Karl Gero, Duke of Urach
Encyclopedia
Prince Karl Gero Albrecht Joseph Wilhelm Anton Maria of Urach, Count of Württemberg, 3rd Duke of Urach (19 August 1899 – 15 August 1981) was the head of the morganatic Urach branch of the House of Württemberg
.
, then part of the Kingdom of Württemberg
, at his family's Lichtenstein Castle
, being the second son of Duke Wilhelm of Urach
and his first wife Duchess Amalie in Bavaria
.
In 1917 he graduated from the Karls-Gymnasium school in Stuttgart
. After graduation he served in the First World War as a lieutenant
. He was heavily wounded in 1918. After the war Karl Gero von Urach studied architecture, and later worked as an architect
in Munich
.
In 1928, on his father's death, Karl Gero became the third Duke (Herzog
) of Urach, as his elder brother Wilhelm had married morganatically
. (Wilhelm was a director at Mercedes Benz for most of his life, and had two daughters).
In 1935 he entered Wehrmacht
and became a Hauptmann
, and in 1940 was promoted to Major
. Until 1945 he was based at the local army headquarters at Tübingen
and Ulm
.
On June 20, 1940 Karl Gero von Urach married Countess Gabriele of Waldburg zu Zeil und Trauchburg
(1910–2005). The marriage was childless. Karl Gero von Urach died at Lichtenstein Castle on 15 August 1981, and his nephew Karl Anselm
succeeded to the Dukedom.
House of Württemberg
The Württemberg family is a European royal family and a German dynasty from Württemberg. The House has its origins, according to recent research, probably in the vicinity of the Salian dynasty.-History:...
.
Life
He was born in LichtensteinLichtenstein (Reutlingen)
Lichtenstein is a municipality in the Tübingen administrative region in Baden-Württemberg, Germany. It lies at the foot of the Swabian Alb ....
, then part of the Kingdom of Württemberg
Kingdom of Württemberg
The Kingdom of Württemberg was a state that existed from 1806 to 1918, located in present-day Baden-Württemberg, Germany. It was a continuation of the Duchy of Württemberg, which came into existence in 1495...
, at his family's Lichtenstein Castle
Lichtenstein Castle
Lichtenstein Castle is situated on a cliff located near Honau in the Swabian Alb, Baden-Württemberg, Germany.Historically there has been a castle on the site since around 1200. It was twice destroyed, once in the Reichskriegs war of 1311 and again by the city-state of Reutlingen in 1381...
, being the second son of Duke Wilhelm of Urach
Mindaugas II of Lithuania
Prince Wilhelm of Urach, Count of Württemberg, 2nd Duke of Urach was a German prince who was elected King of Lithuania with the regnal name Mindaugas II on 11 July 1918...
and his first wife Duchess Amalie in Bavaria
Duchess Amalie in Bavaria
Duchess Amalie Maria in Bavaria was the only child of Duke Karl-Theodor in Bavaria and his first wife Princess Sophie of Saxony...
.
In 1917 he graduated from the Karls-Gymnasium school in Stuttgart
Stuttgart
Stuttgart is the capital of the state of Baden-Württemberg in southern Germany. The sixth-largest city in Germany, Stuttgart has a population of 600,038 while the metropolitan area has a population of 5.3 million ....
. After graduation he served in the First World War as a lieutenant
Lieutenant
A lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer in many nations' armed forces. Typically, the rank of lieutenant in naval usage, while still a junior officer rank, is senior to the army rank...
. He was heavily wounded in 1918. After the war Karl Gero von Urach studied architecture, and later worked as an architect
Architect
An architect is a person trained in the planning, design and oversight of the construction of buildings. To practice architecture means to offer or render services in connection with the design and construction of a building, or group of buildings and the space within the site surrounding the...
in Munich
Munich
Munich The city's motto is "" . Before 2006, it was "Weltstadt mit Herz" . Its native name, , is derived from the Old High German Munichen, meaning "by the monks' place". The city's name derives from the monks of the Benedictine order who founded the city; hence the monk depicted on the city's coat...
.
In 1928, on his father's death, Karl Gero became the third Duke (Herzog
Herzog
Herzog may refer to:* Herzog , German title of nobility* The surname Herzog, derived from the above-Athletes:* Andreas Herzog , Austrian soccer player* Dieter Herzog , German soccer player* Whitey Herzog , U.S...
) of Urach, as his elder brother Wilhelm had married morganatically
Morganatic marriage
In the context of European royalty, a morganatic marriage is a marriage between people of unequal social rank, which prevents the passage of the husband's titles and privileges to the wife and any children born of the marriage...
. (Wilhelm was a director at Mercedes Benz for most of his life, and had two daughters).
In 1935 he entered Wehrmacht
Wehrmacht
The Wehrmacht – from , to defend and , the might/power) were the unified armed forces of Nazi Germany from 1935 to 1945. It consisted of the Heer , the Kriegsmarine and the Luftwaffe .-Origin and use of the term:...
and became a Hauptmann
Hauptmann
Hauptmann is a German word usually translated as captain when it is used as an officer's rank in the German, Austrian and Swiss armies. While "haupt" in contemporary German means "main", it also has the dated meaning of "head", i.e...
, and in 1940 was promoted to Major
Major (Germany)
Major is a rank of the German military which dates back to the Middle Ages.It equates to Major in the British and US Armies, and is rated OF-3 in NATO.During World War II, the SS equivalent was Sturmbannführer....
. Until 1945 he was based at the local army headquarters at Tübingen
Tübingen
Tübingen is a traditional university town in central Baden-Württemberg, Germany. It is situated south of the state capital, Stuttgart, on a ridge between the Neckar and Ammer rivers.-Geography:...
and Ulm
Ulm
Ulm is a city in the federal German state of Baden-Württemberg, situated on the River Danube. The city, whose population is estimated at 120,000 , forms an urban district of its own and is the administrative seat of the Alb-Donau district. Ulm, founded around 850, is rich in history and...
.
On June 20, 1940 Karl Gero von Urach married Countess Gabriele of Waldburg zu Zeil und Trauchburg
Waldburg-Trauchburg
Waldburg-Trauchburg was a County located in southeastern Baden-Württemberg, Germany. Waldburg-Trauchburg was a partition of Waldburg and was partitioned several times, before being annexed by the County of Waldburg-Zeil in 1772....
(1910–2005). The marriage was childless. Karl Gero von Urach died at Lichtenstein Castle on 15 August 1981, and his nephew Karl Anselm
Karl Anselm, Duke of Urach
Prince Karl Anselm Franz Joseph Wilhelm Louis Philippe Gero Maria of Urach, Count of Württemberg, 4th Duke of Urach was the head of the morganatic Urach branch of the House of Württemberg.-Biography:...
succeeded to the Dukedom.