Paul Ritter von Kneußl  
(27.06.1862 - 16.02.1928)
place of birth:  Lindau am Bodensee, Schwaben
Königreich Bayern:  KG,  Generalleutnant


Bavarian count and lieutenant general Paul von Kneußl was one of the most significant leaders of Bavarian military forces during the Great War. He was born into the home of Johann and Klara (nee Vigl) Kneußl in the Lake Constance area. General von Kneußl was in charge of personnel affairs at the Bavaria War Ministry prior to German mobilization in August 1914. He then was put in command of Bavarian 1st Reserve Infantry Brigade, which soon joined battle in Lorraine, France in support of 6. Armee-Oberkommando. For his meritorious leadership during peacetime, he was awarded in 1913 the Ritter (Knight class) of the Bavarian crown's order of merit - the Verdienstorden der Bayerischen Krone. The official presentation of the decoration in January 1914 elevated him into Bavarian nobility with the title of "Ritter von Kneußl."

In the spring of 1915, Ritter von Kneußl was promoted to Generalleutnant as he took command of Bavarian 11. Infanterie-Division. These troops were transferred east to Galicia to fight with Field Marshal von Mackensen's 11. Armee-Oberkommando at Gorlice-Tarnow. Kneußl's division further took part in the re-taking of the Fortress Przemysl, located on the Poland-Ukraine border. He was promoted to Generalleutnant on 19.05.1915 conferring him the title of Exzellenz (Excellency.) Kneußl's exemplary leadership during this engagement resulted in his being the first Bavarian officer during the War to be awarded the Pour le Merite. Additionally, for his bravery and meritorious leadership in battle, he was awarded the Ritterkreuz (Knight's Cross) of Bavaria's highest military order - the Militär-Max-Joseph-Orden. Kneußl was officially presented with the decoration on 06.07.1915 and later received the Kommandeur class of the MMJO order. His division continued in the eastern campaign until October 1915, when they were sent to Serbia to fight in support of General von Gallwitz's army. 

Bavaria's 11. Infanterie-Division redeployed further west in early 1916, ending up in Verdun by February. Here they were engaged until the summer, when German High Command decided to move them back east to again fight Russian forces in the Ukraine. By November 1916, von Kneußl and his troops continued on to the Wallachia area of Romania to join forces with General von Falkenhayn. The spring of 1917 had 11. Infanterie-Division back on the Western Front, where they took part in the Battle of the River Aisne and at Chemin des Dames. General von Kneußl and his soldiers settled in Passchendaele, Flanders by the end of the year.

Ludendorff's 1918 Spring Offensive saw Kneußl's division fighting under 4. Armee-Oberkommando Commander Friedrich Sixt von Armin. After the division lost over 2,200 men, however, the unit was placed in reserve on the Dutch border. They were back in business by mid-June, this time subordinate to 18. Armee-Oberkommando. Here again the division suffered heavy losses as they fought a tactical withdrawal from the River Marne. What remained of his troops were transferred to Bruges, while Generalleutnant von Kneußl was named commander of Bavarian XV. Reservekorps which was defending a relatively quiet part of the front in Lorraine, France. Von Kneußl was put in charge of Bavarian I. Reservekorps just two days prior to Armistice, and thus oversaw that unit's demobilization process upon returning to Munich. He was brevetted as General der Infanterie when he retired in August 1919 and passed away about ten years later in Munich.

	Generalleutnant	19.05.1915
	Verdst-Ord Bayr-Krone	30.12.1913  Ritter
	Pour le Mérite	03.06.1915  (Eichenlaub:  11.01.1917)
	Militär-Max-Joseph	03.06.1915  Ritter  (08.10.1915: Komtur)