Oskar Walther Gerhard Julius Freiherr von Watter  
(02.09.1861 - 23.08.1939)
place of birth:  Ludwigsburg
Königreich Württemberg:  KG,  Generalleutnant  (Art)


Württemberg general officer and Baron Oskar Freiherr von Watter headed 54. Infanterie-Division during the Great War. He also commanded a reserve corps during the War's final few months. General von Watter was descended from old Pomeranian nobility. His cousin Theodor was likewise a Württemberg general and corps-level commander during the First World War.

During the two years leading up to German mobilization, Freiherr von Watter headed the Prussian 10. Feldartillerie-Brigade in Posen. This unit went into battle on 2 August 1914 subordinate to General Kosch's 10. Infanterie-Division and Crown Prince Wilhelm's 5. Armee-Oberkommando. By the close of August, V. Armee-Korps commander General von Strantz had put Watter in charge of artillery for the entire corps. Then in September 1914, he was tasked with artillery support for the area between the rivers Orne and Meuse. In February 1915, General von Watter was placed in command of the newly-formed 54. Infanterie-Division. Initially engaged in northern France, the division was transported east to Ukraine in order to support Armee-Gruppe Gallwitz during the Narew Offensive.

Freiherr von Watter's infantry division returned to the Western Front in September 1915 where it was engaged in the Spring Offensive near Douai. The subsequent few months saw his troops in action at Noyon, Compiegne, and Verdun. From November 1916 through April 1917, the divisional troops were bogged down in the trenches of Woëvre Plains, France. By the end of July, they joined 4. Armee in Flanders to battle the British, then in August to Cambrai to occupy trenches in the Havrincourt - La Vacquières sector. For his energetic leadership during this period, Kaiser Wilhelm II. recognized the newly-promoted Generalleutnant von Watter with the Pour le Merite in December 1917.

Early in 1918, von Watter replaced General von Hügel as commander of XXVI. Reserve-Korps, and his troops were soon transferred from Savigny to Charleville. In April, the corps became part of General von Hutier's 18. Armee-Oberkommando, remaining so until War's end. After cessation of hostilities, von Watter led his corps back to the Kassel region for the demobilization process. He continued as a commanding general in the Reichswehr. He also led Freikorps troops in April 1920 as they killed thousands during the five-day Ruhr Red Uprising. Oskar Freiherr von Watter passed away in 1939 and was buried at Berlin's Invaliden Friedenhof. 

	Generalleutnant	06.11.1917
	Pour le Mérite	23.12.1917  (Eichenlaub:  03.11.1918)
	Württemberg MVO	04.11.1914  Ritter