Philipp Albrecht, Duke of Württemberg (born Georg Philipp Albrecht Carl Maria Joseph Ludwig Hubertus Stanislaus Leopold Herzog von Württemberg; 14 November 1893 – 15 April 1975) was the son of Albrecht, Duke of Württemberg, and Archduchess Margarete Sophie of Austria. He was born in Stuttgart, and became head of the formerly reigning royal House of Württemberg on the death of his father on 29 October 1939. He died in Ravensburg, aged 81.

Military service

Like many members of ruling houses, Duke Philipp Albrecht nominally entered the army while still a child. On 14 November 1903, the ten-year old Philipp Albrecht was named a Leutnant in ''Grenadier-Regiment „Königin Olga“ (1. Württembergisches) Nr. 119'' of the Württemberg contingent of the Prussian Army. On 18 August 1912, Philipp Albrecht entered active service in the regiment. He was promoted to Oberleutnant on 25 February 1913. On 16 June 1913, he was placed à la suite of the Royal Prussian ''Kürassier-Regiment „Herzog Friedrich Eugen von Württemberg“ (Westpreußisches) Nr. 5. He was transferred to Dragoner-Regiment König (2. Württembergisches) Nr. 26'' on 1 November 1913. Philipp Albrecht entered World War I with his regiment and was promoted to Rittmeister on 24 December 1914 In 1916, he was on his father's staff with the 4th Army. On 21 May 1916, he was placed à la suite of the Royal Saxon ''6. Infanterie-Regiment König Wilhelm II. von Württemberg Nr. 105. As commander of a Landwehr infantry regiment, he was promoted to Major'' on 26 August 1917. Besides his honorary positions in the Prussian and Saxon armies, he was also given the Charakter of k.u.k. Major in ''Husarenregiment Nr. 6'' of the Austro-Hungarian Army. After the end of the war and the dissolution of the Imperial German Army, he retired as a Major.

Marriages and children

His first marriage was to Archduchess Helena of Austria, Princess of Tuscany (born 30 October 1903 in Linz; died 8 September 1924 in Tübingen), daughter of Archduke Peter Ferdinand of Austria (younger son of Ferdinand IV, Grand Duke of Tuscany) and Princess Maria Cristina of Bourbon-Two Sicilies (daughter of Prince Alfonso, Count of Caserta), on 24 October 1923 in Altshausen. They had one daughter: Archduchess Helena died a week after giving birth to her daughter, Duchess Maria Christina. His second marriage was to Archduchess Rosa of Austria, Princess of Tuscany (born 22 September 1906 in Parsch; died 17 September 1983 in Friedrichshafen), the sister of his late wife, on 1 August 1928 in Friedrichshafen. They had two sons and four daughters:

Ancestry

Decorations and awards

• Kingdom of Württemberg: • * Order of the Württemberg Crown • ** Grand Cross • ** Knight's Cross with Swords (20 February 1918) • * Friedrich Order, Grand Cross • * Golden Military Merit Medal (1 November 1914) • * Military Merit Order, Knight's Cross, in lieu of the previously awarded Golden Military Merit Medal (21 May 1915) • * Wilhelm Cross with Crown and Swords (5 October 1916) • * 1911 Royal Wedding Medal • Kingdom of Bavaria: • * Order of St. Hubert, Knight (1913) • * Military Merit Order, 4th Class with Swords • Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg: Hanseatic Cross • Grand Duchy of Hesse: General Honor Decoration for Bravery • Free and Hanseatic City of Lübeck: Hanseatic Cross • Kingdom of Prussia: • * Iron Cross, 2nd Class • * Iron Cross, 1st Class • Kingdom of Saxony: Albert Order, Knight 1st Class with Swords • Duchy of Saxe-Meiningen: Cross for Merit in War • Austria-Hungary: • * Order of the Golden Fleece • * Order of Saint Stephen of Hungary, Grand Cross • * Order of the Iron Crown, 3rd Class with War Decoration • * Military Merit Cross, 3rd Class with War Decoration • Kingdom of Bulgaria: Order of Military Merit, Officer's Cross with War Decoration • Ottoman Empire: • * Liakat Medal in Gold • * War Medal

References and notes