Werner N RiessWerner Riess was born in Stettin, Prussia (now Szczecin, Poland) November 21, 1887. He completed his mandatory three years of military service in the German field artillery, then moved to Berlin, worked as a manager in a large department store, and mrried Gertrud Grumach, who lived three doors down the street. In the summer of 1914 they lived in Schöneberg. He was twenty-six years old and had become a partner in the department store. However, Riess was a corporal in the army active reserves and was sent to the Eastern Front as the Russians invaded in August 1914. He fought with a newly created field artillery battery, was promoted to cavalry sergeant, rewarded the Iron Cross for bravery, but became so ill in late December that he was sent to central Germany for surgery. Recovering in the hospital, he wrote his memoir while it was still fresh in his mind and reported to headquarters in Berlin where he continued his service. In 1916 he and Gertrud had a son. Werner Riess died in 1918. Read More Read Less