Major d.R. Friedrich Carl Graf von Westphalen zu Fürstenberg (1898-1992)

[Ian Sayer]

I have a quandary regarding Major Westphalen. According to a footnote in "Ein General im Zwielicht" von Weichs' Adjutant was Ferdinand Graf Westphalen who is listed as being born 22nd April 1898. However other sources state that it was Friedrich von Westphalen who was born on that date.To add further confusion Carl Kuno Lubbert von Westphalen , who was born in August 1898, apparently ended up as a Major which was Weich's adjutants highest rank. Can anybody clarify this please? I am attaching a copy of Major Westphalen's signature from when he surrendered to US forces with von Weichs in 1945.
Many thanks
Ian

[Heimatschuss]

Hello Ian,

the Graf von Westphalen accompanying GFM von Weichs must have been Friedrich Graf von Westphalen zu Fürstenberg.

There's a short biography for Ferdinand Graf von Westphalen zu Fürstenberg here http://agso.uni-graz.at/sozio/biografie ... _aloys.htm written by historian Prof. Reinhard Müller from Graz:

Ferdinand was an Austrian and was born Feb. 7th, 1899 in Przemysl (Galicia). He served in the Austrian Army in 1917/18 and then again was conscripted for military service in 1944. In late April 1945 he was stationed in Ivrea (Italy). After WW II he became a prominent professor in Vienna for decades.

So Ferdinand wasn't in the military in 1943 when Glaise von Horstenau encountered this Graf von Westphalen and in no way had served long enough to be a Major. His name obviously crept into the book only as a slip of tongue by the editors since he was a well-known figure in Vienna.

Several volumes of Genealogisches Handbuch des Adels state Friedrich Graf von Westphalen zu Fürstenberg was born Apr. 22nd, 1898 (Laer, Westphalia). After WW II his military rank is given as Major d. Res. a. D. and he held a doctorate in law (Dr. iur.) so his academic title also would be fitting.

Source:
Genealogisches Handbuch des Adels.
Vol. 80, Verlag C. A. Starke; Limburg/Lahn; 1982, p.373

Best regards
Torsten

[Ian Sayer]

That's great Torsten. Thank you very much indeed. Most appreciated.
Best
Ian

[von thoma]

Two pictures of Major von Westphalen.

Staff Officer.jpg (49.77 KiB) Viewed 1193 times

Id: Maximilian Reichsfreiherr von und zu Weichs an der Glon, Major Dr. Friedrich Graf von Westphalen zu Fürstenberg,
Hermann Foertsch
Photo:http://svobodnaplaneta.com/story/17010

[Rossano]

Hello, I can confirm that v.Weichs' personal adj. was Friedrich (also as Friedrich-Carl)
P.S.: who is the general on the right in the last photo ?

[graveland]

Hello, I can confirm that v.Weichs' personal adj. was Friedrich (also as Friedrich-Carl)
P.S.: who is the general on the right in the last photo ?

Hermann Foertsch.

[Rossano]

Many thanks

[Ian Sayer]

Me too.

[AlifRafikKhan]

Hi, are there any information about the period when Graf von Westphalen became the adjutant of von Weichs?

[Minotauros]

Hello,

the Graf von Westphalen accompanying GFM von Weichs must have been Friedrich Carl Graf von Westphalen zu Fürstenberg.... was born Apr. 22nd, 1898 (Laer, Westphalia). After WW II his military rank is given as Major d. Res. a. D. and he held a doctorate in law (Dr. iur.) so his academic title also would be fitting.

† 23.07.1992 Schloß Laer.

Regards,