Paul Otto Felix Freiherr Kreß von Kressenstein  
(13.09.1850 - 19.02.1929)
place of birth:  Germersheim, Pfalz
Königreich Bayern:  Kriegsminister,  KG,  Generaloberst


Bavarian Generaloberst Otto Freiherr Kreß von Kressenstein served during the Great War as Imperial Bavarian Minister of War. Otto was born into the home of Major Joseph Freiherr Kreß von Kressenstein from an old patrician family of Nürnberg. The major was a participant in the Franco-Prussian War and was killed in action in February of 1871. Otto's mother was an officer's daughter from Augsburg. Young Otto likewise saw action in the Franco-Prussian War as 20-year old lieutenant in the Bavarian cavalry. He received the Iron Cross 2nd Class, having been engaged at Weißenburg, Wörth, Sedan, and the siege of Paris. 

Following the hostilities, Sekonde-Lieutenant Kreß von Kressenstein continued in the regimen of a career cavalry officer, studying at the Bavarian War Academy and in 1897 taking command of his own regiment, Imperial Bavarian 6. Chevaulegers-Regiment in Bamberg. Interestingly, he was in command of this regiment approximately 50 years after his own grandfather had formed it into an elite unit. After heading up the Bavarian Cavalry Brigade from 1902 to 1904, Generalleutnant Kreß von Kressenstein took over the office of Inspector General of Bavarian Cavalry.

Successful commands of 1. Infanterie-Division and III. Armeekorps caught the eye of King Luitpold, who selected him in 1912 to replace Graf von Horn as Bavaria's War Minister. General Kreß was simultaneously tasked with overseeing the military cabinet and all Royal Bavarian Army administrative functions. He was subsequently noted for his eloquent and effective representation in Parliament of the common Bavarian soldier's fair treatment. He likewise fought for the welfare of civilian workers in the military industry, drawing praise from Bavaria's Social Democrats who continually supported Kreß in Parliament.

The First World War brought General Kreß von Kressenstein into perpetual conflict with other members who formed newly-crowned King Leopold III.'s cabinet, particularly Bavaria's Minister of Interior. General Kreß also suffered a deteriorating relationship with the military authorities in Berlin; he viewed as oppressive and unjust the ever-increasing expectations placed upon the Bavarian military contingent as the War continued with no end in sight. His relationship with King Ludwig III. also worsened, to the point that he stepped down from his office on 8 December 1916 and was replaced by Generalleutnant Philipp von Hellingrath. In retirement, Kreß von Kressenstein continued to write on military issues, but passed away in 1929 after suffering from a long-term illness. His son Franz was also a cavalry officer who commanded XII. Armeekorps until 1938, while son Hans was Director of Internal Medicine at the Freie Universität Berlin.

	Kriegsminister	16.02.1912  -  11.12.1916
	Generaloberst	01.08.1914
	Eisernes Kreuz II	Deutsch-Französischer Krieg  1870–1871