Arthur Arz von Straussenburg
Encyclopedia
Arthur Freiherr Arz von Straußenburg (16 June 1857 – 1 June 1935) was an Austro-Hungarian Colonel General
and last Chief of General Staff to the Austro-Hungarian Army
.
settlers of east Transylvania
, Arz was the product of a noble "Seven Mountains" family. His father, Albert Arz von Straussenburg served as an evangelical
preacher and curate as well as a member of the House of Magnates. Schooled in Dresden
and Sibiu
, Arz graduated "with great achievement", and went on to read law
at university during which time he volunteered for one years service in a Hungarian Feldjäger battalion during 1876–1877.
.
Attaining the rank of Oberleutnant
, he attended the Imperial Kriegschule
in Vienna
1885–1887, which saw him again excel and appointment to the General Staff
in 1888. Promoted to Hauptmann
, and assigned to a corps
staff, Arz was made Adjutant to Feldzeugmeister
Baron Schönfelda and then oncemore to the General Staff in 1898 where he was to remain with a few exceptions until 1908.
Already having been promoted to the rank of Major
, Arz was appointed Oberstleutnant
and attached to the 2nd Corps, commanded by Archduke Eugen
, following his assignment to the General Staff. Promotion to Oberst
on 1 May 1902 saw him appointed to the management bureau of the General Staff, a department which he was appointed head of in May 1903. In 1903 he also married a Hungarian noblewoman
, Stefanie Tomka von Tomkahaza und Falkusfalva, with whom he had a daughter.
In 1908 Arz was once again promoted, this time to the rank of Generalmajor
following which he received command of the 61st infantry brigade
. Having been steadily promoted and seen as a promising and competent officer, he received an "outstanding evaluation" from his old commander Erzherzog Eugen during 1911's fall manouvres. 1912 saw him promoted to command a division
– the 15th infantry at Miskolc
. Soon afterwar Arz attained the rank of Feldmarschall-Leutnant
and in 1913 was reassigned to the war ministry in Vienna to head up a section.
. Almost immediately thereafter, on 7 September, Arz was given command of the 6th corps, taking over from Boroević
. In charge of the 6th corps he performed outstandingly and with great energy at Limanowa-Lapanów
where his unit formed part of the fourth army. At Gorlice-Tarnów
he was gain to pay an outstanding role and was in command again at Grodek-Magierow and Brest-litowsk
during the summer of 1915. In September 1915 he was promoted to the rank of General der Infanterie
, and having fought alongside Mackensen
's 11th army he gained the respect of the Germans
in his abilities as a commander.
into the war on the Entente
side, Arz was reassigned for 6th corps and appointed to command the newly reorganised 1st Army on 16 August 1916. Arriving at Klausenburg where forces were being marshalled to repel an expected Romanian advance into Transylvania, he stated "I am an Army Commander without an Army". Indeed on the Romanian declaration of war on August 27, the 1st 'Army' comprised a mere 10,000 men (half a division). A slow Rumanian advance combined with hysterical outcry from Budapest
led to the 1st Army being considerably and rapidly strengthened to drive back the challenge from the south.
Romanian forces crossed the frontier on 28 August 1916 with six separate forces pushing through the six Carpathian
passes to converge on Braşov
. They succeeded in pushing nearly as far as Sepsiszentgyörgy
in the Szekler lands by 4 September. In order to fend off these six separate invasions, Arz, now fighting on home turf, ordered the 71st Infantry Division and 141st & 142nd Brigades to the sector. Simultaneously, the Romanian North Army sought to advance along the entire Moldavia
n front in the Eastern Carpathians, though in fact this amounted to an advance in the northern sector where the Russian
9th Army was best placed to aid the advance. To counter this strike Arz deployed the 16th, 19th and elements of the 61st divisions.
In cooperation with the German 9th Army
the Romanian invasion was repelled and their forces were thrown back across the border within eight weeks, leading to Arz receiving the respect and appreciation of the new Kaiser, Karl I. Other commanders also hailed his achievements during the campaign with Conrad writing he "has proved to be an energetic resolute leader in the most difficult situations..." and Boroević stating Arz was an "Honourable, noble character....outstanding general.."
Arz was to remain in charge of the 1st Army until February 1917, after major operations in Romania ended, with help from the Falkenhayn's
9th German Army and the German Army of the Danube under Mackensen.
succeeded the Franz Joseph as Emperor on November 21, 1916, bringing with him a wave of change across the upper-echelons of the government and military command. One causualty of these changes was Conrad with Karl reported to 'not want a genius to command his armies' but, following on the from the experience of the supremely gifted but often unsuccessful Conrad, rather someone who was just capable. Arz was acquainted to the emperor as not only a capable commander of troops but also possessed a concilatory manner which did not led the Emperor to think he was being patronised during discussions on military matters as was the case with other commanders. Arz also, unlike Conrad, was not overtly political, was wholly committed to the Central Powers
and had full faith in the Emperor.
Arz made every effort to meet his Emperor's wishes once appointed in March 1917, but unlike his predecessor, Arz acted as personal advisor to the Emperor on army matters rather than as a driver of his own strategy as had been Conrad's hallmark. His tenure at the head of the army saw increasing German
control over Austro-Hungarian forces
and reduced independence of action, but also a number of notable victories in the spring and summer of 1917, including the clearing of Galicia and the Bukovina
, as well as the breakthrough at Flitsch Tolmein and the great victory at Caporetto
later in the year.
Promoted to the rank of Generaloberst
on 26 February 1918 and raised to the nobility
in early the same year, Arz was ultimately responsible for planning the invasion of Italy
which was to take place during the summer of 1918 with Russia now knocked out of the war and considerable veteran forces at his disposal. Whilst planning was underway both Conrad and Boroević demanded to lead the offensive and Arz nor the AOK were able to make a decisive decision and instead adopted the compromise suggested by the Emperor to divide forces and attack Italian positions on the front from two different directions, resulting in utter failure of the offensive at the Piave River
in June 1918.
Arz offered his resignation and took full responsibility for failure of the massive invasion of Italy, which the Emperor refused to accept. By late October 1918 he could see ultimate defeat for Imperial forces was inevitable and had drawn up plans for an orderly troop withdrawal in the event of an armistice so as to prevent unnecessary further bloodshed. An armistice with Italy was concluded on 3 November 1918 and was to come into effect 36 hours later, during which time thousands of Imperial troops were captured whilst believing themselves to be at peace due to poor communication from Army High Command.
Not wanting responsibility for handling the armistice, Arz declined the appointment, and Kövess
took up appointment as commander-in-chief instead. Arz however undertook the position de facto until Field Marshal Kövess could take up his office.
After the collapse Arz lived in Vienna. With Transylvania and the Bukovina awarded to Romania
after the war, he refused to return to his home in a country which he had played a significant role in the defeat of only a few years before. Technically a Hungarian citizen, although an ethnic German
, he was initially denied a pension
from the Hungarian government
and lived in near poverty surviving on stipends from a support fund organized by former officer comrades to help officers in such situations. In 1926 Hungary granted a pension on condition that it be personally collected from Budapest
at all times. During this time Arz wrote of his experiences during the war which, unlike many of his contemporaries, contained no element of self-justification or political statement.
During a stay in Budapest in order to collect his pension Arthur Baron Arz von Straussenburg suffered an heart attack and died on July 1, 1935. He was buried with the highest military honours at the Kerepester cemetery in Budapest.
Colonel General
Colonel General is a senior rank of General. North Korea and Russia are two countries which have used the rank extensively throughout their histories...
and last Chief of General Staff to the Austro-Hungarian Army
Austro-Hungarian Army
The Austro-Hungarian Army was the ground force of the Austro-Hungarian Dual Monarchy from 1867 to 1918. It was composed of three parts: the joint army , the Austrian Landwehr , and the Hungarian Honvédség .In the wake of fighting between the...
.
Early life
Born among the ancient SaxonTransylvanian Saxons
The Transylvanian Saxons are a people of German ethnicity who settled in Transylvania from the 12th century onwards.The colonization of Transylvania by Germans was begun by King Géza II of Hungary . For decades, the main task of the German settlers was to defend the southeastern border of the...
settlers of east Transylvania
Transylvania
Transylvania is a historical region in the central part of Romania. Bounded on the east and south by the Carpathian mountain range, historical Transylvania extended in the west to the Apuseni Mountains; however, the term sometimes encompasses not only Transylvania proper, but also the historical...
, Arz was the product of a noble "Seven Mountains" family. His father, Albert Arz von Straussenburg served as an evangelical
Evangelicalism
Evangelicalism is a Protestant Christian movement which began in Great Britain in the 1730s and gained popularity in the United States during the series of Great Awakenings of the 18th and 19th century.Its key commitments are:...
preacher and curate as well as a member of the House of Magnates. Schooled in Dresden
Dresden
Dresden is the capital city of the Free State of Saxony in Germany. It is situated in a valley on the River Elbe, near the Czech border. The Dresden conurbation is part of the Saxon Triangle metropolitan area....
and Sibiu
Sibiu
Sibiu is a city in Transylvania, Romania with a population of 154,548. Located some 282 km north-west of Bucharest, the city straddles the Cibin River, a tributary of the river Olt...
, Arz graduated "with great achievement", and went on to read law
Law
Law is a system of rules and guidelines which are enforced through social institutions to govern behavior, wherever possible. It shapes politics, economics and society in numerous ways and serves as a social mediator of relations between people. Contract law regulates everything from buying a bus...
at university during which time he volunteered for one years service in a Hungarian Feldjäger battalion during 1876–1877.
Early career
Having successfully completed a year's military service, Arz sat, and passed, the reserve officers examination and went on to apply for and successfully obtain a commission as a regular officer. In 1878 he received a commission with the rank of LeutnantArmy ranks and insignia of the Austro-Hungarian Army
Rank insignias as worn by the Austro-Hungarian Land Forces after the reorganisation in 1867 until 1918-Ranks:-Note:The ranks displayed after the "/" are the Hungarian equivalents of the Austrian ranks, since they were used in this format in the Magyar Királyi Honvédség .- Ranks and rank insignias...
.
Army ranks and insignia of the Austro-Hungarian Army
Rank insignias as worn by the Austro-Hungarian Land Forces after the reorganisation in 1867 until 1918-Ranks:-Note:The ranks displayed after the "/" are the Hungarian equivalents of the Austrian ranks, since they were used in this format in the Magyar Királyi Honvédség .- Ranks and rank insignias...
, he attended the Imperial Kriegschule
Military academy
A military academy or service academy is an educational institution which prepares candidates for service in the officer corps of the army, the navy, air force or coast guard, which normally provides education in a service environment, the exact definition depending on the country concerned.Three...
in Vienna
Vienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
1885–1887, which saw him again excel and appointment to the General Staff
General Staff
A military staff, often referred to as General Staff, Army Staff, Navy Staff or Air Staff within the individual services, is a group of officers and enlisted personnel that provides a bi-directional flow of information between a commanding officer and subordinate military units...
in 1888. Promoted to Hauptmann
Army ranks and insignia of the Austro-Hungarian Army
Rank insignias as worn by the Austro-Hungarian Land Forces after the reorganisation in 1867 until 1918-Ranks:-Note:The ranks displayed after the "/" are the Hungarian equivalents of the Austrian ranks, since they were used in this format in the Magyar Királyi Honvédség .- Ranks and rank insignias...
, and assigned to a corps
Corps
A corps is either a large formation, or an administrative grouping of troops within an armed force with a common function such as Artillery or Signals representing an arm of service...
staff, Arz was made Adjutant to Feldzeugmeister
Feldzeugmeister
Feldzeugmeister was a military rank in various European armies , especially in the artillery. It was commonly used in the 16th or 17th century, but could even be found in the beginning of the 20th century in some European countries...
Baron Schönfelda and then oncemore to the General Staff in 1898 where he was to remain with a few exceptions until 1908.
Already having been promoted to the rank of Major
Army ranks and insignia of the Austro-Hungarian Army
Rank insignias as worn by the Austro-Hungarian Land Forces after the reorganisation in 1867 until 1918-Ranks:-Note:The ranks displayed after the "/" are the Hungarian equivalents of the Austrian ranks, since they were used in this format in the Magyar Királyi Honvédség .- Ranks and rank insignias...
, Arz was appointed Oberstleutnant
Army ranks and insignia of the Austro-Hungarian Army
Rank insignias as worn by the Austro-Hungarian Land Forces after the reorganisation in 1867 until 1918-Ranks:-Note:The ranks displayed after the "/" are the Hungarian equivalents of the Austrian ranks, since they were used in this format in the Magyar Királyi Honvédség .- Ranks and rank insignias...
and attached to the 2nd Corps, commanded by Archduke Eugen
Archduke Eugen of Austria
Archduke Eugen Ferdinand Pius Bernhard Felix Maria of Austria-Teschen was an Archduke of Austria and a Prince of Hungary and Bohemia...
, following his assignment to the General Staff. Promotion to Oberst
Oberst
Oberst is a military rank in several German-speaking and Scandinavian countries, equivalent to Colonel. It is currently used by both the ground and air forces of Austria, Germany, Switzerland, Denmark and Norway. The Swedish rank överste is a direct translation, as are the Finnish rank eversti...
on 1 May 1902 saw him appointed to the management bureau of the General Staff, a department which he was appointed head of in May 1903. In 1903 he also married a Hungarian noblewoman
Nobility and royalty of the Kingdom of Hungary
This article deals with titles of the nobility and royalty of the Kingdom of Hungary.-Earlier usage :Before the accession of the Habsburgs, the nobility was structured according to the offices held in the administration of the Kingdom...
, Stefanie Tomka von Tomkahaza und Falkusfalva, with whom he had a daughter.
In 1908 Arz was once again promoted, this time to the rank of Generalmajor
Army ranks and insignia of the Austro-Hungarian Army
Rank insignias as worn by the Austro-Hungarian Land Forces after the reorganisation in 1867 until 1918-Ranks:-Note:The ranks displayed after the "/" are the Hungarian equivalents of the Austrian ranks, since they were used in this format in the Magyar Királyi Honvédség .- Ranks and rank insignias...
following which he received command of the 61st infantry brigade
Brigade
A brigade is a major tactical military formation that is typically composed of two to five battalions, plus supporting elements depending on the era and nationality of a given army and could be perceived as an enlarged/reinforced regiment...
. Having been steadily promoted and seen as a promising and competent officer, he received an "outstanding evaluation" from his old commander Erzherzog Eugen during 1911's fall manouvres. 1912 saw him promoted to command a division
Division (military)
A division is a large military unit or formation usually consisting of between 10,000 and 20,000 soldiers. In most armies, a division is composed of several regiments or brigades, and in turn several divisions typically make up a corps...
– the 15th infantry at Miskolc
Miskolc
Miskolc is a city in northeastern Hungary, mainly with heavy industrial background. With a population close to 170,000 Miskolc is the fourth largest city of Hungary It is also the county capital of Borsod-Abaúj-Zemplén and the regional centre of Northern Hungary.- Geography :Miskolc is located...
. Soon afterwar Arz attained the rank of Feldmarschall-Leutnant
Army ranks and insignia of the Austro-Hungarian Army
Rank insignias as worn by the Austro-Hungarian Land Forces after the reorganisation in 1867 until 1918-Ranks:-Note:The ranks displayed after the "/" are the Hungarian equivalents of the Austrian ranks, since they were used in this format in the Magyar Királyi Honvédség .- Ranks and rank insignias...
and in 1913 was reassigned to the war ministry in Vienna to head up a section.
The opening
At war's break in Summer 1914, von Straussenburg requested a transfer to a field assignment and was again given command of the 15th infantry which participated in the closing stages of KomarówBattle of Komarów (1914)
The Battle of Komarow was a battle on the Eastern Front during World War I. It would prove a victory for the Austro-Hungarian forces, but one they would not be able to reproduce in the coming months of the war.- Background :The prewar planning for a joint Austro-German war with Russia entailed an...
. Almost immediately thereafter, on 7 September, Arz was given command of the 6th corps, taking over from Boroević
Svetozar Boroevic
Svetozar Boroević von Bojna was an Austro-Hungarian field marshal who was described as one of the finest defensive strategists of the First World War....
. In charge of the 6th corps he performed outstandingly and with great energy at Limanowa-Lapanów
Battle of Limanowa
The Battle of Limanowa took place from December 1 and December 13, 1914, between the Austro-Hungarian Army and the Russian Army near the town of Limanowa ....
where his unit formed part of the fourth army. At Gorlice-Tarnów
Gorlice-Tarnów Offensive
The Gorlice–Tarnów Offensive during World War I started as a minor German offensive to relieve Russian pressure on the Austro-Hungarians to their south on the Eastern Front, but resulted in the total collapse of the Russian lines and their retreat far into Russia...
he was gain to pay an outstanding role and was in command again at Grodek-Magierow and Brest-litowsk
Brest Fortress
Brest Fortress , formerly known as Brest-Litovsk Fortress , is a 19th century Russian fortress in Brest, Belarus. It is one of the most important Soviet World War II war monuments commemorating the Soviet resistance against the German invasion on June 22, 1941...
during the summer of 1915. In September 1915 he was promoted to the rank of General der Infanterie
Army ranks and insignia of the Austro-Hungarian Army
Rank insignias as worn by the Austro-Hungarian Land Forces after the reorganisation in 1867 until 1918-Ranks:-Note:The ranks displayed after the "/" are the Hungarian equivalents of the Austrian ranks, since they were used in this format in the Magyar Királyi Honvédség .- Ranks and rank insignias...
, and having fought alongside Mackensen
August von Mackensen
Anton Ludwig August von Mackensen , born August Mackensen, was a German soldier and field marshal. He commanded with success during the First World War and became one of the German Empire's most prominent military leaders. After the Armistice, Mackensen was interned for a year...
's 11th army he gained the respect of the Germans
German Empire
The German Empire refers to Germany during the "Second Reich" period from the unification of Germany and proclamation of Wilhelm I as German Emperor on 18 January 1871, to 1918, when it became a federal republic after defeat in World War I and the abdication of the Emperor, Wilhelm II.The German...
in his abilities as a commander.
The Romanian Campaign
With the threatened entry of RomaniaKingdom of Romania
The Kingdom of Romania was the Romanian state based on a form of parliamentary monarchy between 13 March 1881 and 30 December 1947, specified by the first three Constitutions of Romania...
into the war on the Entente
Allies of World War I
The Entente Powers were the countries at war with the Central Powers during World War I. The members of the Triple Entente were the United Kingdom, France, and the Russian Empire; Italy entered the war on their side in 1915...
side, Arz was reassigned for 6th corps and appointed to command the newly reorganised 1st Army on 16 August 1916. Arriving at Klausenburg where forces were being marshalled to repel an expected Romanian advance into Transylvania, he stated "I am an Army Commander without an Army". Indeed on the Romanian declaration of war on August 27, the 1st 'Army' comprised a mere 10,000 men (half a division). A slow Rumanian advance combined with hysterical outcry from Budapest
Hungary in World War I
At the outbreak of World War I, Hungary was part of the dualist monarchy, Austria-Hungary. Although there are no significant battles connected to Hungarian regiments, the troops fought trustfully and intrepidly, which was one of the causes of high losses....
led to the 1st Army being considerably and rapidly strengthened to drive back the challenge from the south.
Carpathian Mountains
The Carpathian Mountains or Carpathians are a range of mountains forming an arc roughly long across Central and Eastern Europe, making them the second-longest mountain range in Europe...
passes to converge on Braşov
Brasov
Brașov is a city in Romania and the capital of Brașov County.According to the last Romanian census, from 2002, there were 284,596 people living within the city of Brașov, making it the 8th most populated city in Romania....
. They succeeded in pushing nearly as far as Sepsiszentgyörgy
Sfântu Gheorghe
Sfântu Gheorghe is the capital city of Covasna County, Romania. Located in the central part of the country and in the historical region of Transylvania, it lies on the Olt River in a valley between the Baraolt Mountains and Bodoc Mountains...
in the Szekler lands by 4 September. In order to fend off these six separate invasions, Arz, now fighting on home turf, ordered the 71st Infantry Division and 141st & 142nd Brigades to the sector. Simultaneously, the Romanian North Army sought to advance along the entire Moldavia
Moldavia
Moldavia is a geographic and historical region and former principality in Eastern Europe, corresponding to the territory between the Eastern Carpathians and the Dniester river...
n front in the Eastern Carpathians, though in fact this amounted to an advance in the northern sector where the Russian
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...
9th Army was best placed to aid the advance. To counter this strike Arz deployed the 16th, 19th and elements of the 61st divisions.
In cooperation with the German 9th Army
German Army (German Empire)
The German Army was the name given the combined land forces of the German Empire, also known as the National Army , Imperial Army or Imperial German Army. The term "Deutsches Heer" is also used for the modern German Army, the land component of the German Bundeswehr...
the Romanian invasion was repelled and their forces were thrown back across the border within eight weeks, leading to Arz receiving the respect and appreciation of the new Kaiser, Karl I. Other commanders also hailed his achievements during the campaign with Conrad writing he "has proved to be an energetic resolute leader in the most difficult situations..." and Boroević stating Arz was an "Honourable, noble character....outstanding general.."
Arz was to remain in charge of the 1st Army until February 1917, after major operations in Romania ended, with help from the Falkenhayn's
Erich von Falkenhayn
Erich von Falkenhayn was a German soldier and Chief of the General Staff during World War I. He became a military writer after World War I.-Early life:...
9th German Army and the German Army of the Danube under Mackensen.
Chief of General Staff
KarlKarl I of Austria
Charles I of Austria or Charles IV of Hungary was the last ruler of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. He was the last Emperor of Austria, the last King of Hungary, the last King of Bohemia and Croatia and the last King of Galicia and Lodomeria and the last monarch of the House of Habsburg-Lorraine...
succeeded the Franz Joseph as Emperor on November 21, 1916, bringing with him a wave of change across the upper-echelons of the government and military command. One causualty of these changes was Conrad with Karl reported to 'not want a genius to command his armies' but, following on the from the experience of the supremely gifted but often unsuccessful Conrad, rather someone who was just capable. Arz was acquainted to the emperor as not only a capable commander of troops but also possessed a concilatory manner which did not led the Emperor to think he was being patronised during discussions on military matters as was the case with other commanders. Arz also, unlike Conrad, was not overtly political, was wholly committed to the Central Powers
Central Powers
The Central Powers were one of the two warring factions in World War I , composed of the German Empire, the Austro-Hungarian Empire, the Ottoman Empire, and the Kingdom of Bulgaria...
and had full faith in the Emperor.
Arz made every effort to meet his Emperor's wishes once appointed in March 1917, but unlike his predecessor, Arz acted as personal advisor to the Emperor on army matters rather than as a driver of his own strategy as had been Conrad's hallmark. His tenure at the head of the army saw increasing German
German Empire
The German Empire refers to Germany during the "Second Reich" period from the unification of Germany and proclamation of Wilhelm I as German Emperor on 18 January 1871, to 1918, when it became a federal republic after defeat in World War I and the abdication of the Emperor, Wilhelm II.The German...
control over Austro-Hungarian forces
Military of Austria-Hungary
The Military of Austria-Hungary, comprising the Armed Forces, War Office, and intelligence organisations of the Dual Monarchy served as one of the Empire's core unifying institutions and primary instruments for defense as well as external power projection...
and reduced independence of action, but also a number of notable victories in the spring and summer of 1917, including the clearing of Galicia and the Bukovina
Bukovina
Bukovina is a historical region on the northern slopes of the northeastern Carpathian Mountains and the adjoining plains.-Name:The name Bukovina came into official use in 1775 with the region's annexation from the Principality of Moldavia to the possessions of the Habsburg Monarchy, which became...
, as well as the breakthrough at Flitsch Tolmein and the great victory at Caporetto
Battle of Caporetto
The Battle of Caporetto , took place from 24 October to 19 November 1917, near the town of Kobarid , on the Austro-Italian front of World War I...
later in the year.
Army ranks and insignia of the Austro-Hungarian Army
Rank insignias as worn by the Austro-Hungarian Land Forces after the reorganisation in 1867 until 1918-Ranks:-Note:The ranks displayed after the "/" are the Hungarian equivalents of the Austrian ranks, since they were used in this format in the Magyar Királyi Honvédség .- Ranks and rank insignias...
on 26 February 1918 and raised to the nobility
Austrian nobility
Historically, the Austrian nobility was a privileged social class in Austria. The nobility was officially abolished in 1919 after the fall of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Former noble families and their descendants are still a part of Austrian society today, but they no longer retain any specific...
in early the same year, Arz was ultimately responsible for planning the invasion of Italy
Kingdom of Italy (1861–1946)
The Kingdom of Italy was a state forged in 1861 by the unification of Italy under the influence of the Kingdom of Sardinia, which was its legal predecessor state...
which was to take place during the summer of 1918 with Russia now knocked out of the war and considerable veteran forces at his disposal. Whilst planning was underway both Conrad and Boroević demanded to lead the offensive and Arz nor the AOK were able to make a decisive decision and instead adopted the compromise suggested by the Emperor to divide forces and attack Italian positions on the front from two different directions, resulting in utter failure of the offensive at the Piave River
Battle of the Piave River
The Battle of the Piave River , known in Italy as Battaglia del Solstizio , Battaglia di Mezzo Giugno , or Seconda Battaglia del Piave , was a decisive victory for the Italian Army during World War...
in June 1918.
Arz offered his resignation and took full responsibility for failure of the massive invasion of Italy, which the Emperor refused to accept. By late October 1918 he could see ultimate defeat for Imperial forces was inevitable and had drawn up plans for an orderly troop withdrawal in the event of an armistice so as to prevent unnecessary further bloodshed. An armistice with Italy was concluded on 3 November 1918 and was to come into effect 36 hours later, during which time thousands of Imperial troops were captured whilst believing themselves to be at peace due to poor communication from Army High Command.
End of the war
During the night of the 2–3 November 1918, Karl relinquished command of the armed forces and in a handwritten note which can still be found in the Vienna war archives, wrote:Not wanting responsibility for handling the armistice, Arz declined the appointment, and Kövess
Hermann Kövess von Kövessháza
Hermann Kövess von Kövessháza was the final, and completely ceremonial, Commander-in-Chief of Austria-Hungary...
took up appointment as commander-in-chief instead. Arz however undertook the position de facto until Field Marshal Kövess could take up his office.
After the war
Greater Romania
The Greater Romania generally refers to the territory of Romania in the years between the First World War and the Second World War, the largest geographical extent of Romania up to that time and its largest peacetime extent ever ; more precisely, it refers to the territory of the Kingdom of...
after the war, he refused to return to his home in a country which he had played a significant role in the defeat of only a few years before. Technically a Hungarian citizen, although an ethnic German
Ethnic German
Ethnic Germans historically also ), also collectively referred to as the German diaspora, refers to people who are of German ethnicity. Many are not born in Europe or in the modern-day state of Germany or hold German citizenship...
, he was initially denied a pension
Pension
In general, a pension is an arrangement to provide people with an income when they are no longer earning a regular income from employment. Pensions should not be confused with severance pay; the former is paid in regular installments, while the latter is paid in one lump sum.The terms retirement...
from the Hungarian government
Hungary between the two world wars
This article is about the history of Hungary from October 1918 to November 1940.-Hungarian Democratic Republic:On October 31, 1918, the Hungarian Democratic Republic was created by revolution that started in Budapest after the dissolution and break-up of Austria-Hungary at the end of World War I...
and lived in near poverty surviving on stipends from a support fund organized by former officer comrades to help officers in such situations. In 1926 Hungary granted a pension on condition that it be personally collected from Budapest
Budapest
Budapest is the capital of Hungary. As the largest city of Hungary, it is the country's principal political, cultural, commercial, industrial, and transportation centre. In 2011, Budapest had 1,733,685 inhabitants, down from its 1989 peak of 2,113,645 due to suburbanization. The Budapest Commuter...
at all times. During this time Arz wrote of his experiences during the war which, unlike many of his contemporaries, contained no element of self-justification or political statement.
During a stay in Budapest in order to collect his pension Arthur Baron Arz von Straussenburg suffered an heart attack and died on July 1, 1935. He was buried with the highest military honours at the Kerepester cemetery in Budapest.
Service record
- May 1902 – Promoted to Oberst
- May 1903 – Chairman of the Management Bureau until November 1908
- November 1908 – Promoted to Generalmajor
- November 1908 – Commands 61. Infantry Brigade until April 1912
- April 1912 – Commands 15. Infantry Division until April 1913
- May 1912 – Promoted to Feldmarschalleutnant
- April 1913 – Section chief of all military Depts in the War Min. until September 1914
- September 1914 – Commands 15. Infantry Division until end of the month
- September 1914 – Commands VI. Corps until August 1916
- September 1915 – Promoted to General der Infanterie
- August 1916 – Commands I. Army until February 1917
- March 1917 – Chief of the General Staff until November 1918
- February 1918 – Promoted to Generaloberst
Awards
- Arz received a number of awards from the Habsburg MonarchyHabsburg MonarchyThe Habsburg Monarchy covered the territories ruled by the junior Austrian branch of the House of Habsburg , and then by the successor House of Habsburg-Lorraine , between 1526 and 1867/1918. The Imperial capital was Vienna, except from 1583 to 1611, when it was moved to Prague...
, including, most importantly, appointment to the grade of Commander of the Military Order of Maria TheresaMilitary Order of Maria TheresaThe Military Order of Maria Theresa was an Order of the Austro-Hungarian Empire founded on June 18, 1757, the day of the Battle of Kolin, by the Empress...
.
Works
- von Straussenburg, A. Arz, (1924) "The history of the great war 1914–1918", Vienna
- von Straussenburg, A. Arz, (1935) "Fight and fall of the empires", Vienna & Leipzig
Sources
- Pope, S. & Wheal, E. (1997) "The Macmillan Dictionary of the First World War" Macmillan : London
- Austro-Hungarian Army - Generaloberst Arthur Freiherr Arz von Straussenburg at www.austro-hungarian-army.co.uk
External links
- First World War.com – Who's Who – Arz von Straußenberg at www.firstworldwar.com