Rudolf Stöger-Steiner von Steinstätten
Encyclopedia
Rudolf Freiherr Stöger-Steiner von Steinstätten (26 April 1861 – 12 May 1921) was a Colonel-General in the Austro-Hungarian army
and served as the last Imperial Minister for War
not only to the Austro-Hungarian Empire but to the ancient Habsburg monarchy
which sat at its head.
, Styria, in the then Austrian Empire
in 1861, Stöger-Steiner's father died when he was a young boy leading his mother to marry a then Oberleutnant
in the Austrian Army, Joseph Steiner. Stöger-Steiner's stepfather, a veteran of the Danish campaign where he had been mentioned in dispatches to the Kaiser, had a profound influence on the young man's development and encouraged him to enlist in the Army.
Joseph Steiner saw that his stepson entered service as a cadet
in the 9th Feldjägerbataillon upon joining the Army so as to prevent him being sent off to active service in Bosnia
as a war volunteer but rather than join his stepfather's old unit, Stöger-Steiner was accepted into the Infantry
cadet institute at Liebenau
for officer's training.
Having passed through officer training school
with "good effort", the young Stöger-Steiner was as a lieutenant with the 9th Feldjägerbataillon on November 1, 1880.
Accepted into the Imperial Kriegsschule
in Vienna
, he graduated and was appointed to the general staff with the rank of Oberleutnant in 1886 before serving in the 50th infantry brigade, the 8th mountain brigade and the 18th infantry division before being promoted to Captain
in 1890.
In 1891 he was formally adopted by his stepfather and changed his name to Stöger-Steiner, which allowed him succeed to his father's noble title, "Edler
von Steinstätten". Joseph Steiner transferred his nobile title
and coat of arms
to his son on October 25, 1892 and the same year the newly ennobled young Stöger-Steiner married Maria Link in Graz with whom he was to have a son and daughter.
and a command post in the 12th Infantry Regiment. For the six years between 1901 and 1907 he worked on the screening board the Kommission zur Beurteilung der Stabsoffiziersaspiranten, which determined the suitability of persons for appointment to senior ranks in the Officer Corps
. Having been promoted to the rank of Oberst
in 1903, he was once again given a command role over an infantry regiment (the 74th) in 1907, and then the 56th Infantry brigade at Görz
in 1909. Stöger-Steiner's next appointment to Generalmajor
in 1909 saw him soon return to war-academy instruction as head of the Army School of Marksmanship (Armeeschießschule) in Bruck an der Leitha
. In 1912 Stöger-Steiner received command of the 4th Infantry Division
stationed at Brünn and promotion to the rank of Feldmarschall-Leutnant
.
With wars outbreak following the July Crisis
, now well connected in court, Stöger-Steiner remained in command of the now mobilized fourth Infantry posted to Galicia
as part of Auffenberg's fourth army. In Galicia, the fourth infantry took part in the Battles of Krasnik
, Zamość
, Komarów
and the retreat to Tuckow for Stöger-Steiner received decorations in recognition of his initiative and outstanding leadership. In late 1914 the 4th infantry was redeployed to Krakow
and attached to the First Army before being enlarged to become "Kombinierte Division Stöger-Steiner", a combined tactical force which took part in 1915's May Offensive and captured Annopol
and Josefów.
Transferred from the Russian front
, on July 26, 1915 he took command of the newly constituted Gruppe Stöger-Steiner at the Isonzo in May 1915 only to be promoted to the command of XV Corps (also on the Isonzo) that same summer. Over the next two years XV Corps was to take part in 8 of the 12 battles of the Inzo, and its commander, Stöger-Steiner, was promoted to the rank of General der Infanterie
in late 1915.
In 1916 as part of his evaluation of Stöger-Steiner's performance, his commander Feldzeugmeister
Scheuchenstuel stated the General was:
"A versatile useful senior general with a comprehensive military education with outstanding leadership qualities. Quiet, determined, full of self confidence. Has proved his worth in difficult situations. Owing to his special qualities he is also especially suited for a senior position within the military command."
The General received a number of decorations for his role in commanding his unit on the Isonzo and on June 4, 1916 was honored with the title of Geheimer Rat (Privy Councillor), while in his 1917 evaluation, his now commanding officer Generaloberst Boroević
agreed with Scheuchenstuel's 1916 comments and once more recommended he be promoted to a more senior position. By this phase of the war, Stöger-Steiner's health had already begun to decline and it was felt this may have been a reason why he was recommended for a position in Military Administration as opposed to field command.
. Thrust into a central and highly political role in steering the war effort, his selection was driven by divisions at court where theretofore in a relatively obscure role, he emerged as compromise candidate suitable to the new Emperor
who sought to appoint his ministers from the ranks of "persons not previously involved in any politics".
The role into which he had been appointed had diminished much in terms of power as Armeeoberkommando (Military High Command) became more powerful in politics and Emperor Karl tinkered with Parliamentary politics despite the war situation, while powerful Hungarian politicians also attempted to split the common army into two wholly separate entities.
Energetically, Stöger-Steiner set about his task and reorganized the ministry with the creation of operationally independent offices such as the Zentraltransportleitung, (central transport department) the Kriegsüberwachungsamt (war supervisory office), the Kriegsfürsorgeamt (war welfare office), the Zentralevidenz (central intelligence) and Generalinspektorat für das Heimkehrerwesen (general inspectorate for repatriated POW's) as well as introducing new officers into the departments he created. Generally held to be highly competent he was again decorated for his work in the War Office were he assured the Emperor that Austria Hungary would not suffer the same fate as that of Russia
in the winter of 1917, while he faced the same problems as von Krobatin
of ensuring continued supplies of food and arms in the face of mounting war fatigue and the need to retain law and order among the populous.
In political matters Stöger-Steiner's extensive military training served him poorly for facing professional politicians often with conflicting interests in the Ministerrat (ministerial council) and the Reichsrat (parliament) while he battled deteriorating health. He often considered retiring from his position, especially given that he felt Hungarian politicians tried constantly to thwart his efforts, Stöger-Steiner's oath to the Kaiser left him to consider he had no choice but to continue working and in April 1918 he was granted the noble title of "Freiherr von", in an upgrading of his former title. While promoted to the new rank of Colonel-General
he had become convinced of the inevitability of defeat by the beginning of 1918, and was forced to withdraw some seven front-line divisions to maintain internal order in the early part of 1918.
Through the course of 1918 the situation deteriorated further as ration increases to the army could not prove possible and interruptions to supply of foodstuffs to the cities of industrial Austria led to increasing strikes which only served to further undermine war production.
On October 30, 1918, as Stöger-Steiner traveled to the last meeting of the Ministerial Council of the Empire, a mob surrounded his car, smashed its windows, tore off the passenger's headgear and ripped off the Royal Cockade - an act not directed against him but symptomatic of the decline of law and order in the Imperial capital itself in the last days of the empire.
on December 1, 1918 over two weeks following Karl's abdication. Generaloberst Rudolf Stöger-Steiner Freiherr von Steinstätten retired into private life to Graz and continued to battle the illness which had haunted him since the early days of the war. He died in Graz on May 12, 1921.
Serbian
Order of the Cross of Takovo
5th class (1887)
Persian Order of the Lion and the Sun
4th class (1890)
Military merit cross
(1899)
3rd class of the Order of the Iron Crown
(1906)
The Commander's Cross of the Order of the Star of Romania
(1910)
Star to the Commander's Cross of the Order of the Star of Romania
(1911)
2nd grade of the 2nd class of the Chinese
Order of the Double Dragon
(1911).
Knight's Cross of the Order of Leopold
(1912)
2nd class of the Ottoman Order of Osmanieh (1913)
Military Merit Cross
2nd class with war decoration (1915)
Prussia
n Iron Cross
2nd class (1915)
Grand cross of the Order of the Iron Crown
with war decoration (1916)
1st class of the merit decoration of the Society of the Red Cross
with war decoration (1917)
1st class of the Order of Leopold
with war decoration and swords (1917)
Prussia
n Iron Cross
1st class (1917)
Ottoman
Golden Imtiaz Medal (1917)
Iron Crescent and the War cross of Lippe (1917)
Swords for all previously given Austro-Hungarian orders with war decoration (1917)
Bronze Military Merit Medal (Signum Laudis) with the ribbon of the military merit cross
(1917)
Merit star of the Society of the Red Cross
with war-decoration (1917)
1st class of the Prussia
n Order of the Red Eagle
with swords
Grand cross of the Bavarian Military Merit Order
with swords
Grand cross with the Golden Star and Swords of the Saxon
Order of Albrecht
Grand cross with swords of the Order of the Crown (Württemberg)
War Merit Cross of Schaumburg-Lippe
Neck badge of the Marianerkreuz of the Deutschen Ritterorden
Magistral-Großkreuz of the Malteser Ritterorden
Elevated to Baron, April 28, 1918
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 served as the last Imperial Minister for War
Minister of War (Austria-Hungary)
The Imperial and Royal Minister of War , until the year 1911 Minister of War of the Empire , was the head of one of the three common ministries shared by the two states which made up the Dual Monarchy from its creation in 1867 until the empire's collapse in 1918, Imperial Austria and Royal Hungary...
not only to the Austro-Hungarian Empire but to the ancient Habsburg monarchy
Habsburg Monarchy
The Habsburg Monarchy covered the territories ruled by the junior Austrian branch of the House of Habsburg , and then by the successor House of Habsburg-Lorraine , between 1526 and 1867/1918. The Imperial capital was Vienna, except from 1583 to 1611, when it was moved to Prague...
which sat at its head.
Background and early life
Born as Rudolf Stöger in the village of Pernegg an der MurPernegg an der Mur
Pernegg an der Mur is a municipality in the district of Bruck an der Mur in Styria, Austria. It is home to the famous Drachenhöhle cave.-References:...
, Styria, in the then Austrian Empire
Austrian Empire
The Austrian Empire was a modern era successor empire, which was centered on what is today's Austria and which officially lasted from 1804 to 1867. It was followed by the Empire of Austria-Hungary, whose proclamation was a diplomatic move that elevated Hungary's status within the Austrian Empire...
in 1861, Stöger-Steiner's father died when he was a young boy leading his mother to marry a then Oberleutnant
Army ranks and insignia of the Austro-Hungarian Army
Rank insignias as worn by the Austro-Hungarian Land Forces after the reorganisation in 1867 until 1918-Ranks:-Note:The ranks displayed after the "/" are the Hungarian equivalents of the Austrian ranks, since they were used in this format in the Magyar Királyi Honvédség .- Ranks and rank insignias...
in the Austrian Army, Joseph Steiner. Stöger-Steiner's stepfather, a veteran of the Danish campaign where he had been mentioned in dispatches to the Kaiser, had a profound influence on the young man's development and encouraged him to enlist in the Army.
Joseph Steiner saw that his stepson entered service as a cadet
Cadet
A cadet is a trainee to become an officer in the military, often a person who is a junior trainee. The term comes from the term "cadet" for younger sons of a noble family.- Military context :...
in the 9th Feldjägerbataillon upon joining the Army so as to prevent him being sent off to active service in Bosnia
Bosnia (region)
Bosnia is a eponomous region of Bosnia and Herzegovina. It lies mainly in the Dinaric Alps, ranging to the southern borders of the Pannonian plain, with the rivers Sava and Drina marking its northern and eastern borders. The other eponomous region, the southern, other half of the country is...
as a war volunteer but rather than join his stepfather's old unit, Stöger-Steiner was accepted into the Infantry
Infantry
Infantrymen are soldiers who are specifically trained for the role of fighting on foot to engage the enemy face to face and have historically borne the brunt of the casualties of combat in wars. As the oldest branch of combat arms, they are the backbone of armies...
cadet institute at Liebenau
Liebenau
Liebenau can refer to:*places in Germany:**Liebenau, Hesse, a town in the district of Kassel, Hesse.**Liebenau, Lower Saxony, a municipality in the district of Nienburg, Lower Saxony.*places in Austria:**Liebenau, a district of the city of Graz, Styria....
for officer's training.
Having passed through officer training school
Military academy
A military academy or service academy is an educational institution which prepares candidates for service in the officer corps of the army, the navy, air force or coast guard, which normally provides education in a service environment, the exact definition depending on the country concerned.Three...
with "good effort", the young Stöger-Steiner was as a lieutenant with the 9th Feldjägerbataillon on November 1, 1880.
Accepted into the Imperial Kriegsschule
Kriegsschule
Kriegsschule can refer to:* Kriegsschule , military academies used by the Wehrmacht for training officers until 1945...
in Vienna
Vienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
, he graduated and was appointed to the general staff with the rank of Oberleutnant in 1886 before serving in the 50th infantry brigade, the 8th mountain brigade and the 18th infantry division before being promoted to Captain
Army ranks and insignia of the Austro-Hungarian Army
Rank insignias as worn by the Austro-Hungarian Land Forces after the reorganisation in 1867 until 1918-Ranks:-Note:The ranks displayed after the "/" are the Hungarian equivalents of the Austrian ranks, since they were used in this format in the Magyar Királyi Honvédség .- Ranks and rank insignias...
in 1890.
In 1891 he was formally adopted by his stepfather and changed his name to Stöger-Steiner, which allowed him succeed to his father's noble title, "Edler
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...
von Steinstätten". Joseph Steiner transferred his nobile title
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...
and coat of arms
Coat of arms
A coat of arms is a unique heraldic design on a shield or escutcheon or on a surcoat or tabard used to cover and protect armour and to identify the wearer. Thus the term is often stated as "coat-armour", because it was anciently displayed on the front of a coat of cloth...
to his son on October 25, 1892 and the same year the newly ennobled young Stöger-Steiner married Maria Link in Graz with whom he was to have a son and daughter.
Career
In the early 1890s, Stöger-Steiner held a number of staff appointments at the headquarters of a number of army corps as well as an interval as company commander back at the 9th Feldjägerbataillon. From 1896 to 1899 he returned to serve as an instructor at the Kriegsschule in Vienna where his efforts saw him receive promotion to the rank of MajorArmy ranks and insignia of the Austro-Hungarian Army
Rank insignias as worn by the Austro-Hungarian Land Forces after the reorganisation in 1867 until 1918-Ranks:-Note:The ranks displayed after the "/" are the Hungarian equivalents of the Austrian ranks, since they were used in this format in the Magyar Királyi Honvédség .- Ranks and rank insignias...
and a command post in the 12th Infantry Regiment. For the six years between 1901 and 1907 he worked on the screening board the Kommission zur Beurteilung der Stabsoffiziersaspiranten, which determined the suitability of persons for appointment to senior ranks in the Officer Corps
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...
. Having been promoted to the rank of Oberst
Army ranks and insignia of the Austro-Hungarian Army
Rank insignias as worn by the Austro-Hungarian Land Forces after the reorganisation in 1867 until 1918-Ranks:-Note:The ranks displayed after the "/" are the Hungarian equivalents of the Austrian ranks, since they were used in this format in the Magyar Királyi Honvédség .- Ranks and rank insignias...
in 1903, he was once again given a command role over an infantry regiment (the 74th) in 1907, and then the 56th Infantry brigade at Görz
Gorizia
Gorizia is a town and comune in northeastern Italy, in the autonomous region of Friuli Venezia Giulia. It is located at the foot of the Julian Alps, bordering Slovenia. It is the capital of the Province of Gorizia, and it is a local center of tourism, industry, and commerce. Since 1947, a twin...
in 1909. Stöger-Steiner's next appointment to Generalmajor
Army ranks and insignia of the Austro-Hungarian Army
Rank insignias as worn by the Austro-Hungarian Land Forces after the reorganisation in 1867 until 1918-Ranks:-Note:The ranks displayed after the "/" are the Hungarian equivalents of the Austrian ranks, since they were used in this format in the Magyar Királyi Honvédség .- Ranks and rank insignias...
in 1909 saw him soon return to war-academy instruction as head of the Army School of Marksmanship (Armeeschießschule) in Bruck an der Leitha
Bruck an der Leitha
Bruck an der Leitha is a city located in Lower Austria, Austria at the border to the Burgenland, which is marked by the Leitha river....
. In 1912 Stöger-Steiner received command of the 4th Infantry Division
Division (military)
A division is a large military unit or formation usually consisting of between 10,000 and 20,000 soldiers. In most armies, a division is composed of several regiments or brigades, and in turn several divisions typically make up a corps...
stationed at Brünn and promotion to the rank of Feldmarschall-Leutnant
Army ranks and insignia of the Austro-Hungarian Army
Rank insignias as worn by the Austro-Hungarian Land Forces after the reorganisation in 1867 until 1918-Ranks:-Note:The ranks displayed after the "/" are the Hungarian equivalents of the Austrian ranks, since they were used in this format in the Magyar Királyi Honvédség .- Ranks and rank insignias...
.
With wars outbreak following the July Crisis
July Ultimatum
The July Crisis was a diplomatic crisis among the major powers of Europe in the summer of 1914 that led to the First World War...
, now well connected in court, Stöger-Steiner remained in command of the now mobilized fourth Infantry posted to Galicia
Kingdom of Galicia and Lodomeria
The Kingdom of Galicia and Lodomeria was a crownland of the Habsburg Monarchy, the Austrian Empire, and Austria–Hungary from 1772 to 1918 .This historical region in eastern Central Europe is currently divided between Poland and Ukraine...
as part of Auffenberg's fourth army. In Galicia, the fourth infantry took part in the Battles of Krasnik
Battle of Krasnik
The Battle of Kraśnik started on August 23, 1914 in the province of Galicia and the adjacent areas across the border in the Russian Empire, in northern Austria , and ended two days later. The Austro-Hungarian First Army defeated the Russian Fourth Army. It was the first victory by Austria-Hungary...
, Zamość
Zamosc
Zamość ukr. Замостя is a town in southeastern Poland with 66,633 inhabitants , situated in the south-western part of Lublin Voivodeship , about from Lublin, from Warsaw and from the border with Ukraine...
, Komarów
Battle of Komarów (1914)
The Battle of Komarow was a battle on the Eastern Front during World War I. It would prove a victory for the Austro-Hungarian forces, but one they would not be able to reproduce in the coming months of the war.- Background :The prewar planning for a joint Austro-German war with Russia entailed an...
and the retreat to Tuckow for Stöger-Steiner received decorations in recognition of his initiative and outstanding leadership. In late 1914 the 4th infantry was redeployed to Krakow
Kraków
Kraków also Krakow, or Cracow , is the second largest and one of the oldest cities in Poland. Situated on the Vistula River in the Lesser Poland region, the city dates back to the 7th century. Kraków has traditionally been one of the leading centres of Polish academic, cultural, and artistic life...
and attached to the First Army before being enlarged to become "Kombinierte Division Stöger-Steiner", a combined tactical force which took part in 1915's May Offensive and captured Annopol
Annopol
Annopol is a small town in south-eastern Poland with 2,679 inhabitants, in Kraśnik County. It has been situated in the Lublin Voivodeship previously in Tarnobrzeg Voivodeship...
and Josefów.
Transferred from the Russian front
Eastern Front (World War I)
The Eastern Front was a theatre of war during World War I in Central and, primarily, Eastern Europe. The term is in contrast to the Western Front. Despite the geographical separation, the events in the two theatres strongly influenced each other...
, on July 26, 1915 he took command of the newly constituted Gruppe Stöger-Steiner at the Isonzo in May 1915 only to be promoted to the command of XV Corps (also on the Isonzo) that same summer. Over the next two years XV Corps was to take part in 8 of the 12 battles of the Inzo, and its commander, Stöger-Steiner, was promoted to the rank of General der Infanterie
Army ranks and insignia of the Austro-Hungarian Army
Rank insignias as worn by the Austro-Hungarian Land Forces after the reorganisation in 1867 until 1918-Ranks:-Note:The ranks displayed after the "/" are the Hungarian equivalents of the Austrian ranks, since they were used in this format in the Magyar Királyi Honvédség .- Ranks and rank insignias...
in late 1915.
In 1916 as part of his evaluation of Stöger-Steiner's performance, his commander Feldzeugmeister
Army ranks and insignia of the Austro-Hungarian Army
Rank insignias as worn by the Austro-Hungarian Land Forces after the reorganisation in 1867 until 1918-Ranks:-Note:The ranks displayed after the "/" are the Hungarian equivalents of the Austrian ranks, since they were used in this format in the Magyar Királyi Honvédség .- Ranks and rank insignias...
Scheuchenstuel stated the General was:
"A versatile useful senior general with a comprehensive military education with outstanding leadership qualities. Quiet, determined, full of self confidence. Has proved his worth in difficult situations. Owing to his special qualities he is also especially suited for a senior position within the military command."
The General received a number of decorations for his role in commanding his unit on the Isonzo and on June 4, 1916 was honored with the title of Geheimer Rat (Privy Councillor), while in his 1917 evaluation, his now commanding officer Generaloberst Boroević
Svetozar Boroevic
Svetozar Boroević von Bojna was an Austro-Hungarian field marshal who was described as one of the finest defensive strategists of the First World War....
agreed with Scheuchenstuel's 1916 comments and once more recommended he be promoted to a more senior position. By this phase of the war, Stöger-Steiner's health had already begun to decline and it was felt this may have been a reason why he was recommended for a position in Military Administration as opposed to field command.
Minister of War
Stöger-Steiner remained as a Corps commander on the Isonzo front until April 12, 1917 when he was recalled from front-line duties and promoted to become Imperial Minister for WarMinister of War (Austria-Hungary)
The Imperial and Royal Minister of War , until the year 1911 Minister of War of the Empire , was the head of one of the three common ministries shared by the two states which made up the Dual Monarchy from its creation in 1867 until the empire's collapse in 1918, Imperial Austria and Royal Hungary...
. Thrust into a central and highly political role in steering the war effort, his selection was driven by divisions at court where theretofore in a relatively obscure role, he emerged as compromise candidate suitable to the new Emperor
Karl I of Austria
Charles I of Austria or Charles IV of Hungary was the last ruler of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. He was the last Emperor of Austria, the last King of Hungary, the last King of Bohemia and Croatia and the last King of Galicia and Lodomeria and the last monarch of the House of Habsburg-Lorraine...
who sought to appoint his ministers from the ranks of "persons not previously involved in any politics".
The role into which he had been appointed had diminished much in terms of power as Armeeoberkommando (Military High Command) became more powerful in politics and Emperor Karl tinkered with Parliamentary politics despite the war situation, while powerful Hungarian politicians also attempted to split the common army into two wholly separate entities.
October Revolution
The October Revolution , also known as the Great October Socialist Revolution , Red October, the October Uprising or the Bolshevik Revolution, was a political revolution and a part of the Russian Revolution of 1917...
in the winter of 1917, while he faced the same problems as von Krobatin
Alexander von Krobatin
Alexander Freiherr von Krobatin was an Austrian Field Marshal and Imperial Minister for War between 1912 and 1917.- Early life :...
of ensuring continued supplies of food and arms in the face of mounting war fatigue and the need to retain law and order among the populous.
In political matters Stöger-Steiner's extensive military training served him poorly for facing professional politicians often with conflicting interests in the Ministerrat (ministerial council) and the Reichsrat (parliament) while he battled deteriorating health. He often considered retiring from his position, especially given that he felt Hungarian politicians tried constantly to thwart his efforts, Stöger-Steiner's oath to the Kaiser left him to consider he had no choice but to continue working and in April 1918 he was granted the noble title of "Freiherr von", in an upgrading of his former title. While promoted to the new rank of Colonel-General
Army ranks and insignia of the Austro-Hungarian Army
Rank insignias as worn by the Austro-Hungarian Land Forces after the reorganisation in 1867 until 1918-Ranks:-Note:The ranks displayed after the "/" are the Hungarian equivalents of the Austrian ranks, since they were used in this format in the Magyar Királyi Honvédség .- Ranks and rank insignias...
he had become convinced of the inevitability of defeat by the beginning of 1918, and was forced to withdraw some seven front-line divisions to maintain internal order in the early part of 1918.
Through the course of 1918 the situation deteriorated further as ration increases to the army could not prove possible and interruptions to supply of foodstuffs to the cities of industrial Austria led to increasing strikes which only served to further undermine war production.
On October 30, 1918, as Stöger-Steiner traveled to the last meeting of the Ministerial Council of the Empire, a mob surrounded his car, smashed its windows, tore off the passenger's headgear and ripped off the Royal Cockade - an act not directed against him but symptomatic of the decline of law and order in the Imperial capital itself in the last days of the empire.
Retirement
As the situation deteriorated throughout autumn 1918 and government authority waned in the face of events, with revolution sweeping across the Habsburg lands and the failure of an attempt to bring about an orderly demobilization his position technically ceased to exist in early November, 1918, following Hungary's dissolving the Austro-Hungarian union and the Emperor's gave up absolute authority over his realms. While the Imperial Government largely ceased to exist by mid-November, Karl sent a handwritten message to Stöger-Steiner, ordering him to continue in his post and supervise further demobilization of the Military. He was finally forced to retire by the authorities of the new Austrian RepublicFirst 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...
on December 1, 1918 over two weeks following Karl's abdication. Generaloberst Rudolf Stöger-Steiner Freiherr von Steinstätten retired into private life to Graz and continued to battle the illness which had haunted him since the early days of the war. He died in Graz on May 12, 1921.
Service Record
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Cadet Army ranks and insignia of the Austro-Hungarian Army Rank insignias as worn by the Austro-Hungarian Land Forces after the reorganisation in 1867 until 1918-Ranks:-Note:The ranks displayed after the "/" are the Hungarian equivalents of the Austrian ranks, since they were used in this format in the Magyar Királyi Honvédség .- Ranks and rank insignias... , 1878 |
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Leutnant Army ranks and insignia of the Austro-Hungarian Army Rank insignias as worn by the Austro-Hungarian Land Forces after the reorganisation in 1867 until 1918-Ranks:-Note:The ranks displayed after the "/" are the Hungarian equivalents of the Austrian ranks, since they were used in this format in the Magyar Királyi Honvédség .- Ranks and rank insignias... , 1880 |
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Oberleutnant Army ranks and insignia of the Austro-Hungarian Army Rank insignias as worn by the Austro-Hungarian Land Forces after the reorganisation in 1867 until 1918-Ranks:-Note:The ranks displayed after the "/" are the Hungarian equivalents of the Austrian ranks, since they were used in this format in the Magyar Királyi Honvédség .- Ranks and rank insignias... , 1886 |
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Hauptmann Army ranks and insignia of the Austro-Hungarian Army Rank insignias as worn by the Austro-Hungarian Land Forces after the reorganisation in 1867 until 1918-Ranks:-Note:The ranks displayed after the "/" are the Hungarian equivalents of the Austrian ranks, since they were used in this format in the Magyar Királyi Honvédség .- Ranks and rank insignias... , 1890 |
 |
Major Army ranks and insignia of the Austro-Hungarian Army Rank insignias as worn by the Austro-Hungarian Land Forces after the reorganisation in 1867 until 1918-Ranks:-Note:The ranks displayed after the "/" are the Hungarian equivalents of the Austrian ranks, since they were used in this format in the Magyar Királyi Honvédség .- Ranks and rank insignias... , 1899 |
 |
Oberst Army ranks and insignia of the Austro-Hungarian Army Rank insignias as worn by the Austro-Hungarian Land Forces after the reorganisation in 1867 until 1918-Ranks:-Note:The ranks displayed after the "/" are the Hungarian equivalents of the Austrian ranks, since they were used in this format in the Magyar Királyi Honvédség .- Ranks and rank insignias... , 1903 |
 |
Generalmajor Army ranks and insignia of the Austro-Hungarian Army Rank insignias as worn by the Austro-Hungarian Land Forces after the reorganisation in 1867 until 1918-Ranks:-Note:The ranks displayed after the "/" are the Hungarian equivalents of the Austrian ranks, since they were used in this format in the Magyar Királyi Honvédség .- Ranks and rank insignias... , 1909 |
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Feldmarschall-Leutnant Army ranks and insignia of the Austro-Hungarian Army Rank insignias as worn by the Austro-Hungarian Land Forces after the reorganisation in 1867 until 1918-Ranks:-Note:The ranks displayed after the "/" are the Hungarian equivalents of the Austrian ranks, since they were used in this format in the Magyar Királyi Honvédség .- Ranks and rank insignias... , 1912 |
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General der Infanterie Army ranks and insignia of the Austro-Hungarian Army Rank insignias as worn by the Austro-Hungarian Land Forces after the reorganisation in 1867 until 1918-Ranks:-Note:The ranks displayed after the "/" are the Hungarian equivalents of the Austrian ranks, since they were used in this format in the Magyar Királyi Honvédség .- Ranks and rank insignias... , 1915 |
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Generaloberst, 1918 |
Selected awards and decorations
Kingdom of Serbia
The Kingdom of Serbia was created when Prince Milan Obrenović, ruler of the Principality of Serbia, was crowned King in 1882. The Principality of Serbia was ruled by the Karađorđevic dynasty from 1817 onwards . The Principality, suzerain to the Porte, had expelled all Ottoman troops by 1867, de...
Order of the Cross of Takovo
Order of the Cross of Takovo
The Order of the Cross of Takovo was instituted in 1865 to mark the 50th anniversary of the Second Serbian Uprising against the Ottoman Empire, which had started in Takovo, Serbia....
5th class (1887)
Persian Order of the Lion and the Sun
Order of the Lion and the Sun
The Order of the Lion and the Sun was instituted by Fat’h Ali Shah of the Qajar Dynasty in 1808 to honour foreign officials who had rendered distinguished services to Persia. In 1925, under the Pahlavi dynasty the Order continued as the Order of Homayoun with new insignia, though based on the...
4th class (1890)
Military merit cross
Military Merit Cross (Austria-Hungary)
The Military Merit Cross was a decoration of the Empire of Austria and, after the establishment of the Dual Monarchy in 1867, the Empire of Austria-Hungary. It was first established on October 22, 1849 and underwent several revisions to its design and award criteria over the years of its existence...
(1899)
3rd class of the Order of the Iron Crown
Order of the Iron Crown
The Imperial Order of the Iron Crown was established June 5, 1805 by Napoleon Bonaparte . It took its name from the ancient Iron Crown of Lombardy, a medieval jewel with an iron ring, forged from what was supposed to be a nail from the True Cross as a band on the inside. This crown also gave its...
(1906)
The Commander's Cross of the Order of the Star of Romania
Order of the Star of Romania
The Order of the Star of Romania is Romania's highest civil order. It is awarded by the President of Romania...
(1910)
Star to the Commander's Cross of the Order of the Star of Romania
Order of the Star of Romania
The Order of the Star of Romania is Romania's highest civil order. It is awarded by the President of Romania...
(1911)
2nd grade of the 2nd class of the Chinese
Qing Dynasty
The Qing Dynasty was the last dynasty of China, ruling from 1644 to 1912 with a brief, abortive restoration in 1917. It was preceded by the Ming Dynasty and followed by the Republic of China....
Order of the Double Dragon
Order of the Double Dragon
The Imperial Order of the Double Dragon was an order awarded in the period of the Qing Dynasty.The Order was founded by the Guangxu Emperor on 7 February 1882 as an award for outstanding services to the Throne...
(1911).
Knight's Cross of the Order of Leopold
Order of Leopold (Austria)
The Imperial Austrian Order of Leopold was founded by Franz I of Austria on 8 January 1808. The order's statutes stipulated only three grades: Grand Cross, Commander and Knight. During the war, in common with the other Austro-Hungarian decorations Crossed Swords were instituted to reward bravery in...
(1912)
2nd class of the Ottoman Order of Osmanieh (1913)
Military Merit Cross
Military Merit Cross
Military Merit Cross is the name for a military decoration in various states, including:* Military Merit Cross * Military Merit Cross * German States:...
2nd class with war decoration (1915)
Prussia
Prussia
Prussia was a German kingdom and historic state originating out of the Duchy of Prussia and the Margraviate of Brandenburg. For centuries, the House of Hohenzollern ruled Prussia, successfully expanding its size by way of an unusually well-organized and effective army. Prussia shaped the history...
n Iron Cross
Iron Cross
The Iron Cross is a cross symbol typically in black with a white or silver outline that originated after 1219 when the Kingdom of Jerusalem granted the Teutonic Order the right to combine the Teutonic Black Cross placed above a silver Cross of Jerusalem....
2nd class (1915)
Grand cross of the Order of the Iron Crown
Order of the Iron Crown (Austria)
The Austrian Imperial Order of the Iron Crown , was restablished in 1815 by Emperor Franz I. The Order of the Iron Crown had previously been an order of the Napoleanic Kingdom of Italy.-History:...
with war decoration (1916)
1st class of the merit decoration of the Society of the 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...
with war decoration (1917)
1st class of the Order of Leopold
Order of Leopold (Austria)
The Imperial Austrian Order of Leopold was founded by Franz I of Austria on 8 January 1808. The order's statutes stipulated only three grades: Grand Cross, Commander and Knight. During the war, in common with the other Austro-Hungarian decorations Crossed Swords were instituted to reward bravery in...
with war decoration and swords (1917)
Prussia
Prussia
Prussia was a German kingdom and historic state originating out of the Duchy of Prussia and the Margraviate of Brandenburg. For centuries, the House of Hohenzollern ruled Prussia, successfully expanding its size by way of an unusually well-organized and effective army. Prussia shaped the history...
n Iron Cross
Iron Cross
The Iron Cross is a cross symbol typically in black with a white or silver outline that originated after 1219 when the Kingdom of Jerusalem granted the Teutonic Order the right to combine the Teutonic Black Cross placed above a silver Cross of Jerusalem....
1st class (1917)
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...
Golden Imtiaz Medal (1917)
Iron Crescent and the War cross of Lippe (1917)
Swords for all previously given Austro-Hungarian orders with war decoration (1917)
Bronze Military Merit Medal (Signum Laudis) with the ribbon of the military merit cross
Military Merit Cross (Austria-Hungary)
The Military Merit Cross was a decoration of the Empire of Austria and, after the establishment of the Dual Monarchy in 1867, the Empire of Austria-Hungary. It was first established on October 22, 1849 and underwent several revisions to its design and award criteria over the years of its existence...
(1917)
Merit star of the Society of the 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...
with war-decoration (1917)
1st class of the Prussia
Prussia
Prussia was a German kingdom and historic state originating out of the Duchy of Prussia and the Margraviate of Brandenburg. For centuries, the House of Hohenzollern ruled Prussia, successfully expanding its size by way of an unusually well-organized and effective army. Prussia shaped the history...
n Order of the Red Eagle
Order of the Red Eagle
The Order of the Red Eagle was an order of chivalry of the Kingdom of Prussia. It was awarded to both military personnel and civilians, to recognize valor in combat, excellence in military leadership, long and faithful service to the kingdom, or other achievements...
with swords
Grand cross of the Bavarian Military Merit Order
Military Merit Order (Bavaria)
The Bavarian Military Merit Order was established on July 19, 1866 by King Ludwig II of Bavaria. It was the kingdom's main decoration for bravery and military merit for officers and higher-ranking officials. Civilians acting in support of the army were also made eligible for the decoration...
with swords
Grand cross with the Golden Star and Swords of the Saxon
Kingdom of Saxony
The Kingdom of Saxony , lasting between 1806 and 1918, was an independent member of a number of historical confederacies in Napoleonic through post-Napoleonic Germany. From 1871 it was part of the German Empire. It became a Free state in the era of Weimar Republic in 1918 after the end of World War...
Order of Albrecht
Grand cross with swords of the Order of the Crown (Württemberg)
Order of the Crown (Württemberg)
The Order of the Württemberg Crown was an order of chivalry in Württemberg.-History:First established in 1702 as the St.-Hubertus-Jagdorden , in 1807 it was renamed the "Ritterorden vom Goldenen Adler" by Frederick I, and on 23 September 1818 renewed and restructured by William I as the "Order of...
War Merit Cross of Schaumburg-Lippe
Schaumburg-Lippe
Schaumburg-Lippe was until 1946 a small state in Germany, located in the present day state of Lower Saxony, with its capital at Bückeburg.- History :...
Neck badge of the Marianerkreuz of the Deutschen Ritterorden
Magistral-Großkreuz of the Malteser Ritterorden
Other awards
Appointed Privy Counsellor to the Emperor, June 4, 1916Elevated to Baron, April 28, 1918