Otto von Moser  
(21.03.1860 - 11.10.1931)
place of birth:  Stuttgart
Königreich Württemberg:  KG,  Generalleutnant


Royal Württemberg general officer Otto von Moser commanded XIV. Reserve-Korps during the latter part of the Great War. He was also a prolific writer on military issues, having authored the book "Die Württemberger im Weltkrieg" (Württemberg Participants in the World War), published in 1938.
Otto's father, Major Ernst Otto Moser, served honorably in Württemberg's military forces and was thus elevated to nobility status in 1845 by His Majesty King Wilhelm I.

On Mobilization Day, Generalmajor von Moser led his 53. Infanterie-Brigade from their garrison in Ulm to the Diedenhofen to guard the border. Notably, one of the soldiers serving in von Moser's infantry brigade was the future Wehrmacht Field Marshal Erwin Rommel. Von Moser and his troops crossed the border into Belgium two weeks later to join battle at Virton-Bleid. Pushing into France, his troops were engaged in heavy fighting near Gesnes-en-Argonne; having joined them at the front, General von Moser unfortunately ended up with a severe shrapnel wound on 2 September, an injury which put him out of action until the summer of 1915.

After his long convalescence, Generalmajor von Moser was selected to lead the newly-formed 107. Infanterie-Division, which entrained for the Lubaczowka River, Poland to support General von Mackensen's Eleventh Field Army near Korzenica. They continued their push eastward through Galicia and into Russian territory, where the Germans formed the Bug-Armee (Army of the Bug). As soon as they arrived in Pinsk (Belarus), however, the 107th was ordered to transfer southern Hungary to take part in the October/November 1915 offensive into Serbia. After their success versus the Serbs, Generalleutnant von Moser's division was recalled back to Hungary and then sent to Lithuania in the Baltic region by year's end.

In the summer of 1916, Generalleutnant von Moser was transferred to Lys, France to replace General Graf von Pfeil und Klein-Ellguth as commander of the 27. Infanterie-Division. This unit was sent in July 1916 to the River Somme where they were engaged in four straight weeks of heated battle. Following a stint in early 1917 where he provided front line infantry units with specialized training in defensive tactics, von Moser was sent to the Artois region to replace Georg Fuchs as commander of XIV. Reserve-Korps, fighting in support of 6. Armee. During the ensuing Battle of Arras (1917), his corps was pounded by British guns during a German defensive action. For his skill and leadership during this conflict, Generalleutnant von Moser was decorated with the Pour le Merite medal.

In mid-June 1917, von Moser's troops were designated Gruppe Arras, switching subordination from 6. Armee to 2. Armee, commanded by Georg von der Marwitz. The relative quiet in the trenches there came to a sudden end on 20 November when the British launched a massive tank attack along the front by Cambrai. The constant physical and mental stress eventually took its toll on the general, and he retired from the battlefield in February 1918. For his exemplary service, His Majesty the King of Württemberg awarded von Moser with the Commander's Cross of the Militär-Verdienstorden (MVO). In his retirement years, General von Moser penned several notable works on military history and tactics. It was at his estate in Isny im Allgäu that he passed away in October 1931.

	Generalleutnant	18.08.1915
	Pour le Mérite	26.04.1917
	Württemberg MVO	18.07.1918   Kommentur