Militär Maria-Theresien-Orden 1914-1918

Knights' Cross awarded to General der Cavallerie Ladislaus Graf Szápáry in 1879. Photograph courtesy of Freddy von Reibnitz.Probably the most prestigious and eagerly sought military decoration that the Austro-Hungarian monarchy could bestow was the military order of Maria Theresia. The order was founded on the 22nd June 1757 by the Empress Maria Theresa to reward especially meritorious and valorous acts by commissioned officers. The order could be awarded in three grades: The grand cross, the commanders' cross and lastly the knights' cross. The grand cross holder was distinguished by a breast order and a shoulder sash on more formal occasions. The commanders' cross was a neck decoration and the "Ritterkreuz" could be worn on the left breast suspended by the traditional Austrian triangular ribbon or as was quite usual during the First World War with the ribbon being attached internally to the second button of the tunic and worn suspended in that fashion. A grand total of 131 awards of the Military Maria Theresa Order were bestowed on officers for their service in the First World War. The awards were officially presented at a ceremony known as a "Promotion". These ceremonies had been numbered consecutively since the1st Promotion on the 7th March 1758. During the war Promotions Number 171 on the 27th August 1914 to Promotion Number 185 on the 2nd October 1918 took place. A further ten Promotions were enacted after the war following the recommendations of  the Chapter of the Order in which the deeds of deserving officers had been examined. The last of these was on the 3rd October 1931. The award could be awarded posthumously as in the case of a retrospective award of the Knights' Cross to Feldmarschall Boroević von Bojna on the195th Promotion on the 3rd October 1931.  The following grades of the order were bestowed in this period:

 

 
Großkreuze: 11 including 7 foreign heads of state and senior officers
Kommandeurkreuze: 10 including 1 foreign general officer (Prussian Generaloberst Helmuth Graf von Moltke)
Ritterkreuze: 110
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MMThO Grand Cross from the Enzo Calabresi collection. Click to enlarge
Grand Cross Commanders' Cross

The detailed listing of awardees is as follows:

Großkreuze

Kaiser und König Karl as FML. and commanding General XIV.Korps

174: 17 Jan 1917

Erzherzog Friedrich as FM. and army commander 172: 25 Nov 1916
FM. Graf Franz Conrad von Hötzendorf as chief of army staff 175: 01 Mar 1917
Erzherzog Eugen as FM. and commander of an army front 173: 15 Jan 1917
Kaiser Wilhelm II., German Emperor and King of Prussia 171: 27 Aug 1914
Tsar Ferdinand of Bulgaria 177: 07 Jun 1917
King Ludwig III. of Bavaria 178: 30 Jun 1917
King Friedrich August of Saxony 182: 28 Nov 1917
GFM. Prinz Leopold of Bavaria 183: 26 Mar 1918
GFM. Paul von Beneckendorf und Hindenburg 183: 26 Mar 1918
GFM. August von Mackensen 183: 26 Mar 1918

 

Click to enlarge
The Grand Cross as worn with the Sash of the order. From the Enzo Calabresi Collection.

Kommandeurkreuze

Großadmiral Anton Haus as naval commander in chief

181: 27 Oct 1917

Generaloberst Viktor Graf Dankl von Krasnik 180: 17 Aug 1917
Generaloberst Karl Freiherr von Pflanzer-Baltin as commander 7.Armee 185: 02 Oct 1918
GdI. Arthur Baron Arz von Straussenburg 180: 17 Aug 1917
FM. Hermann Köveß von Köveßháza 180: 17 Aug 1917
FM. Erzherzog Josef 180: 17 Aug 1917
FM. Svetozar Boroević von Bojna 176: 02 Jun 1917
FM. Eduard Freiherr von Böhm-Ermolli 179: 28 Jul 1917
GdK. Alois Fürst Schönburg-Hartenstein 193: 25 Oct 1927
Generaloberst Helmuth Graf von Moltke 171: 27 Aug 1914

Ritterkreuze (Alphabetical Order)

Oberleutnant Georg Ambrózy von Sedan Husaren-Regiment 7 194: 21 Dec 1929
General der Infanterie Michael Ludwig Edler von Appel  Kommandant XV. Korps 193: 25 Oct 1927
Linienschiffsleutnant Gottfried Banfield Kommandant Seeflugstation Triest 180: 17 Aug 1917
Oberst Dr. jur. Carl Bardolff Kommandant 29.IBrig. 184: 17 Aug 1918
Rittmeister Gottfried Barton Kommandant reit.SchD. II/6 189: 27 Jun 1922
Major Josef Baumann von Koryto Kommandant FJB.21 187: 10 Jun 1921
Leutnant Árpád Bertalan Honvéd -IR.4 193: 25 Oct 1927
Oberst Johann Boeriu Kommandant IR.76 184: 17 Aug 1918
General der Infanterie Svetozar Boroević von Bojna Kommandant VI. Korps 195: 03 Oct 1931
Oberleutnant Wilhelm Ritter Cavallar von Grabensprung IR.92 184: 17 Aug 1918
Leutnant in der Reserve Arthur Cumin IR.67 180: 17 Aug 1917
Generalmajor Blasius Dáni von Gyarmata Kommandant 62.IBrig. 184: 18 Aug 1918
Oberleutnant Georg Dragičević FsAR.1 186: 07 Mar 1921
Oberst Quirin Freiherr Duval de Dampierre Kommandant DR.11 187: 10 Jun 1921
Oberst im Geniestabe Otto Ritter Ellison von Nidlef Geniestab (Engineer Staff) 180: 17 Aug 1917
Oberleutnant in der Reserve Alfred Enrich KSchR.I 187: 10 Jun 1921
Hauptmann Emil Fey IR.4 190: 16 Dec 1922
Gendarmerie-Oberstleutnant Eduard Fischer Landesgendarmeriekommandant 193: 25 Oct 1927
Oberleutnant Johann Fousek IR.102 186: 07 Mar 1921
Oberleutnant Friedrich Franek IR.63 187: 10 Jun 1921
Oberleutnant Franz Freudenseher LIR.34 191: 21 Apr 1924
Oberleutnant Gojkomir Glogovac bh.IR.2 180: 17 Aug 1917
Feldmarschalleutnant Ludwig Goiginger Kommandant XXIV. Korps 192: 11 Dec 1925
Feldmarschalleutnant Anton Goldbach Edler von Sulittaborn Kommandant 71.ID. 189: 27 Jun 1922
Oberstleutnant Johann Haas von Haagenfels Kommandant FJB.21 184: 17 Aug 1918
Oberleutnant Géza Heim IR.46 180: 17 Aug 1917
Oberleutnant in der Reserve Georg Hoffmann SB.13 188: 12 Oct 1921
Major Oskar Hofmann Kommandant II./FKnR.1 192: 11 Dec 1925
Feldmarschalleutnant Peter Hofmann Kommandant Gruppe Hofmann 180: 17 Aug 1917
Linienschiffskapitän Nikolaus Horthy von Nagybänya Kommandant S.M.S. Novarra 186: 07 Mar 1921
Oberstleutnant Imre Horväth Honvéd -IR.11 188: 12 Oct 1921
Oberst Eduard Hospodarž Kommandant IR.8 180: 17 Aug 1917
Hauptmann Stefan Inselt von Gölle Kommandant III./IR.38 194: 21 Dec 1929
Hauptmann Johann Iskrić LstB. V/4 187: 10 June 1921
Oberst des Artilleriestabes Josef Janečka Artilleriestab (Artillery Staff) 180: 17 Aug 1917
Oberst Gotthard Janky von Bulcs Kommandant Husaren-Regiment 4 189: 27 Jun 1922

Generalmajor Thaddäus Ritter Jordan-Rozwadowski 

von Groß-Rozwadów

Artillerie Brigadier 12.ID. 184: 17 Aug 1918
Oberleutnant Hermann Kirchner IR.42 190: 16 Dec 1922
Major Koloman von Klempa Kommandant I./IR.26 187: 10 Jun 1927
Oberst Karl Kratochvil von Szent Kereszthegy Kommandant 81.HIBrig. 194: 21 Dec 1929
Hauptmann des Generalstabskorps Friedrich Krömer 11.GebBrig. 187: 10 Jun 1921
General der Infanterie Hermann Kusmanek von Burgneustädten Kommandant Przemyśl 186: 07 Mar 1921
Leutnant Zoltán Laczhegyi IR.101 185: 02 Oct 1918
Oberst des Generalstabskorps Wladimir Laxa Kommandant 18.IBrig. 188: 10 Dec 1921
Major Anton Lehár Hung.-LstIR.13 184: 17 Aug 1918
Oberleutnant Wilhelm Licka Kommandant Hochgebirgskompanie 194: 21 Dec 1929
Oberstbrigadier Géza Lukachich von Somorja Kommandant 1.GebBrig. 180: 17 Aug 1917
Oberstleutnant Josef Lutschounig IR.74 180: 17 Aug 1917
Oberleutnant Franz Matheis IR.23 185: 02 Oct 1918
Oberst Eduard Edler von Merten Kommandant 121.IBrig. 193: 25 Oct 1927
Oberstleutnant Anatol Méttelét Kommandant III/.IR.74 188: 12 Oct 1921
Generalmajor Rudolf Ritter Metz von Spondalunga Kommandant 23.IBrig. 186: 07 Mar 1921
Feldmarschalleutnant Josef Metzger Kommandant 1.ID. 193: 25 Oct 1927
Generalmajor Richard Müller Kommandant 5.IBrig. 186: 07 Mar 1921
Generalmajor Rudolf Müller Kommandant 12.IBrig. 187: 10 Jun 1921
Generalmajor Paul von Nagy Kommandant 73.HIBrig. 184: 17 Aug 1918
Hauptmann Karl Neusser LIR.25 189: 27 Jun 1922
Generalmajor Guido Novak von Arienti Kommandant 1.GebBrig 180: 17 Aug 1917
Leutnant in der Reserve Viktor Oberguggenberger 1.TKJR. 195: 03 Oct 1931
Oberstleutnant Florian Freiherr Pasetti von Friedenburg Kommandant SchR.26 193: 25 Oct 1927
Oberstleutnant Franz Peter Kommandant IV./IR.87 186: 07 Mar 1921
Hauptmann Georg Petrichevich IR.16 188: 12 Oct 1921
Oberstbrigadier Rudolf Pillepić von Lippahora Kommandant 73.HIBrig. 186: 07 Mar 1921
Major Konstantin Popovici IR.39 187: 10 Jun 1921
Leutnant in der Reserve Emil Poppr IR.83 189: 27 Jun 1922
Hauptmann Emil Prochaska IR.78 180: 17 Aug 1917
Major Robert Procházka LschR.II 180: 17 Aug 1917
Oberstleutnant Otto Redlich von Redensbruck Kommandant IR.32 191: 21 Apr 1924
Generalmajor Wilhelm Reinöhl Kommandant 205.LstIBrig. 189: 27 Jun 1922
Oberstbrigadier Ludwig Riedl Kommandant 12.FABrig. 193: 25 Oct 1927
Linienschiffsleutnant Hermann Rigele Kommandant U31 194: 21 Dec 1929
Oberleutnant Karl Rössel FHR.2 185: 02 Oct 1918
Hauptmann Peter Roósz Kommandant IV./IR.61 195: 03 Oct 1931
Feldmarschalleutnant Josef Roth Kommandant XIV. Korps 185: 02 Oct 1918
Oberleutnant Karl Ruziczka IR.13 195: 03 Oct 1931
Generalmajor Georg Schariczer von Rény Kommandant VII. Korps 180: 17 Aug 1917
Leutnant in der Reserve Peter Scheider KSchR.III 195: 03 Oct 1931
Feldmarschalleutnant Josef Schneider Edler von Manns-Au Kommandant 28.ID. 186: 07 Mar 1921
Oberstleutnant Franz Schöbl Kommandant IR.79 184: 17 Aug 1918
Generalmajor Josef Schön Kommandant 57.IBrig. 190: 16 Dec 1922
Oberstleutnant Eugen Seydl Kommandant FJB.7 186: 07 Mar 1921
Linienschiffsleutnant Rudolf Singule Kommandant U4 194: 21 Dec 1929
Oberleutnant Miezislaus Skulski IR.73 187: 10 Jun 1921
Hauptmann Gustav Sonnewend Kommandant LstIBaon IV/39 191: 21 Apr 1924
Oberst Silvio Spieß von Braccioforte Kommandant IR.39 185: 02 Oct 1918
Oberst Stefan Sréter von Szanda Kommandant HIR.17 189: 27 Jun 1922
Hauptmann Andreas Szepessy von Négyes Kommandant II./HIR.30 184: 17 Aug 1918
Major Béla von Szilley Kommandant X./IR.14 187: 10 Jun 1921
Feldmarschalleutnant Alexander Szurmay Kommandant Gruppe Szurmay 180: 17 Aug 1917
Oberleutnant Árpád Taby IR.60 195: 03 Oct 1931
Landsturmoberleutnant Friedrich Tischer LstIR.11 180: 17 Aug 1917
Oberleutnant Friedrich Tomann IR.7 189: 27 Jun 1922
Linienschiffsleutnant Georg Ritter von Trapp Kommandant U5 191: 21 Apr 1924
Feldmarschalleutnant Ignaz Trollmann Kommandant XIX. Korps 180: 17 Aug 1917
Major Josef Troyer Kommandant LIR.4 193: 25 Oct 1927
Oberleutnant Karl Ungár IR.83 184: 17 August 1918
Major Konstantin Valentini Kommandant II./KSchR.3 187: 10 Jun 1921
Major Jakob Vass-Wiblinger Kommandant HIR.39 186: 07 Mar 1921
Hauptmann Gottlieb Vojáček IR.16 187: 10 Jun 1921
Oberstleutnant Josef Wächter Kommandant IR.88 184: 17 Aug 1918
Major Egon Freiherr von Waldstätten Kommandant III./IR.82 190: 16 Dec 1922
Oberleutnant Theodor Wanke IR.102 186: 07 Mar 1921
Feldmarschalleutnant Viktor Weber Edler von Webenau Kommandant 47.ID. 189: 27 Jun 1922
Hauptmann Stanislaus Wieroński Kommandant III./IR.11 189: 27 Jun 1922
Generalmajor Rudolf Ritter von Willerding Kommandant 28.IBrig. 180: 17 Aug 1917
Oberleutnant Alois Windisch IR.14 192: 11 Dec 1925
Linienschiffsleutnant Olaf Richard Wulff Kommandant Monitorgruppe 189: 27 Jun 1922
Feldzeugmeister Wenzel Wurm Kommandant XVI. Korps 180: 17 Aug 1917
Generalmajor Erwin Zeidler Kommandant 58.ID. 180: 17 Aug 1917
Korvettenkapitän im Ruhestand Georg Ritter von Zwierkowski Komdt. Flußminenabteilung Donau* 189: 27 Jun 1922

Of the 131 recipients of this rare order, two men were further distinguished in the Second World War during their service in the German Wehrmacht by the award of the Knights' Cross of the Iron Cross - the later Generalleutnant Friedrich Franek and Generalmajor Alois Windisch. Many of the officers listed above who were decorated in their youth went on to serve in both the Austrian Bundesheer, Hungarian Honvéd (national army) and German Wehrmacht, eventually achieving general officer rank. One officer- Hauptmann Stanislaus Wieroński became a major general and mountain division commander in the Polish army.

*Danube river mine detachment.

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