Franz Künstler
Encyclopedia
Franz Künstler was, at age 107, the last known surviving veteran of the First World War
who fought for the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Following the death of 110-year-old Ottoman
veteran Yakup Satar
on April 2, 2008, he was also the last Central Powers
veteran of any nationality. He was born in Sósd, in the Kingdom of Hungary.
A Banat German, Künstler enlisted the Austro-Hungarian Army at Szeged
in February 1918 in a field artillery regiment (HFKR 5. k.u. Feldkanonen-Regiment/ - 5. honvéd tábori ágyúsezred). He saw combat on the Italian front
on the Piave River
. Following the collapse of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, he fought against the communists in Hungary, and was a soldier until 1921. During the Second World War
, he served six months in 1942 as a mobile courier in Ukraine
.
Following World War II
, Künstler lived in Niederstetten
, Baden-Württemberg
, Germany
, and worked as a guide in a museum. He had been expelled from Hungary by the communist government, as had many other ethnic German
s.
Asked about his nationality, Künstler said he always felt connected to the German nation and saw himself as a German. He was a Hungarian
citizen until 1946, when he obtained German citizenship. In an interview given at the age of 107 to an Austrian magazine, Künstler was asked about "the most important thing in life". He answered: "I was a handsome man and had many women. But more important is to have a good wife, with whom one can share one's life."
With the February 2008 death of 107-year-old Georg Thalhofer, who had been physically unfit for World War I service, Franz Künstler became the oldest living man in Germany. He died of complications from intestinal surgery in Bad Mergentheim
after having fallen while visiting his native Hungary
.
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
who fought for the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Following the death of 110-year-old Ottoman
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
veteran Yakup Satar
Yakup Satar
Yakup Satar was, at 110, believed to have been the last Turkish veteran of the First World War. He died at age 110....
on April 2, 2008, he was also the last Central Powers
Central Powers
The Central Powers were one of the two warring factions in World War I , composed of the German Empire, the Austro-Hungarian Empire, the Ottoman Empire, and the Kingdom of Bulgaria...
veteran of any nationality. He was born in Sósd, in the Kingdom of Hungary.
A Banat German, Künstler enlisted the Austro-Hungarian Army at Szeged
Szeged
' is the third largest city of Hungary, the largest city and regional centre of the Southern Great Plain and the county town of Csongrád county. The University of Szeged is one of the most distinguished universities in Hungary....
in February 1918 in a field artillery regiment (HFKR 5. k.u. Feldkanonen-Regiment/ - 5. honvéd tábori ágyúsezred). He saw combat on the Italian front
Italian Campaign (World War I)
The Italian campaign refers to a series of battles fought between the armies of Austria-Hungary and Italy, along with their allies, in northern Italy between 1915 and 1918. Italy hoped that by joining the countries of the Triple Entente against the Central Powers it would gain Cisalpine Tyrol , the...
on 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...
. Following the collapse of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, he fought against the communists in Hungary, and was a soldier until 1921. During the Second World War
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, he served six months in 1942 as a mobile courier in Ukraine
Ukraine
Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It has an area of 603,628 km², making it the second largest contiguous country on the European continent, after Russia...
.
Following World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, Künstler lived in Niederstetten
Niederstetten
Niederstetten is a town and a municipality in the Main-Tauber district, in Baden-Württemberg, Germany. It is situated 14 km southeast of Bad Mergentheim, and 19 km west of Rothenburg ob der Tauber.-Sights:...
, Baden-Württemberg
Baden-Württemberg
Baden-Württemberg is one of the 16 states of Germany. Baden-Württemberg is in the southwestern part of the country to the east of the Upper Rhine, and is the third largest in both area and population of Germany's sixteen states, with an area of and 10.7 million inhabitants...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, and worked as a guide in a museum. He had been expelled from Hungary by the communist government, as had many other ethnic German
Ethnic German
Ethnic Germans historically also ), also collectively referred to as the German diaspora, refers to people who are of German ethnicity. Many are not born in Europe or in the modern-day state of Germany or hold German citizenship...
s.
Asked about his nationality, Künstler said he always felt connected to the German nation and saw himself as a German. He was a Hungarian
Hungary
Hungary , officially the Republic of Hungary , is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is situated in the Carpathian Basin and is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine and Romania to the east, Serbia and Croatia to the south, Slovenia to the southwest and Austria to the west. The...
citizen until 1946, when he obtained German citizenship. In an interview given at the age of 107 to an Austrian magazine, Künstler was asked about "the most important thing in life". He answered: "I was a handsome man and had many women. But more important is to have a good wife, with whom one can share one's life."
With the February 2008 death of 107-year-old Georg Thalhofer, who had been physically unfit for World War I service, Franz Künstler became the oldest living man in Germany. He died of complications from intestinal surgery in Bad Mergentheim
Bad Mergentheim
Bad Mergentheim is a town in the Main-Tauber district in the German state of Baden-Württemberg.-History:Mergentheim is mentioned in chronicles as early as 1058, as the residence of the family of the counts of Hohenlohe, who early in the 13th century assigned the greater part of their estates in...
after having fallen while visiting his native Hungary
Hungary
Hungary , officially the Republic of Hungary , is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is situated in the Carpathian Basin and is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine and Romania to the east, Serbia and Croatia to the south, Slovenia to the southwest and Austria to the west. The...
.
See also
- Last surviving World War I veteran by countryLast surviving World War I veteran by countryThe last surviving veteran of World War I per country is shown in the table below, along with any living veterans.-See also:*List of last living war veterans*List of surviving veterans of World War I...
- Veterans of the First World War who died in 2008