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Artur GizlBaron, Austro-Hungarian cavalry general.
Date of Birth: 19.06.1857
Country:  Austria |
Content:
- Biography of Arthur Giesl
- Controversy and Scandal
- World War I and Later Life
- Family and Other Accomplishments
Biography of Arthur Giesl
Early Life and Military CareerArthur Giesl was born on October 30, 1912, in Austria-Hungary. He was the son of a general inspector of the gendarmerie and a feldzeugmeister. Giesl attended the Theresian Military Academy in 1875 and later the military school. He graduated and was enlisted in the 2nd Dragoon Regiment. In 1883, he joined the staff of the 25th Infantry Division. From April 26, 1887, he served as an aide-de-camp to the heir to the throne, Archduke Rudolf, becoming one of his closest confidants. In 1891, he became the flugel-adjudant to the emperor. In 1892, he served in the staff of the cavalry division in Lviv. On June 18, 1898, Giesl was appointed the chief of the intelligence bureau of the Military Ministry. From April 20, 1903, he served as the commander of the 10th Infantry Brigade. On January 19, 1904, he became the head of the Theresian Military Academy in Wiener Neustadt. And on April 8, 1910, he was appointed the commander of the 29th Infantry Division in Theresienstadt. On October 1, 1912, Giesl was named the commander of the VIII Army Corps with headquarters in Prague.
Controversy and Scandal
Giesl was involved in a scandal related to the intelligence bureau, when one of its leaders, Colonel Alfred Redl, was exposed as a Russian spy in 1912 (Redl was recruited by Giesl). Archduke Franz Ferdinand demanded Giesl's resignation and even the start of an investigation, but Emperor Franz Joseph I rejected this proposal.
World War I and Later Life
At the start of World War I, Giesl's corps became part of the 5th Army under General L. Frank, which was tasked with operations against Serbia. The corps included the 9th Infantry Division (General V. von Schoenstheil) and the 21st Landwehr Division (Field Marshal Lieutenant Psziborski). In the first offensive against Serbia, Giesl's corps suffered heavy losses, and the 21st Division was practically annihilated. In the second offensive, Giesl again failed, and after another defeat, he was replaced by Schoenstheil. Giesl was then reminded of the Redl case and was retired on January 1, 1919. From 1928, he served as the president of the aristocratic society "Alt Neustadt," which brought together graduates of the Theresian Academy.
Family and Other Accomplishments
Giesl had a brother named Vladimir (born February 18, 1860, in Funfkirchen, Hungary - died April 20, 1936, in Salzburg), who was also a cavalry general (starting from August 15, 1914). Vladimir graduated from the Theresian Military Academy in 1879 and the military school in 1884. He was enlisted in the 2nd Ulan Regiment. From November 26, 1893, he served as a military attaché in Constantinople, and from 1898 to 1903 in Sofia. From November 24, 1906, he was a military attaché to the military commissioner in Turkey and Greece. On December 10, 1909, he was appointed as an ambassador to Cetinje (Montenegro), and on November 13, 1913, to Belgrade. After the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand, Vladimir delivered the Austro-Hungarian ultimatum to the Serbian government and, after the expiration of the ultimatum, demanded credentials and declared that Austria-Hungary was in a state of war with Serbia. He served at the headquarters and was even considered for the position of army commander in 1915.
