Sigismund von Förster (24 February 1856 in Sangerhausen ; 11 August 1934 in Brandenburg an der Havel) after graduating from the cadet corps, he was transferred to the 2nd Engineer Inspectorate of the Prussian Army as a second lieutenant on April 23, 1874. He was transferred to the Magdeburg Pioneer Battalion No. 4 on May 2, 1874. From October 1875, Förster spent two years at the Combined Artillery and Engineering School and joined the Railway Regiment in Berlin in 1877. From 1881 to 1883 he attended the Technical University of Berlin and in 1888 he became a captain and company commander in the Hessian Pioneer Battalion No. 11 in Mainz . His son Sigismund was born on June 23, 1887. From 1890 to 1893 he was a member of the airship division in Berlin. He then became company commander in the 138th Infantry Regiment in Strasbourg . Promoted to major in 1897, he took over a battalion of the regiment a year later. On December 17, 1898, he was transferred to Prenzlau, where he was given command of the 1st Battalion in the 64th Infantry Regiment "General Field Marshal Prince Friedrich Karl of Prussia" (8th Brandenburg) .
Following the suppression of the Boxer Rebellion , Förster joined the East Asian Expeditionary Force on July 9, 1900. As commander of the 2nd Battalion of the 2nd East Asian Infantry Regiment, he participated in the fighting in China and was awarded the Order Pour le Mérite for storming the "Boxer Fortress" of Tse King Kuan on May 28, 1901 .
After his return to Germany, he was initially assigned to the 5th Foot Guards Regiment on October 2, 1901 , and with effect from April 1, 1902, he was appointed commander of the 1st Battalion, which he commanded until January 26, 1904. He was then transferred to the staff of the Leib-Grenadier-Regiment "King Friedrich Wilhelm III." (1st Brandenburg) No. 8. During the Russo-Japanese War, he was assigned to the Japanese Army as a military observer in 1904/05 . On August 18, 1906, he was given command of the Infantry Regiment "von Stülpnagel" (5th Brandenburg) No. 48 and was promoted to colonel and appointed regimental commander in Küstrin . In 1910, he was promoted to major general and transferred to command the 68th Infantry Brigade in Metz . In 1913, he was promoted to lieutenant general and appointed commander of the 6th Division in Brandenburg. On 3 February 1914, he was placed on reserve with his statutory pension . In recognition of his many years of service, Emperor Wilhelm II awarded him the Star of the Order of the Red Eagle, Second Class with Oak Leaves.
With the outbreak of the First World War, Förster was reactivated and given command of the 1st Reserve Division . With this division, he captured the Polish town of Przasnysz in the Battle of Przasnysz on February 24, 1915. On September 23, 1915, he became commander of the 77th Reserve Division . He and his staff resided at Lautzensee Castle. On May 17, 1917, his mobilization order was lifted, granting him the rank of General of the Infantry.
Förster died on August 11, 1934 in Brandenburg and was then buried in the Old St. Matthew's Cemetery in Berlin.
Selected awards.
Red Eagle Order (Roter Adlerorden), 4th Class with the Crown (PRAO4mKr/PrA4mKr);
Prussian Centenary Medal 1897 (Zentenarmedaille);
Prussian Long Service Cross for 25 years (Königlich Preußisches Dienstauszeichnungskreuz);
Pour le Mérite, awarded on May 28, 1901;
China Commemorative Medal (China-Denkmünze) in Bronze for combatants with three battle clasps;
Order of the Iron Crown (Austria), 2nd Class with the War Decoration (ÖEK2.KD);
Officer's Cross of the Italian Order of Saints Maurice and Lazarus (JMuL4/JM4);
Ottoman Osmanie-Orden (Osmanije), 3rd Class (TO3);
Prussian Order of the Crown (Preußischer Kronenorden), 3rd Class with Swords;
Japanese Order of the Sacred Treasure, Commander (JZ3);
Red Eagle Order, 3rd Class with the Bow;
Prussian Order of the Crown, 2nd Class with Swords on Ring;
Red Eagle Order, 2nd Class with Oak Leaves;
Star to his Prussian Order of the Crown 2nd Class with Swords on Ring in 1913;
Star to his Red Eagle Order 2nd Class with Oak Leaves in 1914;
Swords to his Red Eagle Order 2nd Class with Star and Oak Leaves on May 8, 1916;
Iron Cross (1914), 2nd and 1st Class;
Honor Cross of the World War 1914/1918 with Swords.
