Field Marshals of the Austro-Hungarian Army 1914-1918
The following article provides shortened biographical details for all
those officers who ultimately were promoted to the rank of Field Marshal.
Although traditionally the Kaiser held the rank of Field Marshal no serving
officer had been promoted to that rank since the death of Archduke Albrecht in
1895. The rank was first conferred on Archduke Friedrich on 8th
December 1914. Promotions are detailed from full colonel up. Some of the German
titles are left un-translated in the text and a translation
can be found in the table at the bottom of the page. Similarly a key to the
abbreviations of awards is also appended:
Erzherzog Friedrich k.u.k. Hoheit
* 4.6.1856 in Groß-Seelowitz/Mähren + 30.12.1936
in Ungarisch-Altenburg/Hungary
Promotions: O:23.10.1879, GM: 1.11.1882, FmLt: 1.11.1886, FZM: 1.5.1894, GdI:
14.6.1910, FM: 8.12.1914;
Commands: 27.Inf.Brig IX.1882-VIII.1886, 14.Inf.Div VIII.1886-IX1889, 5.Korps
IX.1889-IV.1905, Armee-Inspector IV.1905-VI.1907, k.k. Landwehr-Oberkommandant
VI.1907-VII.1914, Armee-Oberkommandant VII.1914-XII.1916, Deputy
Armee-Oberkommandant I.1917-XI.1917, at Disposal XI.1917-XI.1918, Per 1
December 1918 retired.
Decorations: GVO-R, MMTO-GK, StO-GK, MVK 1.(KDS) with Diamonds, GMVM(KDS), VSt-RK(KD),
MVK 3. with Diamonds, SMVM, BMVM, D2, MJM98, MJK08; Oberstinhaber IR Nr.52,
Honorary Doctor of Philosophy at the University of Lemberg, of the Vienna
Institute of Technical Science and the Vienna Institute for Soil Cultivation;
Erzherzog Eugen k.u.k. Hoheit
* 11.5.1863 in Groß-Seelowitz/Moravia + 30.12.1954
in Meran
Promotions: O: 1.5.1890, GM: 28.10.1893, FmLt: 1.5.1896, GdK: 27.4.1901, GO: 22.5.1915,
FM: 23.11.1916;
Commands:
9.InfBrig X.1893-II.1896, 25.InfDiv II.1896-IV.1900,
14.Korps IV.1900-X.1908, Armee-Inspektor X.1908-VI.1912, retired from active
service VI.1912-XII.1914, 5.Armee XII.1914-V.1915, CinC of Balkan Forces
XII.1914-V.1915, CinC Southwest Front V.1915-III.1916, Heeresgruppe Erzherzog
Eugen III.1916-III.1917, CinC Southwest Front III.1917-I.1918, from January 1918
relieved from active duty, Per 1 December 1918 retired.
Decorations: GVO-R, MMTO-GK, StO-GK, MVK 1.(KDS) in Brillanten, GMVM(KDS), VSt-RK(KD),
MVK 3with Diamonds, SMVM(KDS), BMVM(KDS), SMVM, BMVM, D3, MJM98, MJK08, last
secular Hoch- und Deutschmeister, Oberstinhaber IR Nr.4 and Nr.41, Honorary
Doctor of Law and Political Science at the University of Zagreb, of Medicine and
Philosophy at the University of Innsbruck and the Vienna Institute for Soil
Cultivation, Curator of the Imperial. Academy of Science in Wien, Patron of the
k.u.k. Central Commission for the preservation of monuments, of the
Vienna society of the friends of music, the international foundation „Mozarteum“
in Salzburg and the Innsbruck music association.;
Conrad von Hötzendorf Franz Graf
* 11.11.1852 in Wien-Penzing + 25.8.1925 in Bad
Mergenburg/Württemberg
Promotions: O: 1.5.1893, GM: 1.5.1899, FmLt: 1.11.1903, FZM: 1.11.1908, GdI:
15.11.1908, GO: 23.6.1915, FM: 23.11.1916;
Commands: InfRgt1 IV.1895-IV.1899, 55.InfBrig IV.1899-IX.1903, 8.InfDiv
IX.1903-XI.1906, Armee-Inspektor XII.1911-XII.1912, Chief of the General Staff
XII.1912-III.1917, Heeresgruppe Conrad III.1917-VII.1918, Colonel commanding all
Lifeguards VII-XI.1918;
Decorations: MMTO-GK, MVK 1.(KDS), LO-GK(KDS), EKO-R1(KDS), GMVM(KDS) with bar,
VSt-RK(KD), MVK 3.(KDS), SMVM(KDS), BMVM(KDS), KM, D2, MJM98, MJK08; Geheimer
Rat, Life time member of the Austrian House of Lords, Oberstinhaber IR Nr.39,
Chancellor of the Military Order of Maria Theresa, Honorary Doctor of Law at the
University of Czernowitz and of Medicine at the University of Innsbruck, of
Philosophy at the German University in Prague, of Technical Science and the
Vienna Institute of Technical Science and at the German Instiute of Technical
Science in Brünn;
Kövess von Kövessháza Hermann Freiherr
* 30.3.1854 in Temesvar + 22.9.1924 in Wien
Promotions: O: 1.11.1896, GM: 1.11.1902, FmLt: 1.5.1907, GdI: 1.11.1911, GO: 26.2.1916,
FM: 5.8.1917;
Commands: InfRgt23 III.1898-X.1902, 15.InfBrig X.1902-XI.1906, 8.InfDiv
XI.1906-IV.1910, 12.Korps VI.1911-IX.1915, Armeegruppe Kövess VIII.1914,
Armeegruppe Kövess II.-IX.1915, 3.Armee IX.1915-X.1916, 7.Armee X.1916-I.1918,
Heeresfront Kövess I.-IV.1918, Heeresgruppe Kövess X.-XI.1918 XI.-XII.1918
Armee-Oberkommandant;
Decorations: MMTO-K, StO-GK, MVK 1.(KDS), LO-GK(KDS), EKO-R1(KDS), GMVM(KDS), LO-R,
VSt-RK(KD), SMVM(KDS), BMVM(KDS), KM, D2, MJM98, MJK08; Geheimer Rat, Life
Member of the House of Magnates of the Hungarian Reichstag, Oberstinhaber IR
Nr.95;
Krobatin Alexander Freiherr von
* 12.10.1849 in Olmütz + 27.12.1933 in Wien
Promotions: O: 1.5.1895, GM: 1.11.1900, FmLt: 1.5.1905, FZM: 1.11.1910, GO: 26.2.1916,
FM: 5.11.1917;
Commands: Kriegsminister XII.1912-IV.1917, 10.Armee IV.1917-X.1918, Heeresgruppe
Tirol X.-XI.1918;
Decorations:
StO-GK, MVK 1.(KDS), LO-GK(KD), GMVM(KD), EKO-R2,
VSt-RK(KD), MVK 3., D2, MJM98, MJK08; Geheimer Rat, Minister a.D., Life time
member of the Austrian House of Lords, Oberstinhaber FAR Nr.108 (formerly
FeldHaubitzRegt. 14), Honorary Doctor of Technical Science at the Vienna
Technical Institute, Honorary President of the Kaiser Karl War Welfare Fund,
Honorary member of the Vienna Riding Association „Wiener Reitervereinigung
Viribus Unitis“;
Rohr von Denta Franz Freiherr
* 30.10.1854 in Arad/Banat + 9.12.1927 in
Wien-Rodaun
Promotions: O: 11.11.1896, GM: 1.5.1903, FmLt: 1.5.1907, (tit)GdK: 6.9.1911, GdK:
1.5.1913, GO: 1.5.1916, FM: 9.2.1918;
Commands:
Chief of Staff 2.Korps
IX.1897-IV.1901, 78.HonvInfBrig IV.-VI.1901, 3.HonvKavBrig VI.1901-X.1903,
73.HonvInfBrig X.1903-VI.1904, III.Royal Hungarian Landwehr District
VI.1904-VIII.1905, Royal Hungarian Landwehr Cavalry Inspector
VIII.1905-VII.1909, Generalinspektor of Military Training Establishments
IX.1909-V.1913, Royal Hungarian.Landwehr-Oberkommandant V.1913-VIII.1914,
Gruppenkommando Rohr VIII.1914-V.1915, Armeegruppe Rohr V.1915-I.1916, 10.Armee
I.-VI.1916, 11.Armee VI.1916-III.1917, 1.Armee III.1917-IV.1918, Kapitän der
k.u. Trabanten-Leibgarde IX.-XI.1918;
Decorations: MVK 1.(KDS), LO-GK(KDS), EKO-R1(KDS), GMVM(KDS), VSt-RK(KD), SMVM, BMVM,
D2, MJM98, MJK08; Geheimer Rat, Oberstinhaber IR Nr.48;
Böhm-Ermolli Eduard Freiherr von
* 12.2.1856 Ancona/Kirchenstaat + 9.12.1941 in
Troppau
Promotions:
O: 1.5.1897, GM: 1.5.1903, FmLt: 1.11.1907, GdK: 1.5.1912,
GO: 1.5.1916, FM: 31.1.1918
Commands: UlanRgt3 V.1897-IV.1901, 16.KavBrig IV.1901-XI.1905, 7.KavDiv
XI.1905-IV.1909, 12.InfDiv IV.1909-XI.1911, 1.Korps XI.1911-VII.1914, 2.Armee
VII.1914-V.1918, Heeresgruppe Böhm-Ermolli IX.1915-VI.1916 and X.1916-I.1918,
at Disposal VI.1918-XI.1918;
Decorations:
MMTO-K, StO-GK, MVK 1.(KDS), LO-GK(KDS), EKO-R1, GMVM(KDS),
LO-R, VSt-RK(KD), MVK 3., SMVM(KDS), BMVM(KDS), D2, MJM98, MJK08, MK13; Geheimer
Rat, Life time member of the Austrian House of Lords, Oberstinhaber UR Nr.13,
1940 awarded the uniform and title of a General Field Marshal of the German
Wehrmacht;
Boroevic von Bojna Svetozar
* 13.12.1856 in Umetic/Croatia + 23.5.1920 in
Klagenfurt
Promotions: O: 1.11.1897, GM: 1.5.1904, FmLt: 1.5.1908, GdI: 1.5.1913, GO: 1.5.1916,
FM: 1.2.1918;
Commands:
Chief of Staff 8.Korps VI.1898-II.1904, 14.InfBrig
II.1904-VII.1907, VI.Landwehr District Agram VII.1907-IV.1912, 6.Korps
IV.1912-IX.1914, 3.Armee IX.1914-V.1915, 5.Armee V.1915-V.1917, Isonzo-Armee
V.-VIII.1917, Heeresgruppe Boroevic VIII.1917-XI.1918;
Decorations: MMTO-K, MVK 1.(KDS), LO-GK(KDS), EKO-R1, GMVM(KDS) with Bar, LO-R, EKO-R3,
VSt-RK(KD), MVK 3.(KDS), SMVM(KDS), BMVM(KDS), KM, D2, MJM98, MJK08; Geheimer
Rat, Oberstinhaber IR Nr.51, Honorary Doctor of Law and Political Science at the
University of Zagreb;
Erzherzog Josef k.u.k. Hoheit
* 9.8.1872 in Alcsuth/Hungary + 6.7.1962 in Rein
near Straubing
Promotions:
O: 1.5.1905, GM: 1.11.1908, FmLt: 1.5.1911, GdK:
1.11.1914, GO: 1.11.1916, FM: 24.10.1918;
Commands: 79.HonvInfBrig IV.1907-IV.1911, 31.InfDiv IV.1911-XI.1914, 7.Korps
XI.1914-XI.1916, Heeresfront Erzherzog Josef XII.1916-I.1918, 6.Armee
I.-VII.1918, Heeresgruppe Erzherzog Josef VII.-X.1918, Regent in Hungary
XI.1918-VIII.1919, from 1927 until 1944 member of the Hungarian Upper House,
from 1936 until 1944 President of the Hungarian Academy of Science;
Decorations: GVO-R, MMTO-K, StO-GK, MVK 1.(KDS), LO-GK(KDS), EKO-R1(KDS), GTM für
Offiziere, GMVM(KDS), EZ1-RK(KD), MVK 3., BMVM(KDS), BMVM, KTK, D3, MJM98,
MJK08, MK13; Oberstinhaber DR Nr.15, Honorary Doctor of Philosophy at the
University of Budapest and of the Budapest Institute of Technical Science;
| Geheimer Rat | Privy Councillor | |
| Oberstinhaber | Regimental Colonel | |
| Kämmerer | Treasurer - a Court appointment | |
| Oberkommandant | Commander in Chief | |
| StO-GK | St.Stephan-Orden - Großkreuz | St Stephen's Order Grand Cross |
| MVK. 1.K. | Militär Verdienstkreuz 1. Klasse | Military Merit Cross 1st Class |
| LO-GK | Leopold-Orden - Großkreuz | Leopold Order Grand Cross |
| VSt-RK | Verdienststern Rotes Kreuz | Red Cross Merit Star |
| GMVM | Goldene Militär Verdienstmedaille | Golden Military Merit Medal |
| SMVM | Silberne Militär Verdienstmedaille | Silver Military Merit Medal |
| BMVM | Bronzene Militär Verdienstmedaille | Bronze Military Merit Medal |
| LF-Abz | Luftfahrerabzeichen | Aircrew Badge |
| EKO-R1 | Orden der Eisernen Krone 1.Klasse | Order of the Iron Crown 1st Class |
| FJO-GK | Franz Joseph Orden - Großkreuz | Franz Joseph Order Grand Cross |
| GVO-R | Ritterordern vom Goldenen Vlies | Golden Fleece Order |
| MMTO-GK | Militär Maria Theresien-Orden | Military Order of Maria-Theresa |
| GTM | Goldene Tapferkeitsmedaille | Golden Bravery Medal |
| (KDS) | Kriegsdekoration mit Schwerter | War Decoration with Swords |