Otto Kreß von Kressenstein

Paul Otto Felix Freiherr Kreß von Kressenstein (13 September 1850 – 19 February 1929) was a Bavarian Colonel General and War Minister from 16 February 1912 to 7 December 1916.

Kreß von Kressenstein was born in Germersheim. After joing the Bavarian cadets corps he served as an officer candidate in the 2nd Royal Bavarian Chevaulegers Regiment "Taxis". In the rank of a Lieutenant he served in the Franco-Prussian War. During the years from 1874 to 1877 he visited the Bavarian Kriegsakademie (war academy) in Munich. In the rank of a captain he was transferred to the General Command of the II Royal Bavarian Corps. In 1888 he became Rittmeister, in 1891 Major, and was transferred to the Royal Bavarian 1st Heavy Cavalry Regiment "Prince Karl of Bavaria" in 1893, where he became lieutenant colonel in 1896. In the following year he became commander of the 6th Royal Bavarian Chevaulegers Regiment "Prince Albrecht of Prussia", in 1898 colonel, and in 1901 Major General. In 1902 he got the command of the 4th Royal Bavarian Cavalry Brigade. In the rank of a Lieutenant General he got the post as inspector of the cavalry troops in 1904. After he took office as war minister in 1912, he became Colonel General on 1 August 1914. Kreß von Kressenstein was the Bavarian representative in the German Empire. He resigned in 1916 and died in Munich. One of his sons was the later general Franz Otto Freiherr Kreß von Kressenstein.