German Generals, WWI

Maximilian August Hermann Julius von Laffert 
(10.5.1855 - 20.7.1917)
place of birth:  Lindau, Bayern  (Bavaria)


General of cavalry who at outbreak commanded the Saxon XIX. Armeekorps under Hausen's Third Army. Von Laffert was born into the home of Karl von Laffert and Klara von der Wense. Although a family of nobility with roots in Braunschweig (Brunswick), Max was actually born in the southern part of Bavaria along Lake Constance, and nonetheless served in the Saxon Army. Von Laffert was married to the former Marie von Wilke, with whom he had one son and two daughters.

After finishing prep school in Celle, Max joined the Dresden Cadet Corps in 1871 and became a lieutenant in 1874 with the 3rd Infantry Regiment Nr.102 in Zittau. A couple years later he switched to the cavalry, however, joining up with the 1st Hussar Regiment Nr.18 in Grossenhain. From that point, he worked his way through royal Saxon cavalry units, also serving as Inspector of the Military Riding Institute from 1904 to 1907. When Germany mobilized for the First World War, von Laffert commanded the XIX. Armeekorps which was subordinate to the Saxon Third Army. Under his direction, the corps fought in the Marne campaign in 1914, at La Bassee in 1915, on the Lys and Somme rivers in 1916, and at Wytschaetebogen, Belgium in 1917. While commanding his troups in France, von Laffert suffered a heart attack and died later in Frankfurt on 20 July 1917. He is buried at the Nordfriedhof in Dresden.

 

 
Assignments and Commands  (pre-War)
00.00.1874 3. Königlich Sächsisches Infanterie-Regiment ,,König Ludwig III von Bayern” Nr. 102 - Zittau   
28.04.1874 Leutnant
00.00.1876  1. Königlich Sächsisches Husaren-Regiment ,,König Albert” Nr. 18 - Grossenhain
30.10.1880 Oberleutnant
00.00.1883  Preußische Kriegsakademie - Berlin
00.00.1885  1. Königlich Sächsisches Husaren-Regiment ,,König Albert” Nr. 18 - Grossenhain  (Squadron Cdr)   
20.05.1885 Rittmeister
00.00.1889  23. Infanterie-Division (1. Königlich Sächsische) - Dresden  (Adjutant General Staff)   
24.07.1893 Major
24.01.1894  1. Königlich-Sächsisches Husaren-Regiment ,,König Albert” Nr.18 - Grossenhain  (Regt Staff) 
16.11.1898 Oberstleutnant
13.09.1899 Karabinier-Regiment (2. Schweres Regiment) - Borna  (Cdr)   
23.03.1900 Oberst
24.07.1903 Königlich Sächsisches Garde-Reiter-Regiment (1. Schweres Regiment) - Dresden  (Cdr)
22.04.1904 32. Kavallerie-Brigade (3. Königlich Sächsische) - Dresden  (Cdr) 
28.10.1904 Generalmajor
21.09.1907 23. Kavallerie-Brigade (1. Königlich Sächsische) - Dresden  (Cdr)
06.07.1908 Offizier von der Armee
25.05.1908 40. Infanterie-Division (4. Königlich Sächsische) - Chemnitz  (Cdr)    (replaced von Barth)
22.05.1908 Generalleutnant
28.11.1912 XIX. (II. Königlich Sächsisches) Armeekorps - Leipzig  (Cdr)     (replaced Hans von Kirchbach)
22.05.1913 General der Kavallerie
   
Assignments and Commands  (during Great War)
02.08.1914 XIX. (II. Königlich Sächsisches) Armeekorps  =  3. Armee     (died of heart failure)
   
Pour le Merite:  1 September 1916
à la suite:  Husaren-Regiment ,,König Albert'' Nr. 18  (17.3.1916)
highest rank:  General der Kavallerie
 
http://home.comcast.net/~jcviser/aka/laffert.htm

Pictured here is Karl Ludwig d'Elsa, General der Infanterie.  Again from http://home.comcast.net/~jcviser/aok/delsa.htm
"Karl Ludwig d'Elsa 
(01.11.1849 - 20.07.1922)
place of birth:  Dresden, Sachsen  (Saxony)
Königreich Sachsen:  Generaloberst  (Charakter)


Saxon Generaloberst Karl d'Elsa was in command of XIIth Army Corps at the outset of World War One, attached to Hausen's Third Army. In the spring of 1916 he was given command of Army Detachment "A" but was placed on inactive reserve status in early 1917. After the armistice, the allies wanted d'Elsa tried as a war criminal for his alleged role in atrocities committed against Belgian civilians. General d'Elsa also had a son who served during the war as an infantry captain. D'Elsa died on 20 July 1922."

My postcard is different from the one on the above site and he is wearing many more medals in my image than the other as well.

Seen here is the German Crown Prince Wilhelm who was commanding general of the German Fifth Army.  In the title he's called the winner of Longwy although I don't know how active he was in planning and executing the battle.
The 'death head' is of particular note in his head wear.