Alois Schönburg-Hartenstein
Encyclopedia
Alois Schönburg-Hartenstein, (November 21, 1858 - September 21, 1944) was a military officer
in the Austro-Hungarian army
and as a Prince of Schönburg-Hartenstein, a member of the Austrian nobility
. He briefly served from March to July 1934 as the minister of defense in the First Austrian Republic
.
From 1899 to 1913 he was president of the Austrian Red Cross
. Following the outbreak of the First World War, he commanded several units, including the 6th Division and the XX (Edelweiss
) Corps.
According to Baron Ferdinand Marterer, Schönburg-Hartenstein was suggested as a candidate for imperial minister of defense by chief of the general staff Arz von Straussenberg
in April 1917. In early 1918, as domestic unrest over the war and continuing shortages of food increased within Austria-Hungary, he was appointed to command troops to maintain security within the empire by Emperor Karl I. In this capacity, he arrested strike leaders and 44,000 military deserters
. In the summer of 1918, he again took combat command, leading the 6th Army in Northern Italy
during the Battle of the Piave River
, in which he was wounded in the leg. As the Austro-Hungarian political and military situation became ever more precarious in the fall of 1918, Prince Alois expressed a realization of the coming end of the war and the monarchy, writing his family that "[my] remaining duty is to preserve discipline and protect the new Austria."
Following the fall of the Habsburg monarchy and the establishment of republican Austria, he was the state secretary
of the army from September 1933 to March 1934, when he was appointed to the post of defense minister in the cabinet of Engelbert Dollfuss
, a position he held until July 1934. While in government, he appealed to Austrian nationalists and veterans to support the Dolfuss administration and oppose pro-German National Socialism
.
Officer (armed forces)
An officer is a member of an armed force or uniformed service who holds a position of authority. Commissioned officers derive authority directly from a sovereign power and, as such, hold a commission charging them with the duties and responsibilities of a specific office or position...
in the Austro-Hungarian army
Austro-Hungarian Army
The Austro-Hungarian Army was the ground force of the Austro-Hungarian Dual Monarchy from 1867 to 1918. It was composed of three parts: the joint army , the Austrian Landwehr , and the Hungarian Honvédség .In the wake of fighting between the...
and as a Prince of Schönburg-Hartenstein, a member of the Austrian nobility
Austrian nobility
Historically, the Austrian nobility was a privileged social class in Austria. The nobility was officially abolished in 1919 after the fall of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Former noble families and their descendants are still a part of Austrian society today, but they no longer retain any specific...
. He briefly served from March to July 1934 as the minister of defense in the First Austrian Republic
First Austrian Republic
The Republic of Austria encompasses the period of Austrian history following the signing of the Treaty of Saint-Germain-en-Laye of September 1919, the settlement after the end of World War I which put an end to the Republic of German Austria, continuing up to World War II...
.
From 1899 to 1913 he was president of the Austrian Red Cross
Austrian Red Cross
The Austrian Red Cross is the national Red Cross-Organization in Austria and is part of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement...
. Following the outbreak of the First World War, he commanded several units, including the 6th Division and the XX (Edelweiss
Edelweiss
Edelweiss , Leontopodium alpinum, is a well-known European mountain flower, belonging to the sunflower family.-Names:The common name comes from German edel, meaning "noble", and weiß "white", thus signifying "noble whiteness".The scientific name Leontopodium is a Latin adaptation of Greek...
) Corps.
According to Baron Ferdinand Marterer, Schönburg-Hartenstein was suggested as a candidate for imperial minister of defense by chief of the general staff Arz von Straussenberg
Arthur Arz von Straussenburg
Arthur Freiherr Arz von Straußenburg was an Austro-Hungarian Colonel General and last Chief of General Staff to the Austro-Hungarian Army.- Early life :...
in April 1917. In early 1918, as domestic unrest over the war and continuing shortages of food increased within Austria-Hungary, he was appointed to command troops to maintain security within the empire by Emperor Karl I. In this capacity, he arrested strike leaders and 44,000 military deserters
Desertion
In military terminology, desertion is the abandonment of a "duty" or post without permission and is done with the intention of not returning...
. In the summer of 1918, he again took combat command, leading the 6th Army in Northern Italy
Northern Italy
Northern Italy is a wide cultural, historical and geographical definition, without any administrative usage, used to indicate the northern part of the Italian state, also referred as Settentrione or Alta Italia...
during the Battle of the Piave River
Battle of the Piave River
The Battle of the Piave River , known in Italy as Battaglia del Solstizio , Battaglia di Mezzo Giugno , or Seconda Battaglia del Piave , was a decisive victory for the Italian Army during World War...
, in which he was wounded in the leg. As the Austro-Hungarian political and military situation became ever more precarious in the fall of 1918, Prince Alois expressed a realization of the coming end of the war and the monarchy, writing his family that "[my] remaining duty is to preserve discipline and protect the new Austria."
Following the fall of the Habsburg monarchy and the establishment of republican Austria, he was the state secretary
Secretary of State
Secretary of State or State Secretary is a commonly used title for a senior or mid-level post in governments around the world. The role varies between countries, and in some cases there are multiple Secretaries of State in the Government....
of the army from September 1933 to March 1934, when he was appointed to the post of defense minister in the cabinet of Engelbert Dollfuss
Engelbert Dollfuss
Engelbert Dollfuss was an Austrian Christian Social and Patriotic Front statesman. Serving previously as Minister for Forest and Agriculture, he ascended to Federal Chancellor in 1932 in the midst of a crisis for the conservative government...
, a position he held until July 1934. While in government, he appealed to Austrian nationalists and veterans to support the Dolfuss administration and oppose pro-German National Socialism
Austrian National Socialism
Austrian National Socialism was a Pan-German movement that was formed at the beginning of the 20th century. The movement took a concrete form on November 15, 1903 when the German Worker's Party was established in Austria with its secretariat stationed in the town of Aussig...
.