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{{Short description|Minister of War: Austria-Hungary}}
[[File:Regierungsgebäude Vienna June 2006 006.jpg|thumb|320px|War Ministry building on Ringstraße, Vienna]]
[[File:Wien - Regierungsgebäude, Stubenring 1.JPG|thumb|320px|War Ministry building on {{lang|de|Ringstraße|italic=no}}, Vienna]]
The '''[[Imperial and Royal]] Minister of War''' ({{lang-de|K.u.k. Kriegsminister}}), until 1911: '''[[Reich]] Minister of War''' (''Reichskriegsminister''), was the head of one of the three common ministries shared by the two states which made up the [[dual monarchy]] of [[Austria-Hungary]] from its creation in the [[Austro-Hungarian Compromise of 1867|Compromise of 1867]] until its dissolution in 1918.
The '''[[Imperial and Royal]] Minister of War''' ({{langx|de|K.u.k. Kriegsminister}}; {{langx|hu|cs. és k. hadügyminiszter}}), until 1911: '''[[Reich]] Minister of War''' ({{lang|de|Reichskriegsminister}}; {{lang|hu|birodalmi hadügyminiszter}}), was the head of one of the three common ministries shared by the two states which made up the [[dual monarchy]] of [[Austria-Hungary]] from its creation in the [[Austro-Hungarian Compromise of 1867|Compromise of 1867]] until its dissolution in 1918.


The Common [[Austro-Hungarian Army]] (''[[Gemeinsame Armee]]'') and the [[Austro-Hungarian Navy]] (''K.u.k. Kriegsmarine'') were institutions shared by the constituent parts of the dual monarchy, although both Austria and Hungary possessed their own [[Defence minister|defence ministries]] charged with the internal administration of the homeland troops (i.e. ''[[K.k. Landwehr]]'' and ''[[Magyar Királyi Honvédség]]''), known as the ''[[Austrian Minister of Defence (Austria-Hungary)|K.k. Ministerium für Landesverteidigung]]'' and ''[[Ministry of Defence (Hungary)|K.u. Honvédministerium]]'' respectively.
The Common [[Austro-Hungarian Army]] ({{lang|de|[[Common Army|Gemeinsame Armee]]}}) and the [[Austro-Hungarian Navy]] ({{lang|de|K.u.k. Kriegsmarine}}) were institutions shared by the constituent parts of the dual monarchy, although both Austria and Hungary possessed their own [[defence minister|defence ministries]] charged with the internal administration of the homeland troops (that is, the {{lang|de|[[Imperial-Royal Landwehr|K.k. Landwehr]]}} and {{lang|hu|[[Royal Hungarian Honvéd|Magyar Királyi Honvédség]]}}), known as the {{lang|de|[[Austrian Minister of Defence (Austria-Hungary)|K.k. Ministerium für Landesverteidigung]]}} and {{lang|hu|[[Minister of Defence (Hungary)|K.u. Honvédministerium]]}} respectively.


==Ministers ==
==Ministers ==
According to the Delegation Law of 21 December 1867, the Minister of War, together with the Minister of Finance and the Minister of the Imperial and Royal House and of the Exterior formed the Council of Ministers for Common Affairs under the direction of the [[List of foreign ministers of Austria-Hungary|Foreign Minister]]. The three Imperial and Royal ministers were appointed and relieved from office by the [[Emperor of Austria]] and [[King of Hungary]] himself.
According to the Delegation Law of 21 December 1867, the Minister of War, together with the Minister of Finance and the Minister of the Imperial and Royal House and of the Exterior formed the Council of Ministers for Common Affairs under the direction of the [[List of foreign ministers of Austria-Hungary|Foreign Minister]]. The three Imperial and Royal ministers were appointed and relieved from office by the [[Emperor of Austria]] and [[King of Hungary]] himself.


Until 1911, the ministers were called Reich Ministers of War. Upon the accession of [[Moritz von Auffenberg]], following Hungarian wishes not to be summarized under an Austrian realm that did not consist of the Hungarian lands at that time, the ministers were called Imperial and Royal (''k.u.k.'') Ministers of War.
Until 1911, the ministers were called Reich Ministers of War. Upon the accession of [[Moritz von Auffenberg]], following Hungarian wishes not to be summarized under an Austrian realm that did not consist of the Hungarian lands at that time, the ministers were called Imperial and Royal ({{lang|de|k.u.k.}}) Ministers of War.
{| class="wikitable"
! !! Name !! Image!! Term began !! Term ended <ref>{{cite web| title= COMMON MINISTERS| work= Austria Hungary| url=http://www.geocities.com/capitolHill/rotunda/2209/Austria_Hungary.html| accessdate=2008-06-01}}{{dead link|date=October 2010|bot=AnomieBOT}}</ref>
|-
|1. ||'''[[Field Marshal (Germany)|Field Marshal]] [[Lieutenant]]''' Franz von John || ||21 December 1867 || 18 January 1868
|-
|2. ||'''Field Marschal Lieutenant ''' Franz Kuhn von Kuhnenfeld || [[File:Franz Kuhn von Kuhnenfeld (Ludwig Ferdinand Graf, 1890).jpg|50px]] || 18 January 1868 || 14 June 1874
|-
|3. ||'''[[General of the Cavalry (Germany)|General of the Cavalry]]''' Alexander von Koller || [[File:General Koller 1872 Klíč.png|50px]] || 14 June 1874 || 20 June 1876
|-
|4. ||'''[[Feldzeugmeister]]''' Artur Maximilian von Bylandt-Rheidt || || 20 June 1876 || 16 March 1888
|-
|5. ||'''Feldzeugmeister''' Ferdinand von Bauer || [[File:Ferdinand von Bauer.jpg|50px]] || 16 March 1888 || 24 July 1893
|-
|6. ||'''Feldzeugmeister''' Rudolf von Merkl (acting)|| || 24 July 1893 || 22 September 1893
|-
|7. ||'''General of the Cavalry''' Edmund von Krieghammer || || 22 September 1893 || 17 December 1902
|-
|8. ||'''Feldzeugmeister''' Heinrich von Pitreich || [[File:Heinrich von Pitreich GTÖ 1905 A. Huber.png|50px]] || 18 December 1902 || 24 October 1906
|-
|9. ||'''[[General of the Infantry (Germany)|General of the Infantry]]''' Franz Schönaich || [[Image:FZM Franz Schönaich 1906 Scolik.png|50px]] || 24 October 1906 || 20 September 1911
|-
|10. ||'''General of the Infantry''' [[Moritz von Auffenberg]] || [[File:Moritz von Auffenberg.jpg|50px]] || 20 September 1911 || 12 December 1912
|-
|11. ||'''[[Field Marshal]]''' [[Alexander von Krobatin]] || [[File:Krobatin Alexander FM 1849 1933 photo.jpg|50px]] || 12 December 1912 || 12 April 1917
|-
|12. ||'''[[Colonel General]]''' [[Rudolf Stöger-Steiner von Steinstätten]] || [[File:Rudolf Stger-Steiner von Steinsttten.JPG|50px]] || 12 April 1917 || 11 November 1918
|}
The influence of the Austro-Hungarian War Minister was limited, due to the rivalness with the Austrian [[Minister-President]] and the [[Prime Minister of Hungary]]. Moreover it was the Emperor who acted as [[commander-in-chief]] of the Imperial and Royal Armed Might, served by his personal military chancellery and represented by an Inspector General, since 1869 Field Marshal Archduke [[Archduke Albrecht, Duke of Teschen|Albert of Austria-Teschen]]. His successor General of the Cavalry and Admiral Archduke [[Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria|Franz Ferdinand of Austria-Este]] in 1906 achieved the dismissal of Minister Pitreich and 76-years-old Chief of the General Staff [[Friedrich von Beck-Rzikowsky]], who was replaced by Franz Ferdinand's confidant Field Marshal Lieutenant [[Count Franz Conrad von Hötzendorf|Franz Conrad von Hötzendorf]]. Dismissed in 1911 but again appointed together with Minister Alexander von Krobatin during the 1912 [[Balkan Wars]], Conrad acted autonomously, being directly responsible to the emperor. In the 1914 [[July Crisis]] upon the [[Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria|assassination of Franz Ferdinand]], he and Krobatin declared the Austro-Hungarian armed forces '[[Causes of World War I|prepared for war]]'.


List:<ref>{{cite web |title=Common Mistakes |work=Austria Hungary |url=http://www.geocities.com/capitolHill/rotunda/2209/Austria_Hungary.html |accessdate=2008-06-01 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080112124023/http://www.geocities.com/CapitolHill/Rotunda/2209/Austria_Hungary.html |archivedate=January 12, 2008 }}</ref>
On 30 October 1918, Emperor [[Charles I of Austria]] assigned the Naval command to the newly established Yugoslavian [[State of Slovenes, Croats and Serbs]]. After the [[Kingdom of Hungary]] left the [[real union]] with Austria the next day, the last Austro-Hungarian minister Stöger-Steiner had to supervise the liquidation of the remaining [[Cisleithania]]n troops. Upon the resignation of Emperor Charles on 12 November, he was answerable to an Army state secretary of the republican [[Republic of German-Austria|German Austrian]] government under Chancellor [[Karl Renner]]. The 'War Ministry in Liquidation' was renamed 'Military Liquidation Agency' in 1920, when the Austrian [[Ministry of National Defence and Sport (Austria)|Federal Ministry of the Army]] was established. It was not dissolved until 1931.
{{Officeholder table start
| showorder = y
| showimage = y
| image_title = Portrait
| officeholder_title = Minister
| showtermlenght = y
| showparty = n
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order = 1
| image = Franz John Litho.jpg
| military_rank = Lieutenant Field Marshal
| officeholder = [[Franz von John]]
| officeholder_sort = von John, Franz
| born_year = 1815
| died_year = 1876
| term_start = 21 December 1867
| term_end = 18 January 1868
| timeinoffice = {{ayd|1867|12|21|1868|01|18}}
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order = 2
| image = Franz Kuhn von Kuhnenfeld (Ludwig Ferdinand Graf, 1890).jpg
| military_rank = Lieutenant Field Marshal
| officeholder = [[Franz Kuhn von Kuhnenfeld]]
| officeholder_sort = von Kuhnenfeld, Franz
| born_year = 1817
| died_year = 1896
| term_start = 18 January 1868
| term_end = 14 June 1874
| timeinoffice = {{ayd|1868|01|18|1874|06|14}}
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order = 3
| image = General Koller 1872 Klíč.png
| military_rank = General of the Cavalry
| officeholder = [[Alexander von Koller]]
| officeholder_sort = von Koller, Alexander
| born_year = 1813
| died_year = 1890
| term_start = 14 June 1874
| term_end = 20 June 1876
| timeinoffice = {{ayd|1874|06|14|1876|06|20}}
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order = 4
| image = Bylandt-Rheidt, Artur Maximilian Graf.jpg
| military_rank = General of the Artillery
| officeholder = [[Artur Maximilian von Bylandt-Rheidt]]
| officeholder_sort = von Bylandt-Rheidt, Artur
| born_year = 1821
| died_year = 1891
| term_start = 20 June 1876
| term_end = 16 March 1888
| timeinoffice = {{ayd|1876|06|20|1888|03|16}}
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order = 5
| image = Ferdinand von Bauer.jpg
| military_rank = General of the Artillery
| officeholder = [[Ferdinand von Bauer]]
| officeholder_sort = von Bauer, Ferdinand
| born_year = 1825
| died_year = 1893
| term_start = 16 March 1888
| term_end = 24 July 1893
| timeinoffice = {{ayd|1888|03|16|1893|07|24}}
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order = –
| image =
| military_rank = General of the Artillery
| officeholder = [[Rudolf von Merkl]]
| officeholder_sort = von Merkl, Rudolf
| born_year = 1825
| died_year = 1893
| term_start = 24 July 1893
| term_end = 22 September 1893
| timeinoffice = {{ayd|1893|07|24|1893|09|22}}
| acting = y
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order = 6
| image = EdmundKrieghammer.jpg
| military_rank = General of the Cavalry
| officeholder = [[Edmund von Krieghammer]]
| officeholder_sort = von Krieghammer, Edmund
| born_year = 1832
| died_year = 1906
| term_start = 22 September 1893
| term_end = 17 December 1902
| timeinoffice = {{ayd|1893|09|22|1902|12|17}}
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order = 7
| image = Heinrich von Pitreich GTÖ 1905 A. Huber.png
| military_rank = General of the Artillery
| officeholder = {{ill|Heinrich von Pitreich|de}}
| officeholder_sort = von Pitreich, Heinrich
| born_year = 1841
| died_year = 1920
| term_start = 18 December 1902
| term_end = 24 October 1906
| timeinoffice = {{ayd|1902|12|18|1906|10|24}}
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order = 8
| image = FZM Franz Schönaich 1906 Scolik.png
| military_rank = General of the Infantry
| officeholder = {{ill|Franz Xaver von Schönaich|de}}
| officeholder_sort = von Schönaich, Franz
| born_year = 1844
| died_year = 1916
| term_start = 24 October 1906
| term_end = 20 September 1911
| timeinoffice = {{ayd|1906|10|24|1911|09|20}}
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order = 9
| image = General Moritz von Auffenberg.jpg
| military_rank = General of the Infantry
| officeholder = [[Moritz von Auffenberg]]
| officeholder_sort = von Auffenberg, Moritz
| born_year = 1852
| died_year = 1928
| term_start = 20 September 1911
| term_end = 12 December 1912
| timeinoffice = {{ayd|1911|09|20|1912|12|12}}
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order = 10
| image = Krobatin Alexander FM 1849 1933 photo.jpg
| military_rank = Field Marshal
| officeholder = [[Alexander von Krobatin]]
| officeholder_sort = von Krobatin, Alexander
| born_year = 1849
| died_year = 1933
| term_start = 12 December 1912
| term_end = 12 April 1917
| timeinoffice = {{ayd|1912|12|12|1917|04|12}}
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order = 11
| image = Rudolf Stöger-Steiner von Steinstätten.jpg
| military_rank = Colonel General
| officeholder = [[Rudolf Stöger-Steiner von Steinstätten]]
| officeholder_sort = von Steinstätten, Rudolf
| born_year = 1849
| died_year = 1933
| term_start = 12 April 1917
| term_end = 11 November 1918
| timeinoffice = {{ayd|1917|04|12|1918|11|11}}
}}
{{Officeholder table end}}

The influence of the Austro-Hungarian War Minister was limited, due to the rivalry between the Austrian [[Minister-President]] and the [[Prime Minister of Hungary]]. Moreover, it was the Emperor who acted as [[commander-in-chief]] of the Imperial and Royal Armed Might, served by his personal military chancellery and represented by an Inspector General, a position held by Field Marshal Archduke [[Archduke Albrecht, Duke of Teschen|Albert of Austria-Teschen]] from 1869 to 1895. His successor General of the Cavalry and Admiral Archduke [[Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria|Franz Ferdinand of Austria-Este]] in 1906 achieved the dismissal of Minister Pitreich and 76-year-old Chief of the General Staff [[Friedrich von Beck-Rzikowsky]], who was replaced by Franz Ferdinand's confidant Field Marshal Lieutenant [[Franz Conrad von Hötzendorf]]. Dismissed in 1911 but again appointed together with Minister Alexander von Krobatin during the 1912 [[Balkan Wars]], Conrad acted autonomously, being directly responsible to the emperor. In the 1914 [[July Crisis]] upon the [[assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand|assassination of Franz Ferdinand]], he and Minister Krobatin declared the Austro-Hungarian armed forces '[[causes of World War I|prepared for war]]'.

On 30 October 1918, Emperor [[Charles I of Austria]] assigned the Naval command to the newly established Yugoslavian [[State of Slovenes, Croats and Serbs]]. After the [[Kingdom of Hungary]] left the [[real union]] with Austria the next day, the last Austro-Hungarian minister Stöger-Steiner had to supervise the liquidation of the remaining [[Cisleithania]]n troops. Upon the resignation of Emperor Charles on 12 November, he was answerable to an Army state secretary of the republican [[Republic of German-Austria|German-Austrian]] government under Chancellor [[Karl Renner]]. The 'War Ministry in Liquidation' was renamed 'Military Liquidation Agency' in 1920, when the Austrian [[Ministry of National Defence and Sport (Austria)|Federal Ministry of the Army]] was established. It was not dissolved until 1931.


==The War Ministry==
==The War Ministry==
[[File:Richard Moser Am Hof Kriegsministerium 1913.jpg|thumb|Austrian war ministry building, Am Hof (demolished in 1913)]]
[[File:Richard Moser Am Hof Kriegsministerium 1913.jpg|thumb|Austrian war ministry building, {{lang|de|Am Hof|italic=no}}, demolished in 1913]]
The Ministry initially was located at the historical seat of the [[Hofkriegsrat]], the Court Council of War serving the [[Habsburg Monarchy|Habsburg monarchs]] on Am Hof square in the central [[Innere Stadt]] borough of [[Vienna]]. After the Council's dissolution in the [[Revolutions of 1848 in the Habsburg areas|1848 Revolution]], the building had housed the War Ministry of the [[Austrian Empire]]; Minister [[Theodor Franz, Count Baillet von Latour|Theodor Franz Baillet von Latour]] was lynched in front of it during the [[Vienna Uprising|October Uprising]].
The Ministry initially was located at the historical seat of the {{lang|de|[[Hofkriegsrat]]}}, the Court Council of War serving the [[Habsburg monarchy|Habsburg monarchs]] on {{lang|de|Am Hof|italic=np}} square in the central {{lang|de|[[Innere Stadt]]|italic=no}} borough of [[Vienna]]. After the Council's dissolution in the [[Revolutions of 1848 in the Austrian Empire|1848 Revolution]], the building had housed the War Ministry of the [[Austrian Empire]]; Minister [[Theodor Franz, Count Baillet von Latour|Theodor Franz Baillet von Latour]] was lynched in front of it during the [[Vienna Uprising|October Uprising]].


From 1909 to 1913, the imposing [[Neoclassical architecture|Neoclassical]] Imperial and Royal War Ministry headquarters on [[Ringstraße]] boulevard, the department's final home, was erected according to plans designed by architect Ludwig Baumann, who had also built the Oriental Academy, the current [[Embassy of the United States, Vienna|US embassy]]. Dedicated on 1 May 1913 during the reign of Emperor [[Franz Joseph I of Austria|Francis Joseph I]] and Minister Krobatin's tenure, it can still be seen in Vienna today; it is officially called Government Building ''(Regierungsgebäude)'' and is used as seat of the Minister for Economy, the Minister for Social Affairs and the Minister for Agriculture and Environment. In front of the ministry building Am Hof as well as, since 1913, of the existing building stands the equestrian monument of Field Marshal [[Joseph Radetzky von Radetz|Joseph Radetzky]], the most venerated military leader of the Austrian monarchy, designed by [[Kaspar von Zumbusch]].
From 1909 to 1913, the imposing [[Neoclassical architecture|Neoclassical]] Imperial and Royal War Ministry headquarters on {{lang|de|[[Ringstraße]]|italic=no}} boulevard, the department's final home, was erected according to plans designed by architect [[Ludwig Baumann (architect)|Ludwig Baumann]], who had also built the Oriental Academy, the current [[Embassy of the United States, Vienna|US embassy]]. Dedicated on 1 May 1913 during the reign of Emperor [[Franz Joseph I of Austria|Francis Joseph I]] and Minister Krobatin's tenure, it can still be seen in Vienna today; it is officially called Government Building ({{lang|de|Regierungsgebäude}}) and is used as seat of the Minister for Economy, the Minister for Social Affairs and the Minister for Agriculture and Environment. In front of the ministry building {{lang|de|Am Hof|italic=no}} as well as, since 1913, of the existing building stands the equestrian monument of Field Marshal [[Joseph Radetzky von Radetz|Joseph Radetzky]], the most venerated military leader of the Austrian monarchy, designed by [[Kaspar von Zumbusch]].


The Navy Section of the ministry (''k.u.k. Marinesektion'') had its own building at Vordere Zollamtsstrasse, corner of Marxergasse, behind the headquarters and is still existing, too. At the outside of this building the coats of arms of 16 Imperial and Royal ports on the [[Adriatic Sea|Adriatic]] Coast are displayed.
The Navy Section of the ministry ({{lang|de|k.u.k. Marinesektion}}) had its own building at {{lang|de|Vordere Zollamtsstrasse|italic=no}}, corner of {{lang|de|Marxergasse|italic=no}}, behind the headquarters and is still existing, too. At the outside of this building the coats of arms of 16 Imperial and Royal ports on the [[Adriatic Sea|Adriatic]] Coast are displayed.


==Sources==
==Sources==
{{reflist|2}}
{{Reflist}}


==See also==
==See also==
* [[Supreme Commander of the Imperial and Royal Armed Forces]]
*[[Austro-Hungarian Army]]
*[[Austria-Hungary]]
* [[Austrian Minister of Defence (Austria-Hungary)]]
* [[Minister of Defense (Austria)]]
*[[Austrian Empire]]
* [[Austro-Hungarian General Staff]]
* [[Chief of the General Staff (Austria)]]


{{Military of Austria-Hungary}}
{{Military of Austria-Hungary}}
Line 59: Line 192:
[[Category:Military history of Austria]]
[[Category:Military history of Austria]]
[[Category:Military history of Hungary]]
[[Category:Military history of Hungary]]
[[Category:Field marshals of Austria]]
[[Category:Military of Austria-Hungary]]
[[Category:Military of Austria-Hungary]]
[[Category:Government in Austria-Hungary]]

Latest revision as of 19:20, 1 December 2024

War Ministry building on Ringstraße, Vienna

The Imperial and Royal Minister of War (German: K.u.k. Kriegsminister; Hungarian: cs. és k. hadügyminiszter), until 1911: Reich Minister of War (Reichskriegsminister; birodalmi hadügyminiszter), was the head of one of the three common ministries shared by the two states which made up the dual monarchy of Austria-Hungary from its creation in the Compromise of 1867 until its dissolution in 1918.

The Common Austro-Hungarian Army (Gemeinsame Armee) and the Austro-Hungarian Navy (K.u.k. Kriegsmarine) were institutions shared by the constituent parts of the dual monarchy, although both Austria and Hungary possessed their own defence ministries charged with the internal administration of the homeland troops (that is, the K.k. Landwehr and Magyar Királyi Honvédség), known as the K.k. Ministerium für Landesverteidigung and K.u. Honvédministerium respectively.

Ministers

[edit]

According to the Delegation Law of 21 December 1867, the Minister of War, together with the Minister of Finance and the Minister of the Imperial and Royal House and of the Exterior formed the Council of Ministers for Common Affairs under the direction of the Foreign Minister. The three Imperial and Royal ministers were appointed and relieved from office by the Emperor of Austria and King of Hungary himself.

Until 1911, the ministers were called Reich Ministers of War. Upon the accession of Moritz von Auffenberg, following Hungarian wishes not to be summarized under an Austrian realm that did not consist of the Hungarian lands at that time, the ministers were called Imperial and Royal (k.u.k.) Ministers of War.

List:[1]

No. Portrait Minister Took office Left office Time in office
1
Franz von John
von John, FranzLieutenant Field Marshal
Franz von John
(1815–1876)		21 December 186718 January 186828 days
2
Franz Kuhn von Kuhnenfeld
von Kuhnenfeld, FranzLieutenant Field Marshal
Franz Kuhn von Kuhnenfeld
(1817–1896)		18 January 186814 June 18746 years, 147 days
3
Alexander von Koller
von Koller, AlexanderGeneral of the Cavalry
Alexander von Koller
(1813–1890)		14 June 187420 June 18762 years, 6 days
4
Artur Maximilian von Bylandt-Rheidt
von Bylandt-Rheidt, ArturGeneral of the Artillery
Artur Maximilian von Bylandt-Rheidt
(1821–1891)		20 June 187616 March 188811 years, 270 days
5
Ferdinand von Bauer
von Bauer, FerdinandGeneral of the Artillery
Ferdinand von Bauer
(1825–1893)		16 March 188824 July 18935 years, 130 days
–
Rudolf von Merkl
von Merkl, RudolfGeneral of the Artillery
Rudolf von Merkl
(1825–1893)
Acting		24 July 189322 September 189360 days
6
Edmund von Krieghammer
von Krieghammer, EdmundGeneral of the Cavalry
Edmund von Krieghammer
(1832–1906)		22 September 189317 December 19029 years, 86 days
7
Heinrich von Pitreich [de]
von Pitreich, HeinrichGeneral of the Artillery
Heinrich von Pitreich [de]
(1841–1920)		18 December 190224 October 19063 years, 310 days
8
Franz Xaver von Schönaich [de]
von Schönaich, FranzGeneral of the Infantry
Franz Xaver von Schönaich [de]
(1844–1916)		24 October 190620 September 19114 years, 331 days
9
Moritz von Auffenberg
von Auffenberg, MoritzGeneral of the Infantry
Moritz von Auffenberg
(1852–1928)		20 September 191112 December 19121 year, 83 days
10
Alexander von Krobatin
von Krobatin, AlexanderField Marshal
Alexander von Krobatin
(1849–1933)		12 December 191212 April 19174 years, 121 days
11
Rudolf Stöger-Steiner von Steinstätten
von Steinstätten, RudolfColonel General
Rudolf Stöger-Steiner von Steinstätten
(1849–1933)		12 April 191711 November 19181 year, 213 days

The influence of the Austro-Hungarian War Minister was limited, due to the rivalry between the Austrian Minister-President and the Prime Minister of Hungary. Moreover, it was the Emperor who acted as commander-in-chief of the Imperial and Royal Armed Might, served by his personal military chancellery and represented by an Inspector General, a position held by Field Marshal Archduke Albert of Austria-Teschen from 1869 to 1895. His successor General of the Cavalry and Admiral Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria-Este in 1906 achieved the dismissal of Minister Pitreich and 76-year-old Chief of the General Staff Friedrich von Beck-Rzikowsky, who was replaced by Franz Ferdinand's confidant Field Marshal Lieutenant Franz Conrad von Hötzendorf. Dismissed in 1911 but again appointed together with Minister Alexander von Krobatin during the 1912 Balkan Wars, Conrad acted autonomously, being directly responsible to the emperor. In the 1914 July Crisis upon the assassination of Franz Ferdinand, he and Minister Krobatin declared the Austro-Hungarian armed forces 'prepared for war'.

On 30 October 1918, Emperor Charles I of Austria assigned the Naval command to the newly established Yugoslavian State of Slovenes, Croats and Serbs. After the Kingdom of Hungary left the real union with Austria the next day, the last Austro-Hungarian minister Stöger-Steiner had to supervise the liquidation of the remaining Cisleithanian troops. Upon the resignation of Emperor Charles on 12 November, he was answerable to an Army state secretary of the republican German-Austrian government under Chancellor Karl Renner. The 'War Ministry in Liquidation' was renamed 'Military Liquidation Agency' in 1920, when the Austrian Federal Ministry of the Army was established. It was not dissolved until 1931.

The War Ministry

[edit]
Austrian war ministry building, Am Hof, demolished in 1913

The Ministry initially was located at the historical seat of the Hofkriegsrat, the Court Council of War serving the Habsburg monarchs on Am Hof square in the central Innere Stadt borough of Vienna. After the Council's dissolution in the 1848 Revolution, the building had housed the War Ministry of the Austrian Empire; Minister Theodor Franz Baillet von Latour was lynched in front of it during the October Uprising.

From 1909 to 1913, the imposing Neoclassical Imperial and Royal War Ministry headquarters on Ringstraße boulevard, the department's final home, was erected according to plans designed by architect Ludwig Baumann, who had also built the Oriental Academy, the current US embassy. Dedicated on 1 May 1913 during the reign of Emperor Francis Joseph I and Minister Krobatin's tenure, it can still be seen in Vienna today; it is officially called Government Building (Regierungsgebäude) and is used as seat of the Minister for Economy, the Minister for Social Affairs and the Minister for Agriculture and Environment. In front of the ministry building Am Hof as well as, since 1913, of the existing building stands the equestrian monument of Field Marshal Joseph Radetzky, the most venerated military leader of the Austrian monarchy, designed by Kaspar von Zumbusch.

The Navy Section of the ministry (k.u.k. Marinesektion) had its own building at Vordere Zollamtsstrasse, corner of Marxergasse, behind the headquarters and is still existing, too. At the outside of this building the coats of arms of 16 Imperial and Royal ports on the Adriatic Coast are displayed.

Sources

[edit]
  1. ^ "Common Mistakes". Austria Hungary. Archived from the original on January 12, 2008. Retrieved 2008-06-01.

See also

[edit]
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