Christoph Ritter von Kiefhaber
(19.10.1855 - 19.01.1955)
place of birth:  Waischenfeld, Oberfranken
Königreich Bayern:  Div-Kdr,  Generalleutnant z.D.


Division-level commanding general in the Royal Bavarian Army during the Great War, Ritter von Kiefhaber lived to 99 years of age. Prior to the War's outbreak, Generalmajor Kiefhaber served as commander of Bavaria's 3. Infanterie-Brigade headquartered in Augsburg and went into retirement in 1912 at the age of 56. He returned to active duty status following German mobilization in August 1914 and soon thereafter received command of Bavaria's newly-formed 12. Reserve-Brigade. He was brevetted to Generalleutnant on 16.12.1914 conferring him the title of Exzellenz (Excellency.)

Kiefhaber's troops were deployed to the Western Front in October and soon successfully area around Wytschaete. During the spring of 1915, the brigade was engaged in heavy combat at Nieuve Chappelle, La Bassee, and Arras. In March of 1916, Kiefhaber was transferred to Verdun as commander of Bavarian Ersatz Division. The division then fought along the River Somme in late 1916. In April 1917, he replaced Ritter von Burkhardt as commander of Bavarian 10. Infanterie-Division, deployed to Flanders in support of 4. Armee-Oberkommando. For his outstanding leadership in defending his sector against the British, Generalleutnant Kiefhaber was awarded the Pour le Merite. Additionally, for his bravery and meritorious leadership in battle, he was awarded the Ritterkreuz (Knight's Cross) of Bavaria's highest military order - the Militär-Max-Joseph-Orden. He was officially presented with the decoration on 07.03.1918 and was thus enrolled into Bavarian nobility with the title Ritter von.

In 1918, his division initially became part of Graf von Bothmer's 19. Armee-Oberkommando, but then was transferred in June to fight once again in support of 4. Armee-Oberkommando during battles at Soissons and Reims. Generalleutnant von Kiefhaber was retired from active duty in July, with the Bavarian 10. Infanterie-Division being demobilized soon thereafter. Although he retired at the end of the war at the rank of Generalleutnant, he was later awarded the brevet rank of General der Infanterie (charakter) on 27 August 1939 for Tannenberg Remembrance Day.

	Generalleutnant	19.11.1916
	Militär-Max-Joseph	22.10.1917  Ritter
	Pour le Mérite	24.11.1917