Curt von Morgen

Curt von Morgen

Curt von Morgen during WWI
Born 1 November 1858
Neiße, Kingdom of Prussia
Died 15 February 1928(1928-02-15) (aged 69)
Lübeck, Germany
Allegiance  German Empire (to 1918)
Service/branch Heer
Years of service 1878–1919
Rank General of Infantry
Commands held
Battles/wars

World War I

Battle of Tannenberg
Battle of Łódź (1914)
Romanian campaign
Hundred Days Offensive
Awards Pour le Mérite with Oak Leaves
Relations Anthony Fokker
The leaders of Tannenberg on 24 August 1924 in Königsberg (Prussia)

Curt Ernst von Morgen (1 November 1858 in Neiße – 15 February 1928 in Lübeck) was a Prussian explorer and officer, later General of Infantry during World War I. He was a recipient of Pour le Mérite with Oak Leaves.

Explorer in Cameroon

Curt von Morgen was stationed in German Kamerun and undertook two research journeys to central Cameroon in 1889 and from 1890 to 1891. After the expeditions, Morgen returned to Germany but in 1894 he was tasked with the formation of the Kamerun Schutztruppe. He also led two military expeditions against the Abo north of Douala and the Kwe (Bakwiri) near Mount Cameroon.

The Middle East

In 1896-97, he followed as military observer the English Dongola-Expedition against the Mahdists. In 1897, he became Military Attaché in Istanbul. He followed as observer the Greco-Turkish War (1897) and prepared the visit of Kaiser William II to Palestine in 1898.

Military service in Germany

On 27 January 1912, he was promoted to Generalmajor and assigned as commander of the 81st Infantry Brigade in Lübeck. On 9 August 1913, when the emperor visited the town, he reported to him.

World War I

On mobilisation for World War I in August 1914, he became commander of the 3rd Reserve Division from Danzig, and promoted to Generalleutnant on the 19th of that month.[1] He commanded this division as part of the 8th Army in the pivotal Battle of Tannenberg at the opening of the war on the Eastern Front, and at the subsequent First Battle of the Masurian Lakes. For his performance in this period, he was awarded the Pour le Mérite on 1 December 1914.[2]

On 24 November 1914, he took over command of I Reserve Corps from Otto von Below.[3] He led this Corps for almost the entire war, only swapping places with Richard Wellman in command of XIV Reserve Corps in August 1918.[4]

With the I Reserve Corps, he fought in the Battle of Łódź (1914) and in the Romanian campaign (1916-1917) in which he took the oil fields of Ploiești and advanced towards Focșani. After the signing of the peace treaty with Romania, his Corps was moved to the Western Front.

He was awarded the Oakleaves to the Pour le Mérite (signifying a second award) on 11 December 1916.[2]

Later life

After his retirement he became General of Infanterie and returned to Lübeck.

Family

His son Heinrich-Joachim von Morgen (1902–1932) was an early German race car driver. His daughter Elizabeth married in 1923 the aircraft designer Anthony Fokker.

Awards

References

  1. "Kurt von Morgen". The Prussian Machine. Retrieved 21 December 2012.
  2. 1 2 "Orden Pour le Mérite". Retrieved 21 December 2012.
  3. "Armee-Reserve-Korps". The Prussian Machine. Retrieved 21 December 2012.
  4. "Richard Wellmann". The Prussian Machine. Retrieved 21 December 2012.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 Rangliste der Königlich Preußischen Armee und des XIII. (Königlich Württembergischen) Armeekorps für 1914. Berlin: Hrsg.: Kriegsministerium, Ernst Siegfried Mittler & Sohn. 1914.

+ Rangliste der Königlich Preußischen Armee und des XIII. (Königlich Württembergischen) Armeekorps für 1914, Hrsg.: Kriegsministerium, Ernst Siegfried Mittler & Sohn, Berlin 1914, S.82

Military offices
Preceded by
General der Infanterie Otto von Below
Commander, I Reserve Corps
28 November 1914 - 25 August 1918
Succeeded by
Generalleutnant Richard Wellman
Preceded by
Generalleutnant Richard Wellman
Commander, XIV Reserve Corps
25 August 1918 - 11 November 1918
Succeeded by
Disbanded
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