The Last Hussar......

[Robin Lumsden]

Another nice little find on eBay...........virtually hidden away in one of the more obscure sections.

A photograph signed by Field Marshal von Mackensen, erstwhile commander of the Leibhusaren and holder of the Grand Cross.

It came with a document dated 1924 to the effect that von Mackensen, Hindenburg and other notable German commanders signed these photographs for sale during the immediate postwar years, with the proceeds going to help the widows and orphans of German soldiers who had fallen in the Great War. In 1924, this photo sold for $10. I suppose that was a fair sum at that time.

[Blitz]

He was a real prussian to the end. They say that he was the only man to show emotion at Wilhelm IIs funeral in 1941. Field Marchall von Mackensen died at the age of 96 in 1945. Germanys utter ruin propably killed him.

Ps. Thats a really nice find, I hope you didn't pay more than 10 dollars for it?

[Rikster]

A better looking Hussar

1

[Rikster]

try again

1.

1

[Rikster]

Prinzessin Viktoria Luise.

Or to give Her her full title:
Ready, DEEP breath:

Viktoria Luise Adelheid Mathilde Charlotte, prinzessin of Prussia, Marggravin of Brandenburg, Burggravin of Nurnberg, Prinzessin of Hohenzollern, Herzogin of Schleswig and Glatz, Herzogin of Niederrhein und Posen, Herzogin of Saxony, Westfalen and Engern, Pomerania, Lueneberg, Holstein and Scleswig, Magdeburg, Bremen, geldern, Kleve, Juelich and Berg, Wenden, Cassuben, Crossen and Mecklenburg. Landgravin of Hesse and Thuringia, Marggravin of Upeer and Lower Lausitz, Prinzeesin of Orange, Prinzessin of Ruegen, Ostfriesland, Paderborn, Pyrmont, of Halberstadt, Munster, Minden, Osnabruck, Hildesheim, Verden, Cammin, Fulda, Nassau and Moers. Prinzessin of Henneberg. Grafin of the Mark of Ravensburg, Hohenstein, Tecklenburg and Lingen of mansfeld, Sigmaringen and veringen and Mistress of Frankfurt.

Now you just don't get that nowadays.

[Rikster]

and more:

[Rikster]

more

Prinzessin V-L
Zeppelin L11 was also named after her (Viktoria Luise)

[Rikster]

more

Also A steamship from the Hamburg - America Line was named after her:
(Victoria Luise) Her name was anglicized from VIKTORIA to VICTORIA.

She was named after her Grandmother Empress Friedrich, her Great Grandmother Queen Victoria of England and Queen Luise of Prussia.

[Rikster]

more

Her Brother Prinz Oskarcommanded 230.Inf.Rgt in 1940, was promoted to Generalmajor and transferred to the Reserve because Hitler was furious that a prince was commanding a Rgt.

Her sons also encountered difficulties with the Nazi regime:

Welf Heinrich prince of hannover joined the Luftwaffe in 1941 as an Officer cadet, he was denied entry to the kreigschule despite good qualifications, and volunteered as aircrew, this too was denied because of his being a Prince and one of kaiser Wilhelms grandsons.

Christian had been recommended for the RK by his commanding Officer, this was turned down, without explanation. At the beginning of 1943 Christian was dissmissed from the army.

Ernst August was dissmissed in december 1943.

Georg wilhelm in January 1944

Viktoria Luise was of course dismayed by the actions of the nazis but no doubt relieved to have her sons safe.
to qoute her own words:

"Now I had my sons back home with me, and whenever I looked at them all, either at the table or in the Castle courtyard, I had to shake my head: I had with me one General (her brother Oskar),one Major, two Cavalry Captains and one Ensign-retired. And this in the middle of war, too!"

[Rikster]

more

In the winter of 1944 her son Ernst August was arrested by the Gestapo.
He was held at the Berlin Gestapo office Meinickestr. 10 room 70. Viktoria Luise and various members of her family tried to secure his release. He was eventually released just before Christmas 1944. He had been held for criticising the regime in a conversation and had been denounced!

She and her family survived the war, Viktoria Luise went on to work with various aid organisations principally from her immediate post-war experience with displaced persons and refugees.

She died in 1980

Prinzessin Viktoria Luise

¶13.09.1892 in Potsdam
V 11.12.1980 in Hannover

[Mike Dwyer]

Prinzessin Viktoria Luise

Or to give Her her full title:
Ready, DEEP breath:

Viktoria Luise Adelheid Mathilde Charlotte, prinzessin of Prussia, Marggravin of Brandenburg, Burggravin of Nurnberg, Prinzessin of Hohenzollern, Herzogin of Schleswig and Glatz, Herzogin of Niederrhein und Posen, Herzogin of Saxony, Westfalen and Engern, Pomerania, Lueneberg, Holstein and Scleswig, Magdeburg, Bremen, geldern, Kleve, Juelich and Berg, Wenden, Cassuben, Crossen and Mecklenburg. Landgravin of Hesse and Thuringia, Marggravin of Upeer and Lower Lausitz, Prinzeesin of Orange, Prinzessin of Ruegen, Ostfriesland, Paderborn, Pyrmont, of Halberstadt, Munster, Minden, Osnabruck, Hildesheim, Verden, Cammin, Fulda, Nassau and Moers. Prinzessin of Henneberg. Grafin of the Mark of Ravensburg, Hohenstein, Tecklenburg and Lingen of mansfeld, Sigmaringen and veringen and Mistress of Frankfurt.

Now you just don't get that nowadays.

Well, if you're going to do it, let's roll out the rest.......by marriage she was also Prinzessin of Hanover, Herzogin of Braunschweig-Lüneburg, and Princess of Great Britain and Ireland, Duchess of Cumberland and Teviotdale.

[Rikster]

Ok you got me,

I got fed up with typing and left it at her "born" titles

Cheers, Rik

Well, if you're going to do it, let's roll out the rest.......by marriage she was also Prinzessin of Hanover, Herzogin of Braunschweig-Lüneburg, and Princess of Great Britain and Ireland, Duchess of Cumberland and Teviotdale.

[Robin Lumsden]

Or to give Her her full title:
Ready, DEEP breath:

Viktoria Luise Adelheid Mathilde Charlotte, prinzessin of Prussia, Marggravin of Brandenburg, Burggravin of Nurnberg, Prinzessin of Hohenzollern, Herzogin of Schleswig and Glatz, Herzogin of Niederrhein und Posen, Herzogin of Saxony, Westfalen and Engern, Pomerania, Lueneberg, Holstein and Scleswig, Magdeburg, Bremen, geldern, Kleve, Juelich and Berg, Wenden, Cassuben, Crossen and Mecklenburg. Landgravin of Hesse and Thuringia, Marggravin of Upeer and Lower Lausitz, Prinzeesin of Orange, Prinzessin of Ruegen, Ostfriesland, Paderborn, Pyrmont, of Halberstadt, Munster, Minden, Osnabruck, Hildesheim, Verden, Cammin, Fulda, Nassau and Moers. Prinzessin of Henneberg. Grafin of the Mark of Ravensburg, Hohenstein, Tecklenburg and Lingen of mansfeld, Sigmaringen and veringen and Mistress of Frankfurt.

Now you just don't get that nowadays.

Oh yes you do.......if you live in the UK.

[rexmundi]

From my collection ;

[bhholst]

Hello readers:
Those of you wondering whether the uniformed ladies play at "dress up as soldiers" this may serve as an explanation:
The 1913 Royal Prussian Army and the XIII.(Royal Wuerttemberg) Armycorps Ranklist contains the following entry for the
2.Leib-Husaren-Regiment Koenigin Victoria von Preussen Nr.2
2.Chef: Her Royal Highness the Princess Ernst August,Duchess of Brunswick and Lueneburg .
Having lived in the former Kingdom of Hanover in my youth I recall this lady as being much revered and respected while she was alive.
The other pictured uniformed lady was the then Crownprincess Cecilie and is listed thus in the aforementioned ranklist:
Dragoner-Regiment Koenig Friedrich II. (2.Schlesisches) Nr.8
Chef: Her Imperial and Royal Highness the Crownprincess of the German Empire and Crownprincess of Prussia.
The above mentioned two ladies are by no means the only female Regimental Chiefs. So at special festive occasions they would be properly uniformed and participate in the parades etc
Bernhard H.Holst