Mossner, Walther von
MOSSNER, WALTHER VON
MOSSNER, WALTHER VON (1846–1932), German general. Born in Berlin, Mossner, a superb cavalryman, was commissioned into the King's Hussars in 1865, a personal favor by King William i to Mossner's banker father, despite the hostility of the other officers, who regarded the commissioning of a Jew in a cavalry regiment as an unwelcome precedent. Mossner was eventually baptized and was decorated for distinguished services in the Austro-Prussian War of 1866. In 1872 he was appointed to the German general staff and later was ennobled. He was made William ii's aide-de-camp in 1892 and from 1896 to 1898 commanded the third cavalry brigade. Mossner became governor of Strasbourg in 1903 and in the following year was given command of a cavalry division with the rank of major general. He retired in 1910 and was awarded the High Order of the Black Eagle, the last Prussian general to be so honored.
bibliography:
B. Buelow, Denkwuerdigkeiten, 4 (1931). add. bibliography: F.H. Hansen, Walther von Mossner (1933) (eulogy).