William Seegers
Encyclopedia
William Alfred Seegers was, at age 106, one of the last two known remaining veterans of the First World War
to have served in the German
forces (the other one is Erich Kästner
) and California
's last known World War I veteran.
Born "Wilhelm" near Brinkum
, he was originally passed over for service in October 1917 as being too short, only five foot three inches. But by the middle of 1918, the Germans were desperate for recruits, and he was drafted on June 10, 1918. Seegers served in the 71st Erfurt
Battalion. Since he didn't want to shoot anyone, and in part due to his short stature, he volunteered for office work and was accepted as such, though soon he was made to perform guard duty as well. In the closing months, with food in short supply and desertions rampant, Seegers deserted (in part because he didn't like his commander) and joined a second division in the confusion and collapse of the German Empire
in November 1918. William did not serve in combat but guarded prisoners of war. While serving in this capacity, he, many of his comrades and many of the prisoners contracted the Spanish Flu
, killing many, but Seegers managed to survive. In part because his tasks included administrative duties, he stayed on after the Armistice
. He was discharged from service in April 1919.
In 1922, Seegers emigrated to the U.S.
by way of New York
harbor. He settled in Pennsylvania
, and became an United States citizen.
In October 2006, when he turned 106, William moved to California
to live with his daughter, having lived independently until that point.
Perhaps because he served for Germany, no one noticed his status as a World War I veteran until his family contacted the Gerontology Research Group
in May 2007. He told of problems such as food shortages and low morale among the German soldiers. Seegers was one of the last four World War I veterans to be discovered so far, the others being Yakup Satar
of Turkey
, Raymond Cambefort
of France
and Enrico Garbuglia
of Italy
(who died not long after having been discovered). Interviewed in May 2007 by GRG correspondent Robert Young, William was photographed in June 2007 by former presidential photographer David DeJonge as part of a 'surviving World War I veterans' project. He died the following month, three months before what would have been his 107th birthday.
A photogragh of Mr. Seegers hangs in the Pentagon.
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
to have served in the German
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
forces (the other one is Erich Kästner
Erich Kästner (World War I veteran)
Dr. Erich Kästner was the last documented World War I veteran who fought for the German Empire and the last who was born in Germany. Consequently he was the last Central Powers combatant of the Western Front. He was also the second oldest man in Germany...
) and California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
's last known World War I veteran.
Born "Wilhelm" near Brinkum
Brinkum
Brinkum is a municipality in the district of Leer, in Lower Saxony, Germany....
, he was originally passed over for service in October 1917 as being too short, only five foot three inches. But by the middle of 1918, the Germans were desperate for recruits, and he was drafted on June 10, 1918. Seegers served in the 71st Erfurt
Erfurt
Erfurt is the capital city of Thuringia and the main city nearest to the geographical centre of Germany, located 100 km SW of Leipzig, 150 km N of Nuremberg and 180 km SE of Hannover. Erfurt Airport can be reached by plane via Munich. It lies in the southern part of the Thuringian...
Battalion. Since he didn't want to shoot anyone, and in part due to his short stature, he volunteered for office work and was accepted as such, though soon he was made to perform guard duty as well. In the closing months, with food in short supply and desertions rampant, Seegers deserted (in part because he didn't like his commander) and joined a second division in the confusion and collapse of the German Empire
German Empire
The German Empire refers to Germany during the "Second Reich" period from the unification of Germany and proclamation of Wilhelm I as German Emperor on 18 January 1871, to 1918, when it became a federal republic after defeat in World War I and the abdication of the Emperor, Wilhelm II.The German...
in November 1918. William did not serve in combat but guarded prisoners of war. While serving in this capacity, he, many of his comrades and many of the prisoners contracted the Spanish Flu
Spanish flu
The 1918 flu pandemic was an influenza pandemic, and the first of the two pandemics involving H1N1 influenza virus . It was an unusually severe and deadly pandemic that spread across the world. Historical and epidemiological data are inadequate to identify the geographic origin...
, killing many, but Seegers managed to survive. In part because his tasks included administrative duties, he stayed on after the Armistice
Armistice with Germany (Compiègne)
The armistice between the Allies and Germany was an agreement that ended the fighting in the First World War. It was signed in a railway carriage in Compiègne Forest on 11 November 1918 and marked a victory for the Allies and a complete defeat for Germany, although not technically a surrender...
. He was discharged from service in April 1919.
In 1922, Seegers emigrated to the U.S.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
by way of New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
harbor. He settled in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
, and became an United States citizen.
In October 2006, when he turned 106, William moved to California
Richmond, California
Richmond is a city in western Contra Costa County, California, United States. The city was incorporated on August 7, 1905. It is located in the East Bay, part of the San Francisco Bay Area. It is a residential inner suburb of San Francisco, as well as the site of heavy industry, which has been...
to live with his daughter, having lived independently until that point.
Perhaps because he served for Germany, no one noticed his status as a World War I veteran until his family contacted the Gerontology Research Group
Gerontology Research Group
The Gerontology Research Group was started in 1990, and is a global eGroup of researchers in gerontology, some of who also meet monthly at UCLA in Los Angeles, California. The primary function of the group is to further gerontology research, with the objective of reversing or retarding aging...
in May 2007. He told of problems such as food shortages and low morale among the German soldiers. Seegers was one of the last four World War I veterans to be discovered so far, the others being Yakup Satar
Yakup Satar
Yakup Satar was, at 110, believed to have been the last Turkish veteran of the First World War. He died at age 110....
of Turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
, Raymond Cambefort
Raymond Cambefort
Raymond Cambefort was, at age 107, one of the last five identified World War I veterans living in France, dying four days before another French-born veteran, Louis de Cazenave...
of France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
and Enrico Garbuglia
Enrico Garbuglia
Enrico Garbuglia was one of the last five remaining known Italian veterans of the First World War living in Italy . Called up to serve in June 1918 near the end of the war, his service was less than six months, and so he was not on the official list of Cavalieri di Vittorio Veneto...
of Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
(who died not long after having been discovered). Interviewed in May 2007 by GRG correspondent Robert Young, William was photographed in June 2007 by former presidential photographer David DeJonge as part of a 'surviving World War I veterans' project. He died the following month, three months before what would have been his 107th birthday.
A photogragh of Mr. Seegers hangs in the Pentagon.