Ernst Bernhard Georg Johann Karl Herzong von Sachsen-Altenburg
(31.08.1871 - 23.03.1955)
place of birth:  Schloss Altenburg, Herzogtum Sachsen-Altenburg
Königreich Preußen:  Herzog,  General der Infanterie

                                  

The final reigning Duke of Saxony-Altenburg, Ernst was the only son born to Prince Moritz von Sachsen-Altenburg and Princess Augusta. He took charge of his Duchy upon the death of his uncle Ernst I, who died in February 1908 without surviving male issue. During the Great War, Ernst II saw action in France's Somme Valley region, and also served as commander of the 8th Infantry Division in 1915 and again in 1916.

As the German Empire marched to War on 2 August 1914, Duke Ernst II. requested and received command of his Duchy's infantry regiment, IR.153.  He was soon promoted to the rank of General der Infanterie, although he kept a reputation of wisely subordinating his decision making to the military experience of lower-ranking officers in his headquarters. His regiment first saw action at the end of August during the Battle of Mons.  In September, the regiment moved north to fight in support of Sixth Army during the Battle of Arras.  After briefly replacing the KIA commander of 15th Brigade, Ernst II. took charge of 16th Brigade on 7 October 1914. After the hostilities at Arras settled in mid-October, the Duke's troops remained entrenched there through May 1915. Ernst II. had meanwhile been selected to command 8th Division in March, but soon requested from the Kaiser to be relieved of that command in order to take care of other pressing duties back in Saxen-Altenburg. The Kaiser simultaneously acknowledged the Duke's military leadership with the presentation of the Pour le Merite.  

The following April 1916, however, Ernst II. was asked to return to France and once again lead 8th Infantry Division, which was still entrenched in the Artois region in support of Sixth Army Headquarters. The division was soon plunged into the Battle of the River Somme during the summer of 1916. After the battle died down, however, General der Infanterie Ernst II. took ill and was forced once again to relinquish his divisional command. As social unrest reached his Duchy in November 1918, Ernst II. abdicated, changed his name to Baron von Rieseneck, and eventually settled at an estate in Trockenborn-Wolfersdorf near Kahla. He was given the legal right in 1923 to once again carry the title Ernst Herzog von Sachsen-Altenburg, and in the same year was remarried to the singer Marie Triebel. By 1935, they had moved into Schloß Fröhliche Wiederkunft bei Neustadt am Orla. He also became a member of the NSDAP in 1937. Duke Ernst II. passed away in 1955 and was interred at Trockenborn-Wolfersdorf.

	General der Infanterie ....	19.08.1914
	Pour le Mérite ....................	30.05.1915
	Militär-St-Heinrich ..........	09.11.1914  Ritter  (Komtur II:  28.08.1916)