Josias Oskar von Heeringen
(09.05.1850 - 09.10.1926)
place of birth:  Kassel, Nordhessen
Königreich Preußen:  Kriegsminister,  GenInsp,  OBH,  Generaloberst


Generaloberst Josias von Heeringen served as Prussia's Minister of War from 1909 to 1913, where he became a bitter rival of Oberst Ludendorff at the general staff over the pre-War Army buildup. Prior to the Great War, he also served as inspector general of the Prussian Second Army. At war's outbreak von Heeringen commanded the 7. Armee-Oberkommando in Lorraine where he won the Pour le Merite for leading successful operations during the Battle of Mülhausen and for driving the French forces from Alsace. He additional received the Oak Leaves a year later on 28 August 1916. Serving under von Heeringen during the Battle for the Frontiers was a young officer cadet and future WW2 field marshal, Friedrich von Paulus. Von Heeringen was relieved of his command in August 1916 and then appointed commander of Germany's Coastal Defense Forces until War's end. Afterwards he devoted himself to the care of war veterans and was president of the Kyfthaeuser Association.

The German Empire's future Generaloberst was born in the city of Kassel to the family of Karoline von Starkloff and Josias Sr., the major-domo serving Hessen's last electoral prince (Kurfürst.)  In 1867, after having attended military academies in Kassel and Berlin, young Josias Jr. joined the Füsilier-Regiment Nr. 80 in Wiesbaden as a Fähnrich. 

General von Heeringen later served as a lieutenant during the Franco-Prussian War of 1870-71. During the engagement at Wörth, he was severely wounded by a shot to the head and his arm, later receiving the Iron Cross for personal bravery. He later served in various peace-time infantry regiments and was assigned about ten years with the General Staff and twelve years with the War Ministry. In 1912, he was decorated with Prussia's highest order of chivalry, the Schwarzer Adler-Orden (Order of the Black Eagle.)  Heeringen's sons Walther and Kurt also served as junior infantry officers during the Great War. Following his service during the Great War, Josias von Heeringen passed away on 9 October 1926 and was buried in Berlin's Invaliden Friedhof.

	Kriegsminister	19.08.1909  -  04.07.1913
	Generaloberst	27.01.1914
	Eisernes Kreuz II	Deutsch-Französischer Krieg  1870–1871
	Schwarzer Adler	01.06.1912
	Militär-St-Heinrich	26.10.1914  Ritter
	Pour le Mérite	28.08.1915   (Eichenlaub:  28.08.1916)