Hugo Friedrich Wilhelm Elstermann von Elster
(23.03.1859 - 19.09.1945)
place of birth:  Aschersleben/Saale
Königreich Preußen:  Div-Kdr, Generalleutnant


General Hugo Elstermann von Elster served during World War One as commanding general of Prussia's 76. Reserve-Division. Elstermann began his military career in 1878 with regiment duty in Mainz. By 1912, he had advanced to the rank of Generalmajor when was placed in command of 42. Infanterie-Brigade in Frankfurt a.M.  When Germany marched into Belgium in August 1914, his brigade was subordinate to 4. Armee-Oberkommando and thus engaged in September's First Battle of the Marne. Elstermann was chosen in December to take charge of the newly-formed 76. Reserve-Division. As part of the XXXVIII. Reserve-Korps, his troops were moved to the Eastern Front where they soon faced the Russians during the Battle of Masurian Lakes.

Having been promoted to Generalleutnant in 1915, Elstermann's division was redeployed south in September 1916 to the Siebenbürgen (Transylvania) area of Romania, where they became part of Falkenhayn's 9. Armee. Following numerous engagements, the 9. Armee was pressed to fend off a combined Russian-Romanian offensive in the summer of 1917. For his distinguished service and leadership during this campaign, Generalleutnant Elstermann was decorated with the highest Royal Prussian order of bravery, the Pour le Mérite. He was relieved of his divisional commend in January 1918 and dispatched back to the Western Front. There he spent the next few months of the War functioning Lines of Communications Inspector at General von der Marwitz's 2. Armee headquarters. Elstermann retired from all military duties just a week after the November 1918 Armistice was signed, but was later awarded the brevet rank of General der Infanterie (charakter) on 27 August 1939 to commemorate Tannenberg Remembrance Day.

	Generalleutnant	18.06.1915
	Pour le Mérite	22.09.1917