1. Austrian General and War Minister
2. Military Career
3. Commanding Positions
4. Inspector of Military Education and XV Army Corps
5. War Minister
6. Inspector of the Army and World War I
7. Resignation and Dismissal
8. Later Years

Austrian General and War Minister

Early Life and Military Education

Franz Graf Conrad von Hötzendorf was born into a prominent legal family in Troppau, Austria. He attended the prestigious Theresian Military Academy and the Higher War School.

Military Career

In 1871, Conrad joined the Austro-Hungarian Army as a lieutenant in the 28th Infantry Regiment. He later served in the General Staff and participated in the occupation of Bosnia and Herzegovina in 1878.

Commanding Positions

Over the following years, Conrad held various command positions, including Chief of Staff of the 28th Infantry Division, commander of the 96th Infantry Regiment, commander of the 65th Brigade, and commander of the 36th Division.

Inspector of Military Education and XV Army Corps

In 1907, Conrad became Inspector General of Military Education. Two years later, he was appointed commander of the XV Army Corps, quartered in the Sarajevo area.

War Minister

In 1911, Franz Ferdinand von Habsburg appointed Conrad as War Minister. During his tenure, he increased the military budget and focused on developing heavy artillery.

Inspector of the Army and World War I

In 1912, Conrad relinquished the position of War Minister to General Alfred Krautwald and became Inspector of the Army. When World War I broke out in 1914, he commanded the 4th Austrian Army in the opening stages of the Галицийской битве.

Resignation and Dismissal

After the Austrian defeat in the Галицийской битве, Conrad resigned in October 1914. In 1915, he was blamed for Austria-Hungary's lack of preparedness for war and dismissed from the army.

Later Years

Following the war, Conrad authored several military history books.

General