Freepedia
is a series of free encyclopaedias. We currently specialize in history
but we intend to branch out into other areas. This section is about
Conrad von Hotzendorff.
Conrad
von Hotzendorff was born in 1852. A close friend of Archduke Franz
Ferdinand, in 1906 he became chief of staff to the Austro-Hungarian
Army. Hotzendorff was a strong supporter of an aggressive foreign
policy and after favoured surprise attacks on Serbia
and Italy.
Hotzendorff's demands for an invasion of Italy
in 1911 led to his dismissal. However, he was recalled in December 1912
and was in place to demand a declaration of war on Serbia
in July 1914.
On the outbreak of the First World War, his early
campaigns against the Russia were unsuccessful.
One critic has claimed that his "ground operations was characterized
by optimism, imagination and boldness, seldom qualified by military
realities. Hotzendorff convinced Erich von
Falkenhayn to organize the Central
Powers invasion of Serbia. However,
he only played a minor role in this campaign.
On the death of Franz Josef on 21st November,
1916, Karl I became the Emperor of Austria
and King of Hungary. Unlike his chief of staff Karl favoured a negotiated
peace settlement. He also wanted more personal control over the Austro-Hungarian
forces and in March 1917 he sacked Hotzendorff and replaced him with
Arz von Straussenberg.
Hotzendorff accepted command of the Austro-Hungarian
Army in Italy but after further defeats
he was recalled from the front-line and retired. Conrad von Hotzendorff
died in 1925.
Conrad
von Hotzendorf: Lawrence Sondhaus
Conrad
von Hotzendorf: Wikipedia
Conrad
von Hotzendorf:
Spartacus Biography
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Debates
War
Propaganda Bureau
Military
Commanders and the First World War
Battle
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Conrad
von Hotzendorf