Prince Gabriel of Thurn and Taxis
Encyclopedia
Prince Gabriel Albert Maria Michael Franz Joseph Gallus Lamoral of Thurn and Taxis (16 October 1922 – 17 December 1942) was a member of the Princely House of Thurn and Taxis
and a Prince of Thurn and Taxis. Gabriel was second in the line of succession to the Headship of the House of Thurn and Taxis after his father Franz Joseph, Hereditary Prince of Thurn and Taxis
until his death in the Battle of Stalingrad
, at which point he was replaced by his uncle Prince Karl August of Thurn and Taxis
.
, Bavaria
, the eldest child and son of Prince Franz Joseph of Thurn and Taxis
(later 9th Prince of Thurn and Taxis) and his wife Princess Isabel Maria of Braganza
. His twin
brother, Prince Michaele of Thurn and Taxis, died at birth. Gabriel was a paternal grandson of Albert, 8th Prince of Thurn and Taxis and his wife Archduchess Margarethe Klementine of Austria
and a maternal grandson of Miguel, Duke of Braganza and his wife Princess Maria Theresa of Löwenstein-Wertheim-Rosenberg
.
, Gabriel was conscripted
for military service
before completing high school
. He served first as a Gefreiter
(Private First Class
) and then as an officer
in the Wehrmacht
. Gabriel was serving in a Reiter-Regiment (Cavalry
Regiment) in the Wehrmacht when he was killed in action
at the Battle of Stalingrad
on 17 December 1942. He was interred among the unknown dead at the war cemetery at Rossoschka.
Thurn und Taxis
The Princely House of Thurn and Taxis is a German family that was a key player in the postal services in Europe in the 16th century and is well known as owners of breweries and builders of many castles.- History :...
and a Prince of Thurn and Taxis. Gabriel was second in the line of succession to the Headship of the House of Thurn and Taxis after his father Franz Joseph, Hereditary Prince of Thurn and Taxis
Franz Joseph, 9th Prince of Thurn and Taxis
Franz Joseph Maximilian Maria Antonius Ignatius Lamoral, Prince of Thurn and Taxis, full German name: Franz Josef Maximilian Maria Antonius Ignatius Lamoral Fürst von Thurn und Taxis was the ninth Prince of Thurn and Taxis and Head of the Princely House of Thurn and Taxis from 22...
until his death in the Battle of Stalingrad
Battle of Stalingrad
The Battle of Stalingrad was a major battle of World War II in which Nazi Germany and its allies fought the Soviet Union for control of the city of Stalingrad in southwestern Russia. The battle took place between 23 August 1942 and 2 February 1943...
, at which point he was replaced by his uncle Prince Karl August of Thurn and Taxis
Karl August, 10th Prince of Thurn and Taxis
Karl August Joseph Maria Maximilian Lamoral Antonius Ignatius Benediktus Valentin, Prince of Thurn and Taxis, full German name: Karl August Joseph Maria Maximilian Lamoral Antonius Ignatius Benediktus Valentin Fürst von Thurn und Taxis was the tenth Prince of...
.
Family
Gabriel was born at Schloss Haus near RegensburgRegensburg
Regensburg is a city in Bavaria, Germany, located at the confluence of the Danube and Regen rivers, at the northernmost bend in the Danube. To the east lies the Bavarian Forest. Regensburg is the capital of the Bavarian administrative region Upper Palatinate...
, Bavaria
Bavaria
Bavaria, formally the Free State of Bavaria is a state of Germany, located in the southeast of Germany. With an area of , it is the largest state by area, forming almost 20% of the total land area of Germany...
, the eldest child and son of Prince Franz Joseph of Thurn and Taxis
Franz Joseph, 9th Prince of Thurn and Taxis
Franz Joseph Maximilian Maria Antonius Ignatius Lamoral, Prince of Thurn and Taxis, full German name: Franz Josef Maximilian Maria Antonius Ignatius Lamoral Fürst von Thurn und Taxis was the ninth Prince of Thurn and Taxis and Head of the Princely House of Thurn and Taxis from 22...
(later 9th Prince of Thurn and Taxis) and his wife Princess Isabel Maria of Braganza
Princess Isabel Maria of Braganza
Isabel Maria of Braganza, Infanta of Portugal was a member of the House of Braganza and Infanta of Portugal by birth...
. His twin
Twin
A twin is one of two offspring produced in the same pregnancy. Twins can either be monozygotic , meaning that they develop from one zygote that splits and forms two embryos, or dizygotic because they develop from two separate eggs that are fertilized by two separate sperm.In contrast, a fetus...
brother, Prince Michaele of Thurn and Taxis, died at birth. Gabriel was a paternal grandson of Albert, 8th Prince of Thurn and Taxis and his wife Archduchess Margarethe Klementine of Austria
Archduchess Margarethe Klementine of Austria
-Titles and styles:*6 July 1870 – 15 July 1890: Her Imperial and Royal Highness Archduchess and Princess Margarethe Klementine of Austria; Princess Margarethe Klementine of Hungary, Bohemia, and Tuscany...
and a maternal grandson of Miguel, Duke of Braganza and his wife Princess Maria Theresa of Löwenstein-Wertheim-Rosenberg
Princess Maria Theresa of Löwenstein-Wertheim-Rosenberg
Princess Maria Theresa of Löwenstein-Wertheim-Rosenberg was a Princess of Löwenstein-Wertheim-Rosenberg and a member of the House of Löwenstein-Wertheim-Rosenberg by birth and an Infanta of Portugal, Duchess consort of...
.
World War II
During World War IIWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, Gabriel was conscripted
Conscription
Conscription is the compulsory enlistment of people in some sort of national service, most often military service. Conscription dates back to antiquity and continues in some countries to the present day under various names...
for military service
Military service
Military service, in its simplest sense, is service by an individual or group in an army or other militia, whether as a chosen job or as a result of an involuntary draft . Some nations require a specific amount of military service from every citizen...
before completing high school
High school
High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....
. He served first as a Gefreiter
Gefreiter
Gefreiter is the German, Swiss and Austrian equivalent for the military rank Private . Gefreiter was the lowest rank to which an ordinary soldier could be promoted. As a military rank it has existed since at least the 16th century...
(Private First Class
Private First Class
Private First Class is a military rank held by junior enlisted persons.- Singapore :The rank of Private First Class in the Singapore Armed Forces lies between the ranks of Private and Lance-Corporal . It is usually held by conscript soldiers midway through their national service term...
) and then as an officer
Officer (armed forces)
An officer is a member of an armed force or uniformed service who holds a position of authority. Commissioned officers derive authority directly from a sovereign power and, as such, hold a commission charging them with the duties and responsibilities of a specific office or position...
in the Wehrmacht
Wehrmacht
The Wehrmacht – from , to defend and , the might/power) were the unified armed forces of Nazi Germany from 1935 to 1945. It consisted of the Heer , the Kriegsmarine and the Luftwaffe .-Origin and use of the term:...
. Gabriel was serving in a Reiter-Regiment (Cavalry
Cavalry
Cavalry or horsemen were soldiers or warriors who fought mounted on horseback. Cavalry were historically the third oldest and the most mobile of the combat arms...
Regiment) in the Wehrmacht when he was killed in action
Killed in action
Killed in action is a casualty classification generally used by militaries to describe the deaths of their own forces at the hands of hostile forces. The United States Department of Defense, for example, says that those declared KIA need not have fired their weapons but have been killed due to...
at the Battle of Stalingrad
Battle of Stalingrad
The Battle of Stalingrad was a major battle of World War II in which Nazi Germany and its allies fought the Soviet Union for control of the city of Stalingrad in southwestern Russia. The battle took place between 23 August 1942 and 2 February 1943...
on 17 December 1942. He was interred among the unknown dead at the war cemetery at Rossoschka.
Titles and styles
- 16 October 1922 – 17 December 1942: His Serene Highness Prince Gabriel of Thurn and Taxis
