Oskar Philipp von Chelius
(28.07.1859 - 12.06.1923)
place of birth:  Mannheim
Königreich Preußen:  General à la suite SM,  Generalleutnant  (Art)


Imperial German general Oskar von Chelius served in Kaiser Wilhelm II's court as an adjutant, and he was also engaged as Prussia's military attaché to Tsarist Russia during the pre-War era. Von Chelius was likewise highly regarded as a musical composer, sometimes using the pseudonym S. Berger.

Oskar von Chelius was born into the family of Privy Councillor from Baden Philipp von Chelius and his spouse Harriet neé Parisch. He was also the grandson of the noted surgeon Maximilian Joseph von Chelius. Before entering the military service, Oskar studied classical music in Mannheim, Leipzig, and
Berlin. He specialized in the works of Richard Wagner, and became one of his most avid supporters in Imperial Germany.

Although he chose to pursue a career as a military officer, von Chelius remained active his entire life as a composer of operas, symphonies, chamber music, and chorales. Later, as a member of Kaiser Wilhelm II's royal court, he would often play concerto pieces for Wilhelm and his military entourage. As, a young officer-in-training, he met Wilhelm during military maneuvers in Mark Brandenburg. They became fast friends, with Prince Wilhelm openly appreciative of von Chelius' musically virtuosity. In 1888, Oskar married Hedwig von Puttkamer, a daughter of Prussian Minister of Interior Ludwig von Puttkamer and niece of Otto von Bismarcks' wife Johanna. The couple had four children. Hedwig drowned in Bavaria's Königssee in 1923, the same year that Oskar died.

Given his personal relationship with the Kaiser, von Chelius was brought into Wilhelm's military cortege in 1898 as an aide-de-camp. In this capacity, he was also sent to Rome for a five-year stretch where he carried out the important role of Imperial Germany's military attaché to that nation. After returning to Berlin to accept the prestigious command  of the Leib-Guard Hussar Regiment, von Chelius was again brought back into the Kaiser's entourage. He had direct access to Wilhelm and accompanied him on excursions in his imperial yacht. General von Chelius was also posted as military attaché in Russia and was recalled to the Kaiser's main headquarters when Germany mobilized for the Great War. 

	Generalleutnant ....	17.02.1914