Philipp von Hellingrath
Encyclopedia
Philipp von Hellingrath (February 22, 1862 – December 13, 1939) was a Bavaria
n General der Kavallerie and the last War Minister under Ludwig III of Bavaria
.
. He achieving the Abitur
, he joined the 1st Royal Bavarian Heavy Cavalry “Prince Charles of Bavaria” in 1880, became Lieutenant
of the 2nd Royal Bavarian Uhlans King in 1882, and visited the Bavarian Kriegsakademie
(war academy) from 1887 to 1890. Two years later he became Hofkavalier (court cavalier
) of Duke Karl-Theodor in Bavaria
, in 1893 adjutant
of the 4th Cavalry Brigade and was advanced to the rank of a Rittmeister
in 1897. After 1899 he was squadron commander in the 1st Chevauleger
Regiment, was transferred to the general staff of the 3rd Royal Bavarian Division
in 1902 and advanced to Major
in 1903. In 1905 he served in the general staff of the I Royal Bavarian Corps
, and shortly after ttaht in the central of the General Staff. In 1907 he became Oberstleutnant
and commander of the 4th Chevauleger Regiment, in 1909 he became Oberst
and commander of the 3rd Cavalry Brigade, and was made Major General
in 1912. In 1914 he became commander of the 6th Cavalry Brigade. With the beginning of World War I
he was made inspector of the Etappen-Inspektion (back bases inspection unit) of the 6th Army, shortly after that he was advanced to Lieutenant General
and became military representative of Bavaria in the general German headquarters. In 1915 he took part as divisional commander in the campaigns against France
, Lithuania
and Courland
. On December 11, 1916 he became war minister and representative of Bavaria at the Federal Council of the German Empire
. He was advanced to the rank of General der Kavallerie on May 28, 1918. On November 8 of the same year, Albert Roßhaupter
followed as the first war minister of the new Freistaat. Von Hellingrath was retired November 25, 1918, and died in his hometown in 1939.
Bavaria
Bavaria, formally the Free State of Bavaria is a state of Germany, located in the southeast of Germany. With an area of , it is the largest state by area, forming almost 20% of the total land area of Germany...
n General der Kavallerie and the last War Minister under Ludwig III of Bavaria
Ludwig III of Bavaria
Ludwig III , was the last King of Bavaria, reigning from 1913 to 1918.-Early life:...
.
Life
Von Hellingrath was born in MunichMunich
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...
. He achieving the Abitur
Abitur
Abitur is a designation used in Germany, Finland and Estonia for final exams that pupils take at the end of their secondary education, usually after 12 or 13 years of schooling, see also for Germany Abitur after twelve years.The Zeugnis der Allgemeinen Hochschulreife, often referred to as...
, he joined the 1st Royal Bavarian Heavy Cavalry “Prince Charles of Bavaria” in 1880, became 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...
of the 2nd Royal Bavarian Uhlans King in 1882, and visited the Bavarian Kriegsakademie
War Academy (Kingdom of Bavaria)
The Kriegsakademie of the Bavarian Army was the military academy and staff college of the Kingdom of Bavaria, existing from 1867 to the beginning of World War I in 1914...
(war academy) from 1887 to 1890. Two years later he became Hofkavalier (court cavalier
Cavalier
Cavalier was the name used by Parliamentarians for a Royalist supporter of King Charles I and son Charles II during the English Civil War, the Interregnum, and the Restoration...
) of Duke Karl-Theodor in Bavaria
Duke Karl-Theodor in Bavaria
Duke Karl-Theodor in Bavaria was a member of the House of Wittelsbach and a well-known ophthalmologist. He was the brother of the Empress Elisabeth of Austria.-Life:...
, in 1893 adjutant
Adjutant
Adjutant is a military rank or appointment. In some armies, including most English-speaking ones, it is an officer who assists a more senior officer, while in other armies, especially Francophone ones, it is an NCO , normally corresponding roughly to a Staff Sergeant or Warrant Officer.An Adjutant...
of the 4th Cavalry Brigade and was advanced to the rank of a Rittmeister
Rittmeister
Rotamaster was the military rank of a commissioned cavalry officer in charge of a squadron , the equivalent of O3 or Captain, in the German-speaking armies, Austro-Hungarian, Polish-Lithuanian, Russian and some other states.The exact name of this rank maintains a variety of spellings in different...
in 1897. After 1899 he was squadron commander in the 1st Chevauleger
Chevau-légers
The Chevau-légers was a generic French name for several units of light cavalry, roughly similar to lancers in the armies of other states during the Napoleonic Wars. Perhaps the most famous of all such units were the Polish 1st Light Cavalry Regiment of the Guards and the French 2nd Light Cavalry...
Regiment, was transferred to the general staff of the 3rd Royal Bavarian Division
3rd Royal Bavarian Division
The 3rd Royal Bavarian Division was a unit of the Royal Bavarian Army which served alongside the Prussian Army as part of the Imperial German Army. The division was formed on November 27, 1815 as an Infantry Division of the Würzburg General Command...
in 1902 and advanced to Major
Major
Major is a rank of commissioned officer, with corresponding ranks existing in almost every military in the world.When used unhyphenated, in conjunction with no other indicator of rank, the term refers to the rank just senior to that of an Army captain and just below the rank of lieutenant colonel. ...
in 1903. In 1905 he served in the general staff of the I Royal Bavarian Corps
I Royal Bavarian Corps
As part of the 1868 army reform, the 1st Royal Bavarian Army Corps of the Bavarian Army was set up in 1869 in Munich as the Generalkommando for Swabia and Upper and Lower Bavaria. Like all Bavarian formations, it was placed under the 4th Army As part of the 1868 army reform, the 1st Royal...
, and shortly after ttaht in the central of the General Staff. In 1907 he became Oberstleutnant
Oberstleutnant
Oberstleutnant is a German Army and Air Force rank equal to Lieutenant Colonel, above Major, and below Oberst.There are two paygrade associated to the rank of Oberstleutnant...
and commander of the 4th Chevauleger Regiment, in 1909 he became Oberst
Oberst
Oberst is a military rank in several German-speaking and Scandinavian countries, equivalent to Colonel. It is currently used by both the ground and air forces of Austria, Germany, Switzerland, Denmark and Norway. The Swedish rank överste is a direct translation, as are the Finnish rank eversti...
and commander of the 3rd Cavalry Brigade, and was made Major General
Major General
Major general or major-general is a military rank used in many countries. It is derived from the older rank of sergeant major general. A major general is a high-ranking officer, normally subordinate to the rank of lieutenant general and senior to the ranks of brigadier and brigadier general...
in 1912. In 1914 he became commander of the 6th Cavalry Brigade. With the beginning of World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
he was made inspector of the Etappen-Inspektion (back bases inspection unit) of the 6th Army, shortly after that he was advanced to Lieutenant General
Lieutenant General
Lieutenant General is a military rank used in many countries. The rank traces its origins to the Middle Ages where the title of Lieutenant General was held by the second in command on the battlefield, who was normally subordinate to a Captain General....
and became military representative of Bavaria in the general German headquarters. In 1915 he took part as divisional commander in the campaigns against France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, Lithuania
Lithuania
Lithuania , officially the Republic of Lithuania is a country in Northern Europe, the biggest of the three Baltic states. It is situated along the southeastern shore of the Baltic Sea, whereby to the west lie Sweden and Denmark...
and Courland
Courland
Courland is one of the historical and cultural regions of Latvia. The regions of Semigallia and Selonia are sometimes considered as part of Courland.- Geography and climate :...
. On December 11, 1916 he became war minister and representative of Bavaria at the Federal Council of the German Empire
German Empire
The German Empire refers to Germany during the "Second Reich" period from the unification of Germany and proclamation of Wilhelm I as German Emperor on 18 January 1871, to 1918, when it became a federal republic after defeat in World War I and the abdication of the Emperor, Wilhelm II.The German...
. He was advanced to the rank of General der Kavallerie on May 28, 1918. On November 8 of the same year, Albert Roßhaupter
Albert Roßhaupter
Albert Roßhaupter was a Bavarian politician of the Social Democratic Party of Germany and editor of several newspapers.- Biography :...
followed as the first war minister of the new Freistaat. Von Hellingrath was retired November 25, 1918, and died in his hometown in 1939.
Awards (selection)
- Ritterkreuz of the Military Order of Max JosephMilitary Order of Max JosephThe Military Order of Max Joseph was the highest purely military order of the Kingdom of Bavaria. It was founded on 1 January 1806 by Maximilian I Joseph of Bavaria, the first king of Bavaria...
, April 27, 1915 - Kommandeurkreuz of the Military Order of Max Joseph, August 18, 1916