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Franz Conrad von HotzendorfAustro-Hungarian Field Marshal
Date of Birth: 11.11.1852
Country:  Austria |
Content:
- Early Life and Education
- Military Career
- Middle Years
- Rise to Prominence
- Chief of the General Staff
- World War I
- Later Years
Early Life and Education
Franz Conrad von Hötzendorf was born on November 25, 1852, in Penzing, a suburb of Vienna. His father was a retired hussar colonel, and his mother was a renowned Viennese actress. Hötzendorf belonged to an aristocratic family from southern Moravia; his great-grandfather had been granted hereditary nobility in 1816, adding "von Hötzendorf" to his surname.
In 1871, Hötzendorf graduated from the elite Theresian Military Academy. He began his military career in the 11th Jäger Battalion.
Military Career
Early YearsFrom 1874 to 1876, Hötzendorf attended the War Academy of the General Staff (Kriegsschule). In 1878, he participated in the occupation of Bosnia and Herzegovina. He continued to serve on the southern border, where he undertook a secret mission to Serbia in 1882.
Middle Years
In 1882, Hötzendorf became a company commander and participated in suppressing an insurgency in southern Dalmatia. From 1883 to 1887, he was Chief of Staff of the 11th Infantry Division in Lviv (Lemberg). From 1888 to 1892, he served as a lecturer in tactics at the War Academy.
Rise to Prominence
In 1892, Hötzendorf returned to active duty as a battalion commander in the 93rd Infantry Regiment. He was subsequently appointed commander of an infantry regiment. In 1903, he became Chief of the 8th Infantry Division in Innsbruck, Tyrol.
Chief of the General Staff
In 1906, with the support of Archduke Franz Ferdinand, Hötzendorf was appointed Chief of the General Staff. In this position, he aggressively pursued the reorganization, rearmament, and strengthening of the Austro-Hungarian army.
World War I
After the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand in 1914, Hötzendorf played a pivotal role in leading Austria-Hungary into World War I. He overestimated the strength of the Austro-Hungarian army and relied heavily on German support.
As Chief of the Field General Staff, Hötzendorf commanded the Austro-Hungarian army during the war. His initial offensive failed at the Battle of Galicia, and responsibility for the defeat was laid at his feet. However, he later engineered the Gorlice-Tarnów Offensive, which temporarily reversed the situation.
Later Years
After the collapse of Austria-Hungary in 1918, Hötzendorf served as chairman of the Theresian Academy alumni association. He retired to study philosophy and religion. He died on August 25, 1925, from a gallbladder disorder and was buried with military honors in Vienna.
