915
	Pour le Mérite	28.08.1916