Robert Meier
Encyclopedia
Robert Meier was, at the age of 109, Germany
's oldest living man, a combat-wounded veteran of the First World War
and one of Germany's last surviving veterans of that war. Meier became Germany's oldest living man on March 2, 2005, when he was age 107, following the death of 111-year-old Hermann Dörnemann
. He held that title for about two years. Germany's oldest living person at the time of his death was 111-year-old Irmgard von Stephani
(born September 20, 1895). Meier lived in Witten
, North Rhine-Westphalia
.
He was a rarity in being a survivor of the infantry, having seen combat in France
on the Western front. Meier may also have been the last person to have met Kaiser Wilhelm II
in person (i.e., as the Kaiser: he abdicated
in 1918). He was also a Second World War
veteran, spending some time as a prisoner of war in the Caucasus
.
In October 2006, Robert Meier met then 110-year-old Henry Allingham
, the oldest living British
World War I veteran, in his hometown. France's oldest veteran ever, 111-year-old Maurice Floquet
, sent his regards, but could not attend, because he was too frail to travel. Floquet subsequently died on the eve of Armistice Day
, November 10, 2006.
Robert Meier was born to German parents in Sergejewka, Ukraine
, in the Russian Empire
. He was a member of the Social Democratic Party of Germany
for 70 years, and worked as a railway worker. His wife Ella died in 1967; they had a son and a daughter.
Robert Meier had a fine sense of humour; in 2006, he let the local press take his picture while he was wearing a World War I spiked helmet and a t-shirt with the slogan "109 - na und?" ("109 - so what?") on it. He was in good health keeping his own household until late 2006, and hospitalized only a few weeks before his death: he had a bad fall right before Christmas Day and died about five weeks later on, just one day before he was scheduled to have an ulcer operation.
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...
's oldest living man, a combat-wounded veteran of the First World War
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...
and one of Germany's last surviving veterans of that war. Meier became Germany's oldest living man on March 2, 2005, when he was age 107, following the death of 111-year-old Hermann Dörnemann
Hermann Dörnemann
Hermann Dörnemann of Germany was hailed in the press as the oldest living man in the world upon the death of 113-year-old American Fred Hale on 19 November 2004...
. He held that title for about two years. Germany's oldest living person at the time of his death was 111-year-old Irmgard von Stephani
Irmgard von Stephani
Irmgard von Stephani was at age 112 years 15 days, the oldest person in Germany alive and one of only 4 Europeans left who were officially born in 1895. The three remaining ones at the time were Astrid Zachrison of Sweden, Manuela Fernández-Fojaco of Spain and Marie-Louise Lhuillier of France.Von...
(born September 20, 1895). Meier lived in Witten
Witten
Witten is a university city in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. It is the home of the Witten/Herdecke University, the first private university in Germany.-Bordering municipalities:* Bochum* Dortmund* Herdecke* Wetter * Sprockhoevel* Hattingen...
, North Rhine-Westphalia
North Rhine-Westphalia
North Rhine-Westphalia is the most populous state of Germany, with four of the country's ten largest cities. The state was formed in 1946 as a merger of the northern Rhineland and Westphalia, both formerly part of Prussia. Its capital is Düsseldorf. The state is currently run by a coalition of the...
.
He was a rarity in being a survivor of the infantry, having seen combat in 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...
on the Western front. Meier may also have been the last person to have met Kaiser Wilhelm II
William II, German Emperor
Wilhelm II was the last German Emperor and King of Prussia, ruling the German Empire and the Kingdom of Prussia from 15 June 1888 to 9 November 1918. He was a grandson of the British Queen Victoria and related to many monarchs and princes of Europe...
in person (i.e., as the Kaiser: he abdicated
Abdication
Abdication occurs when a monarch, such as a king or emperor, renounces his office.-Terminology:The word abdication comes derives from the Latin abdicatio. meaning to disown or renounce...
in 1918). He was also a Second World War
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
veteran, spending some time as a prisoner of war in the Caucasus
Caucasus
The Caucasus, also Caucas or Caucasia , is a geopolitical region at the border of Europe and Asia, and situated between the Black and the Caspian sea...
.
In October 2006, Robert Meier met then 110-year-old Henry Allingham
Henry Allingham
Henry William Allingham was a British supercentenarian, First World War veteran and, for one month, the verified oldest living man in the world...
, the oldest living British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
World War I veteran, in his hometown. France's oldest veteran ever, 111-year-old Maurice Floquet
Maurice Floquet
Maurice Noël Floquet was, at age 111, France's oldest man on record and was one of the last surviving French veterans of World War I. He was, at the age of 111 years and 320 days, France's longest-lived soldier ever. Moreover, Maurice was France's oldest living man for more than four years...
, sent his regards, but could not attend, because he was too frail to travel. Floquet subsequently died on the eve of Armistice Day
Armistice Day
Armistice Day is on 11 November and commemorates the armistice signed between the Allies of World War I and Germany at Compiègne, France, for the cessation of hostilities on the Western Front of World War I, which took effect at eleven o'clock in the morning—the "eleventh hour of the eleventh day...
, November 10, 2006.
Robert Meier was born to German parents in Sergejewka, Ukraine
Ukraine
Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It has an area of 603,628 km², making it the second largest contiguous country on the European continent, after Russia...
, in the Russian Empire
Russian Empire
The Russian Empire was a state that existed from 1721 until the Russian Revolution of 1917. It was the successor to the Tsardom of Russia and the predecessor of the Soviet Union...
. He was a member of the Social Democratic Party of Germany
Social Democratic Party of Germany
The Social Democratic Party of Germany is a social-democratic political party in Germany...
for 70 years, and worked as a railway worker. His wife Ella died in 1967; they had a son and a daughter.
Robert Meier had a fine sense of humour; in 2006, he let the local press take his picture while he was wearing a World War I spiked helmet and a t-shirt with the slogan "109 - na und?" ("109 - so what?") on it. He was in good health keeping his own household until late 2006, and hospitalized only a few weeks before his death: he had a bad fall right before Christmas Day and died about five weeks later on, just one day before he was scheduled to have an ulcer operation.