Kurt Ernst von Morgen  
(01.11.1858 - 15.02.1928)
place of birth:  Neiße, Schlesien  (Nysa, Poland)
Königreich Preußen:  KG,  Generalleutnant


Generalleutnant Kurt von Morgen was a highly decorated Imperial German officer with a complex and interesting military career. He fought during the Great War as a divisional and corps-level commander. At the outset of the War, General von Morgen headed up 3. Reserve-Division at Battle of Tannenberg, where he disobeyed 8. Armee Chief of Staff Ludendorff by by refusing to advance on the village of Hohenstein. He spent most of the War in command of I. Reserve-Korps and also lead XIV. Reserve-Korps during the last few months of the War.

Kurt Morgen was born into the German middle class of Silesia, only later receiving his noble title. During his pre-war career, he took part in two research expeditions to Western Africa, exploring the region of present-day Cameroon, Nigeria, and Chad. As a military observer in 1896-97, he accompanied Kitchner's British-Egyptian detachment on the Dongala Expedition to quell the Mahdist Revolt in the Sudan desert. Morgen additionally worked for the military-attaché in Constantinople, where he was an official military observer at Edhem Pasha's headquarters during the Greek-Turkish War of 1897. While still serving as the embassy, he was also selected to be an aide-de-camp (Flügeladjutant) to Kaiser Wilhelm II.  Upon returning to Germany, Major Morgen was elevated by the Kaiser into the German nobility. He then commanded a fusilier regiment and an infantry regiment, and in 1912 was selected to command the brigade in Lübeck.

At the outbreak of World War One, Generalmajor von Morgen was charged with command of 3. Reserve-Division, an independent unit subordinate to General von Prittwitz' 8. Armee-Oberkommando. Von Morgen soon received a promotion just as his troops were engaged during the Battle of Gumbinnen. Ordered to retreat, Generalleutnant von Morgen initially planned to disobey but reconsidered and transferred his troops west to the village of Kirsteindorf. In that area, 3. Reserve-Division provided cover for 8. Armee's left flank during Tannenberg and remained essentially in the same role as the Germans pushed eastward to battle the Russians at Masurian Lakes. 

In November 1914, von Morgen reported directly to General von Hindenburg at Ober-Ost that he had no confidence in 8. Armee commander Hermann von Francois, and thus wanted his division transferred to 9. Armee-Oberkommando. Von Hindenburg decided to instead send newly-promoted Generalleutnant von Morgen to I. Reserve-Korps headquarters to replace Otto von Below as commander. Von Morgen's reservists marched on the left flank as von Mackensen's 9. Armee pushed southeast into Poland to fight what would be the Battle for Lodz. It was for Germany's great success during this battle and for his outstanding leadership that von Morgen received the Pour le Merite honor in December 1914. Following positional skirmishing along the River Rawka, his I. Reserve-Korps moved to Przasnysz in February 1915 to fight in support of Armee-Gruppe Gallwitz. Through August 1916, the Morgen's reservists had defeated their Russian counterparts a total of 17 times, taking approximately 14,000 prisoners. 

During the autumn and winter months of 1916, I. Reserve-Korps personnel were engaged in the campaign against the Romanian Army. Generalleutnant von Morgen's leadership was once more acknowledged through receipt of his PLM Oakleaves. After the route of the Romanians ended in January 1917, von Morgen's forces were recognized for having captured 53,000 prisoners and almost 60 enemy artillery pieces. I. Reserve-Korps was transferred in March 1918 to the Western Front to be initially engaged in the region of Upper Alsace. They soon moved to Lille and then during the summer of 1918 settled near Roye. On 24 August, von Morgen was transferred to Cambrai in order to take command of XIV. Reserve-Korps. His troops maintained a successful defense of the area until signing of the Armistice was completed in November. 

In the aftermath of the War, Generalleutnant von Morgen traveled with his corps back to Soest, Germany, where the demobilization process was realized. He soon thereafter retired from active duty and in 1920 was promoted to the brevet rank of General der Infanterie. In his heart, he remained loyal to the Hohenzollern Monarchy and rejected approaches by his old Tannenberg comrade Ludendorff to join the National Socialists. General von Morgen instead returned to Lübeck, where he had commanded 81. Infanterie-Brigade during the pre-War years, remaining there until he passed away in 1928 at the age of 69. The general's daughter was married to Dutch aircraft designer Anthony Fokker. His son Heinz-Joachim was a race-car driver who met his death at Germany's Nürburgring track.

	Generalleutnant	19.08.1914
	Kolonial-Denkmünze	12.06.1912
	Pour le Mérite	01.12.1914  (Eichenlaub:  11.12.1916)