Hugo Meixner von Zweienstamm

The twins Hugo and Otto were born on the 1st of February 1858 at Lobzów near Krakau (Kraków) as sons of Oberleutnant Eduard Meixner. Besides their similar looks as was common with twins there were amazing parallels within their lives especially during the first decades. After successfully graduating from the military college at St. Pölten and the military academy at Wiener Neustadt they were both promoted to Leutnant in infantry regiment number 55 on the 1st of November 1878. Both attended the same class at the Kriegsschule and were attached, in the meantime promoted to Oberleutnant on the 1st of May 1883, to the general staff corps.

Hugo Meixner was attached to the headquarters of the 4th infantry brigade where he received his promotion to Hauptmann 1st class on the 1st of May 1886. On the same date he was transferred to the general staff of the 1st corps headquarters at Krakau (Kraków). For his performance there he received the certificate of commendation from the war minister on the 25th of September 1888 and the certificate of commendation from the corps commander on the 18th of November 1890. On the 19th of November 1889 he married Auguste, a daughter of Generalmajor Johann Ritter von Kubin and his twin brother Otto married on the same day her sister Margarete! On the 1st of November 1890 Hugo Meixner was also assigned to line duty with infantry regiment number 100 located at Krakau (Kraków). Together with his promotion to Major on the 1st of November 1892 he received his appointment as chief of the general staff of the 19th infantry division at Pilsen. In late 1894 he was transferred to the war ministry in Vienna shortly followed by his promotion to Oberstleutnant on the 1st of May 1895. On the 24th of October 1896 he became the head of the 10th department of the Kriegsministerium. At this important post he received his promotion to Oberst on the 1st of May 1898 with the seniority from the 22nd of May. For his efforts there he again was honored with a certificate of commendation from the minister on the 18th of October 1898. On the 17th of October 1898 Oberst Hugo Meixner was transferred to line duty with infantry regiment "King of Italy" number 28 shortly followed by the award of the Military Merit Cross on the 30th of November of the same year. On the 13th of December 1899 he took over command of this regiment. During his command he was honored with the commander's cross of the Order of the Crown of Italy (1900), the 2nd class of the Persian Order of the Sun and the Lion (19th October 1900) and finally the breast star to his commander's cross of the Order of the Crown of Italy (July 1901). On the 4th of November 1902 he was again assigned to the war ministry as chief of the 2nd department.

Hugo Meixner pictured as a GeneralmajorAgain Hugo Meixner held an important post within the army administration. For his performance there he was honored with the award of the 3rd class of the Order of the Crown on the 6th of October 1903. On the 1st of November 1904 he was promoted to Generalmajor with seniority from the 5th of November. On the 25th of February 1908 he was again honored by the award of the knight's cross of the Order of Leopold. Uniquely in the practice of ennoblement, the twins Otto (9th July 1908) and Hugo (5th August 1908) were granted to right to carry the same predicate "von Zweienstamm". On the 15th of October 1908 Hugo Meixner von Zweienstamm assumed command of the 27th infantry division Kaschau (Kassa) shortly followed by his promotion to Feldmarschall-Leutnant on the 1st of November 1908 with seniority from the 4th of November - still one day behind his brother. On the 9th of February 1911 was transferred as commander to the 2nd infantry division at Jaroslau. On the 12th of August 1913 he was honored with the award of the Order of the Iron Crown 2nd class followed by his relief from his command of the 2nd division on the 13th of October 1913. While he was on leave awaiting a suitable command he received his promotion to General der Infanterie on the 1st of November 1913 with seniority from the 2nd of November - now 6 months and a day junior to his brother Otto. On the 22nd of January 1914 he was appointed commander of the 10th corps at Przemysl shortly followed by the honour title of Geheimer Rat (Privy councillor) on the 12th of February 1914.

When the war started in 1914 GdI Hugo Meixner von Zweienstamm and his 10th corps were part of Dankl's 1st army. For his performance as a corps commander he was honored with the grand cross of the Order of the Iron Crown with war decoration on the 5th of October 1914 and in November 1914 he received the Prussian Iron Cross 2nd class. In January 1915 he was temporarily replaced by Feldmarschall-Leutnant Krautwald von Annau but this lasted only two months and was caused by illness. In March 1915 he returned to his post but was finally retired in April 1915 and surrendered command to Feldmarschall-Leutnant Hugo Martiny. Disappointed and angry he retired from public life to Vienna where he died in early July 1951, five years after his twin brother Otto at the age of 93! General Hugo Meixner von Zweienstamm was buried in the family tomb on the Hütteldorfer Friedhof in Vienna on the 9th of July 1951.

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