Albrecht, Duke of Württemberg

Albrecht, Duke of Württemberg

Albrecht, Duke of Württemberg ca. 1905
Born 23 December 1865
Vienna, Austrian Empire
Died 31 October 1939 (age 73)
Altshausen, Germany
Allegiance German Empire German Empire
Rank Generalfeldmarschall
Commands held German 4th Army (1914–1917)
Army Group Albrecht (1917–1918)
Battles/wars World War I
Battle of the Ardennes
Battle of the Yser
Second Battle of Ypres
Awards Austrian Order of the Golden Fleece (1893)
Military Merit Cross (1914)
Pour le Mérite (1915)

Albrecht, Duke of Württemberg or Albrecht Herzog von Württemberg (Albrecht Maria Alexander Philipp Joseph von Württemberg, 23 December 1865 – 31 October 1939) was an important German military leader in World War I and head of the Royal House of Württemberg from 1921 to his death.

Early life

Duke Albrecht was born in Vienna as the eldest child of Duke Philipp of Württemberg[1] and his wife Archduchess Maria Theresa of Austria,[2] daughter of Archduke Albert, Duke of Teschen.

World War I

At the start of World War I, Duke Albrecht commanded the German 4th Army and led them to victory in the Battle of the Ardennes in August 1914. Following this victory, the 4th Army saw action in the First Battle of the Marne before being transferred to Flanders in October, where Duke Albrecht commanded them during the Battle of the Yser. Duke Albrecht also commanded the German forces during the Second Battle of Ypres, where poison gas was used on a large scale for the first time.

Duke Albrecht was awarded the Pour le Mérite in August 1915 and was promoted to Generalfeldmarschall in August 1916. The newly formed Army Group Albrecht was placed under his commanded in February 1917 and he was responsible for the southern sector of the Western Front until the Armistice.

Post war

Duke Albrecht had become heir presumptive to the Kingdom of Württemberg following the death of his father in October 1917, but, following the German Empire's World War I defeat and the abdication of his cousin King Willhelm II of Württemberg following the German Revolution, he never succeeded to the throne. He became head of the House of Württemberg on the death of Wilhelm on October 2, 1921.

Duke Albrecht died at Altshausen Castle on October 29, 1939. His son Duke Philipp Albrecht succeeded him as head of the House of Württemberg.

Family

Duke Albrecht was married in Vienna on 24 January 1893 to Archduchess Margarete Sophie of Austria,[3] a daughter of Archduke Carl Ludwig. They had seven children:

Ancestry

Decorations and awards

Notes

  1. born 30 July 1838 in Neuilly-sur-Seine; died 11 October 1917 in Stuttgart.
  2. born 15 July 1845 in Vienna; died 8 October 1927 in Tübingen.
  3. born 13 May 1870 in Artstetten Castle; died 24 August 1902 in Gmunden.
  4. "Court Circular" The Times (London). Friday, 19 January 1900. (36043), p. 7.

References

Wikisource has the text of the 1922 Encyclopædia Britannica article Albert, Duke of Württemberg.
Albrecht, Duke of Württemberg
Born: 23 December 1865 Died: 31 October 1939
German royalty
Preceded by
Duke Philipp
Heir to the Throne of Württemberg
as heir presumptive
11 October 1917 – 30 November 1918
Monarchy abolished
Titles in pretence
Preceded by
Wilhelm II
 TITULAR 
King of Württemberg
2 October 1921 – 31 October 1939
Reason for succession failure:
Kingdom abolished in 1918
Succeeded by
Duke Philipp Albrecht
Military offices
Preceded by
Formed from VI Army Inspectorate
(VI. Armee-Inspektion)
Commander, 4th Army
2 August 1914-25 February 1917
Succeeded by
General der Infanterie Friedrich Bertram Sixt von Armin
Preceded by
New Creation
Commander, Army Group Albrecht
7 March 1917 - 11 November 1918
Succeeded by
Dissolved
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