Next to my to this very day highly respected and deeply admired Grandfather
Baron Jakob v. Look,
there are two further exceedingly prominent individuals, who served as
guiding role models for all of my adolescent and adult life.
ADDENDUM
Pertaining to our uncle, the late Colonel Hubert Lange, Intercepter/Bomber Squadron 36, Hopsten, North Rhine-Westphalia.
The photograph above depicts Baroness Johanna v. Look, flanked by two younger daughters, Johanna (left) and Bernardine (right). This image was taken just prior to the commencement of World War II.
These ladies survived a massive onslaught of this worldwide conflict.
Colonel Hubert Lange,
World War II combat pilot with over 400 enemy-contact missions. He was one of the first ME262 jet pioneers, which speaks volumes by itself. Decorated with the Knight's Cross of the Order of the Iron Cross, he also served the Federal Republic of Germany as one of the Founding Fathers on behalf of the post World War II German Air Force. His dedicated service to the new Germany was of such great value, that this reborn democratic nation also rewarded him with its one and only chivalric decoration: The German Federal Order of Merit. For all intents and purposes, because Opa v. Look just died too soon after World War II, I looked up to Uncle Hubert as my "Deputy Father." His father was killed in action while fighting in France during World War I. Please note their Coat-of-Arms below.
For seventy years, Opa von Look always has and continues to be remembered in the
household of the Ducal/Princely House Gulgowski-Doliwa. Kindly note the picture below.
Alas, I forget, let the record show that Opa Gulgowski-Doliwa was a participant and survivor of
World War I. During the entire duration of this war, he had served as an Infantryman on the Western Front. After that, as I was able to ascertain, he was a lifelong pacifist.
Baron Carl Gustav Emil Mannerheim, Marshal and President of Finland,
with great skill and intelligent daring kept Soviet Russia out of his beloved homeland. With resolve and cunning, he extracted Finland out of its alliance with WW II Germany and was able to safeguard the national independence of this Baltic nation to this very day. This gigantic model of an untarnished and heroic leader in war and peace inspired to serve as a guiding light for me throughout my entire lifetime as an individual, son, husband, father, military and maritime commissioned officer as well as author, educator and world-traveling adventurer. Please note the Baron's Coat-of-Arms below.
Crowns are much more than those who are entitled to wear them.
They are a symbol for the entirety of a cultural whole and the idea
of enlightened statesmanship.
Here are a few words, as it ultimately has come to that.
The Ducal/Princely House Gulgowski-Doliwa had lost all of its Lower Silesia possessions to the Kingdom of Prussia, after the last of the Silesian Wars, 1756-1763, also known as the Seven Years War. However sad that must have been, a substantial number of feudal estates remained in their possession that allowed them a comfortable life, to say the least.
These possessions were now located within the sovereign domain of Western Prussia. Let us remember here that the German Empire prior to World War I was governed by His Majesty King Wilhelm II of Prussia.
Naturally, and how could it have been any different, the former Silesian Nobility was now the Prussian Nobility by the Prussian King's decree of 13 September 1772 and therefore had to financially support the war effort by allowing the banks to "borrow" from their accounts the sums decreed by the government. As the war "to end all wars" was lost by Austria and Germany, the landed aristocracy had in effect been bankrupted.
And, if this total financial disaster was not enough, large regions of West Prussia, such as parts of Silesia, Pomerania and Kashubia, had now become parts of Poland by the weight of the post World War I Treaty of Versailles.
So what to do, but to relocate to Western Germany; the industrial Ruhr District was a good place to go for people with skills and talents.
The following photograph depicts the one building of the Oberhausen Electric Plants that had survived the incessant Allied bombardments of this industrial town during World War II.
Grandfather Joseph v. Gulgowski-Doliwa, were he alive today, would definitely still recognize this industrial edifice of distinction.
TRANSLATION
The thunder of battle subsides, as the Old Year declines; may the New Year here on Earth,
bring us peace so well deserved.
However strong the German nation's preoccupation with World War I, the soldiers fighting in it and the decorations they were awarded for bravery and merit, was, most imminent on its mind ranked
the desire for peace, which is manifested in the New Year's wishes displayed below.
A few of our esteemed readers took time and effort to criticise the fact that there was preciously little information on my paternal grandfather, Prince Joseph von Gulgowski-Doliwa,
*6 Aug. 1878 + 1961, to be found on these webpages.
True! The reason for this is the overall chaotic situation in industrial Germany during and after
World War II.
Therefore, my sustained efforts to find more information on my paternal grandparents were doomed to failure, before I even started in my research efforts on their behalf.
Nonetheless, I unearthed the fact that Prince Joseph had worked for the Oberhausen, North-Rhine Westphalia Municipal Government as a designer and builder of streetcars.
Interestingly enough, a prototype streetcar had been successfully put to work as a sterling reminder of his efforts on behalf of his new hometown. Particularly loving is the fact that the prototype vehicle of his efforts did survive and was reconstructed and nowadays continues to serve the City of Oberhausen as a tourist attraction, which I thought to be rather commendable on the part of the Oberhausen Tourists' Office.
This streetcar No. 25, on occasions, serves as the lead tram on the streetcar processions that are being staged on prominent weekends in the heart of the Ruhr District; i.e. Oberhausen, Muehlheim and Essen.
Thank you for giving this additional segment on behalf of my grandfathers your kind and considered attention.
The authors of this webpage raise a solemn toast to all the morally decent heroes of all wars and of all nations. May their memories never be lost in the nations that had given them life.
The Iron Cross had by law to be worn on the prescribed uniform of the day. The reason for this strict regulation was not to play to the vanity of its recipients but out of military necessity, so a superior officer or non-commissioned officer could see from fifty yards away who of his soldiers possessed the greatest chances to successfully survive a dangerous mission. The two photographs below will
illustrate this point.
THE IRON CROSS
was the most honored, respected and revered German military decoration for demonstrated bravery while engaged in battle to an armed enemy. In prestige it outranked any similar such combat decoration awarded by any of the German-speaking empires, kingdoms, grand duchies, duchies and principalities as indicated below.
o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o
Baron Jakob v. Look *1892 +1952
"Rest in Peace. God Will Dry all the Tears from Our Eyes. Revelations 6:21.4."
(Our signatures have been deliberately blocked out to protect us against identity theft.)
Princess Heide and Prince Paul, the Duke and Duchess of Lower Silesia (Glogau), thank their esteemed readers for celebrating Baron Jakob v. Look's life and achievements with us.
The Greatest Glory be to our Lord Most High!
May our Lord God bless the Imperial / Royal Houses of Habsburg and Hohenzollern, as well as
The Princely / Ducal House Gulgowski-Doliwa and its newest Lordship
H.E. Baron Jakob v. Look, Knight of the Order of the Iron Cross.
*Imperial Prince / Duke of Schlesien-Glogau Joseph Alexander and his legal descendents are hereby extended the authority to advance deserving individuals to ranks of Nobility (lower than their own) under their sovereignty as their Leash Lords.
Decreed by H.M. Empress / Queen Maria Theresa of Austria-Hungary, Bohemia, Galicia, etc.
Vienna in March 1752.
Additional Note:
The High Council of the Golden Book of the Most Noble Chapter of St. George and St. James completely recognizes the modern and ancient titles of the dynasties of Spain, Portugal, Parma, Georgia, Annam, Austria-Hungary, Russia, Rwanda, Ethiopia and Egypt, etc.
As history has advanced (not necessarily progressed), the former reigning Imperial / Royal heads of states are now non-reigning aristocracies.
Nevertheless, according to international laws, and definitely to those of the Kingdom of Spain, these Imperial / Royal Houses retain their privileged status, the almost sacred character which is derived from their divine blessings and national traditions, which include their inherent right to dispense noble titles and chivalric honors.
The disposed rulers of the Monarchies mentioned above, may have been disposed as rulers, but they will always remain sovereign. In other words, their houses may have lost "jus regis" but not "jus honorum." As such, they are and remain the credible and authoritative source of genealogical titles and honors up to the point of their complete extinction.
According to the eternal Princely / Ducal rights and privileges conferred upon the Gulgowski Dynasty and the rules and regulations spelled out by the High Council of the Most Noble Chapter of St. George and St. James, We, the Chiefs of the Princely / Ducal House Gulgowski-Doliwa, the Duke and the Duchess of Schlesien-Glogau, are hereby resolved to bestow upon the
Honorable Chevalier Jakob v. Look, Knight of the Order of the Iron Cross,
the Noble Title of Baron as promulgated below:
Investiture of the Late Chev. Jakob v. Look, OIC,
to the Noble Rank of Baron
o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o
Silv. Wounded Warrior Badge
War Merit Cross
Order Iron Cross
Prussian War Mem. Cross
A relatively small stretch of the Verdun Battlefield today. Up to now, poisonous gases still linger on these fields of death and the shell holes continue to hold the water of previously fallen rains. But, thanks to our Lord God, nature is making
a gradual comeback.
Douaumont Memorial.
The elongated buildings left and right of the tower house millions of human skulls and bones that have been found on the
WWI battlefields of France over the years following the day of Armistice, 11 November 1918.
H.E. Baron Jakob v. Look, Knight of the Order of the Iron Cross and other Battlefield Awards,
pictured above as a private Infantry soldier in the Army of the Kingdom of Prussia.
As a civilian and soldier, he never was a "Hurrah Patriot." From the very beginning of WWI, he thought that this war would be a gigantic sin against Germany and all the other participating nations. He was appalled and grieved by the fact that the very rich and very educated of Germany and the rest of Europe were hysterically enthusiastic about the war so that their misguided shouts of jubilation and songs of joy made him feel sick to his stomach. After all, the rich and educated possessed all the prerequisites to know better.
Contrary to thousands of others, he did not volunteer for military service; however, when he was issued his draft notice, he complied with the law and he became a distinguished soldier. This did not mean that he deliberately did seek military honor and glory. Still, when his squad was detailed to perform dangerous missions, he never stayed behind and he never ever abandoned his buddies in peril. One could say that he agreed with Sir Winston Churchill whose motto was "Right or Wrong, my Country." Opa v. Look never thought of desertion or escape to a neutral country. Loyalty and devotion to his God, his country and his family were foremost in his heart and on his mind.
He fought in innumerable attacks, counter attacks, reconnaissance patrols, prisoner-capture raids, recovery of wounded comrades under fire and messenger runs under gravely adverse conditions, etc.
Because of his education / life experience, Opa v. Look could have become a commissioned officer, a non-commissioned officer or at least a higher-ranking private. He profusely refused any promotions at all, because he considered gaining rank and position in this war was unethical if not immoral.
Yet, he always performed his soldierly duties par excellence. He was wounded six or more times. Four of these war injuries were of a severe nature, painfully affecting his entire future life. We find it particularly noteworthy to mention here that he fought and survived Verdun where more than 750,000 French and German soldiers died, not to mention the two millions who sustained wounds of which they expired later on.
Left: Trench warfare reduced everyone who was subjected to it to a mere shadow of their former self.
Right: To the frontline soldier, death was almost preferable to the living conditions on the western battlefields.
German Infantry Regiment in best of spirits on its initial march to the front.
The polit-criminal Gravilo Princip, who started this cause-and-effect avalanche died on 28 April 1918 of tuberculosis, cheating his sentence of justice.
As an afterthought in this regard, let it be known that the Balkan nations had to endure a fate after WWI that, until very recent times, was a thousand times worse than the truly enlightened leadership that had graced this area under the Habsburgs.
Contrary to popular propaganda, Emperor Franz Joseph II, Czar Nicholas II and Emperor Wilhelm II were better human beings on a moral and ethical basis than many of their counterparts and definitely more humanity- and social-justice oriented than the Bolshevists in Communist Russia and the National Socialists in Germany and later on in Austria as well.
Grandfather Jakob was the most honorable, dynamic, charismatic and totally incorruptible individual I have ever known during my entire lifetime. After World War I, he married the widow of his in 1915 fallen closest comrade, extending a father's unmitigated love and care to his
friend's then four-year-old son, my uncle Hubert Lange.
Before we further expand on "Koebes" v. Look's World War I personal record,
A FEW WORDS PERTAINING TO THE WAR, TO END ALL WARS, ITSELF.
The assassination of the heir to the Austrio-Hungarian throne, Archduke Francis Ferdinand,
on 28 June 1914, by the murderous hands of Gavrilo Princip motivated by selfishly thinking Serbian officers, ignited the until then unimaginable brutality of a worldwide war on an industrial basis with machine guns, tanks, air crafts and a variety of poisonous gases. More than 17 million promising lives were extinguished.
Unwise political power considerations and diplomatic misjudgements transformed the assassination crisis into a four-year war that changed the map of Europe beyond recognition.
There was enough blame to go around to all parties concerned, including Germany. However, today the record shows that France joined this gigantic conflict primarily to recapture Elsass-Lothringen from Germany, Great Britain wanted to take over worldwide German industrial and international trade and the United States of America saw in this armed conflict an opportunity to make its industrial, military and naval might felt around the globe. It would not be wrong to ascertain that the latter three nations entered this whole-sale slaughter of young men primarily for the sake of their own vanity and advancement of capitalistic self interest.
When the First World War concluded on 11 November 1918 at 11:11 a.m., three Emperors, who once were personal friends, were no more, either by natural death, murder or old-age death in exile.
It would really be a grievous and unforgivable oversight, if I, Prince Paul, had forgotten to mention my maternal grandfather, Baron Jakob v. Look, recipient of the World War I Order of the Iron Cross, in this special documentation. Without his love, wisdom, attention, guidance, direction, stabilizing influence and explained reason for enlightened living as well as deep commitment to learning after having survived the brutality of World War II and the close-to-skin painful humiliations experienced during the allied occupation of a defeated and devastated Germany, I would most certainly have perished long before reaching adulthood. Thank you, Opa! You will always be in my prayers!
Remembering and Honoring Grandfather
Baron Jakob v. Look, Knight of the Order of the
Iron Cross, on the Catastrophy of the
Beginning of World War One, 1 August 1914,
by The Princes Dr. Paul and Heide Gulgowski-Doliwa, Duke and Duchess of Schlesien-Glogau.
DUCAL/PRINCELY HOUSE GULGOWSKI-DOLIWA