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Paul Otto
Felix Freiherr Kreß von Kressenstein
(13.09.1850 - 19.02.1929)
place of birth: Germersheim, Bayern
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.
Chevauleger-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 officer of Inspector General of Bavarian Cavalry.
Successful commands of 1st Infantry Division
and III. Army Corps 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. Army Corps until 1938. Son Hans was
a professor and Director of Internal Medicine at the Freie
Universität Berlin.
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