Ernst Theodor Freiherr von Watter
(05.10.1856 - 28.01.1922)
place of birth:  Gmünd
Königreich Württemberg:  KG,  General der Infanterie


Württemberg general officer and Baron Theodor Freiherr von Watter was in command of 39. Infanterie-Division as Germany mobilized for the Great War. He was descended from old Pomeranian nobility, as was his first cousin General Oskar von Watter, who served as a division commander during the War.

Von Watter's infantry division initially marched into Mühlhausen where where they immediately saw action against French troops. They continued to engage the French in the Lorraine region throughout August, but von Watter was selected to replace General Hoiningen at the end of month as commander of XIV. Armee-Korps.  General von Watter's new corps first supported the 6. Armee-Oberkommando during battles at Arras and near Lille, before proceeding to the trenches of Flanders. In March of 1915, General von Watter was sent by OHL to Rawka-Bzura on the Eastern Front, where he replaced Prussian general Max von Fabeck as commander of Württemberg's XIII. Armee-Korps. The new troops under his command were part of Germany's push through Poland along the River Narew, where they subsequently captured the fortress at Różan. 

The Württembergers were transported to the Western Front in September 1915 and were then put into action during the Second Battle of Champagne (25 September to 6 October). After some time spent in reserve at Cambrai and intermittent skirmishing along the Yser Canal, XIII. Armee-Korps fought in support of Germany's 1. Armee during the Battle of the Somme. In August 1916, von Watter was promoted to General der Infanterie and awarded the Pour le Mérite for his outstanding leadership. After his corps was supplemented with replacements in November, they moved back to the Somme but were subsequently withdrawn in the spring of 1917 to the so-called Siegfried Line, where they remained for almost an entire year. Immediately prior to Germany's Spring Offensive of March 1918, however, von Watter took sick and was forced to return home for convalescence. 

Upon his return from Germany, von Watter again took the reigns of XIII. Armee-Korps and led them during the Battle of Soissons. The corps troops then went on the defensive, making an orderly retreat as the Allied forces pushed them back to the homeland. General von Watter retired from active duty in December 1918 and passed away in 1922 in Baden-Baden. 

	General der Infanterie	18.08.1916
	Württemberg MVO	01.11.1914  Ritter  (Kommentur:  20.02.1918)
	Pour le Mérite	31.08.1916