Theresian Military Academy
Encyclopedia
The Theresian Military Academy is an academy, where the Austrian Armed Forces train their officers
. The Academy is located in the castle of Wiener Neustadt
in Lower Austria
.
who gave the first commander of the Academy, Fieldmarshal Leopold Josef Graf Daun
(Lord Daun), the order “” (“Make me hard working officers and honest men”). Per year the Academy accepted 100 noblemen and 100 commoners to start their education there. In 1771 Fieldmarshal Lieutenant Hannig published the official studying plan and in 1775 Maria Theresa published the Academy Rules. At this time it took 11 years to complete the Academy but step by step it was shortened to 3 years.
The Styrian Prince Erzherzog Johann (Archduke John) was the principal Headmaster of the academy for 44 years (1805–1849).
In the First Republic
(1918–1938) the academy was located in Enns
untll 1934 and then again in the castle of Wiener Neustadt. A very remarkable event in the time between Austrofascism
and the Anschluss
(Occupation of Austria by Nazi Germany
) was that Lieutenant General
Rudolf Towarek (Commander of the TherMilAk between 1933 and 1938) prevented the Wehrmacht
from entering the castle for several days. This was the only military resistance made by Austrians against the occupation by Nazi Germany. GenLt Towarek wasn't punished for this action; he was, however, retired while retaining the right to wear the Austrian uniform after his retirement which was highly unusual in those days.
After the Anschluss the Wehrmacht installed a war school for non-commissioned officer
s at the castle of Wiener Neustadt. The first commander of this school was Erwin Rommel
. At this time the Germans erected a new building next to the castle, which is now known as Fort Daun, in which the Military High School of Austria is located.
After World War II
and the Austrian State Treaty
which was signed in 1955 the demolished castle was rebuilt and in 1958 the military academy was again located in Wiener Neustadt after a short intermezzo (1955–1958) in Enns.
Norbert Sinn.
From 1997-2008 the TherMilAk was a 4-year college which can also be attended by civilian students and finishes with a masters degree in military leadership. In 2008 it was changed into a 3-year curriculum, graduating with a bachelor's degree. In 2003 the first four women completed the academy. Since 1959 more than 3,600 young officers have been educated at the Theresian Military Academy.
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...
. The Academy is located in the castle of Wiener Neustadt
Wiener Neustadt
-Main sights:* The Late-Romanesque Dom, consecrated in 1279 and cathedral from 1469 to 1785. The choir and transept, in Gothic style, are from the 14th century. In the late 15th century 12 statues of the Apostles were added in the apse, while the bust of Cardinal Melchior Klesl is attributed to...
in Lower Austria
Lower Austria
Lower Austria is the northeasternmost state of the nine states in Austria. The capital of Lower Austria since 1986 is Sankt Pölten, the most recently designated capital town in Austria. The capital of Lower Austria had formerly been Vienna, even though Vienna is not officially part of Lower Austria...
.
History
The Theresian Military Academy is the oldest military academy in the world and was founded on 14 December 1751 by Maria Theresa of AustriaMaria Theresa of Austria
Maria Theresa Walburga Amalia Christina was the only female ruler of the Habsburg dominions and the last of the House of Habsburg. She was the sovereign of Austria, Hungary, Croatia, Bohemia, Mantua, Milan, Lodomeria and Galicia, the Austrian Netherlands and Parma...
who gave the first commander of the Academy, Fieldmarshal Leopold Josef Graf Daun
Leopold Josef Graf Daun
Count Leopold Joseph von Daun , later Prince of Thiano, Austrian field marshal, was born at Vienna, as son of Count Wirich Philipp von Daun.- Background :...
(Lord Daun), the order “” (“Make me hard working officers and honest men”). Per year the Academy accepted 100 noblemen and 100 commoners to start their education there. In 1771 Fieldmarshal Lieutenant Hannig published the official studying plan and in 1775 Maria Theresa published the Academy Rules. At this time it took 11 years to complete the Academy but step by step it was shortened to 3 years.
In the First 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...
(1918–1938) the academy was located in Enns
Enns (city)
Enns is a city in the Austrian state of Upper Austria, located 281 m above sea level on the river Enns, which forms the border with the state of Lower Austria....
untll 1934 and then again in the castle of Wiener Neustadt. A very remarkable event in the time between Austrofascism
Austrofascism
Austrofascism is a term which is frequently used by historians to describe the authoritarian rule installed in Austria with the May Constitution of 1934, which ceased with the forcible incorporation of the newly-founded Federal State of Austria into Nazi Germany in 1938...
and the Anschluss
Anschluss
The Anschluss , also known as the ', was the occupation and annexation of Austria into Nazi Germany in 1938....
(Occupation of Austria by Nazi Germany
Nazi Germany
Nazi Germany , also known as the Third Reich , but officially called German Reich from 1933 to 1943 and Greater German Reich from 26 June 1943 onward, is the name commonly used to refer to the state of Germany from 1933 to 1945, when it was a totalitarian dictatorship ruled by...
) was that Lieutenant General
Lieutenant General
Lieutenant General is a military rank used in many countries. The rank traces its origins to the Middle Ages where the title of Lieutenant General was held by the second in command on the battlefield, who was normally subordinate to a Captain General....
Rudolf Towarek (Commander of the TherMilAk between 1933 and 1938) prevented the Wehrmacht
Wehrmacht
The Wehrmacht – from , to defend and , the might/power) were the unified armed forces of Nazi Germany from 1935 to 1945. It consisted of the Heer , the Kriegsmarine and the Luftwaffe .-Origin and use of the term:...
from entering the castle for several days. This was the only military resistance made by Austrians against the occupation by Nazi Germany. GenLt Towarek wasn't punished for this action; he was, however, retired while retaining the right to wear the Austrian uniform after his retirement which was highly unusual in those days.
After the Anschluss the Wehrmacht installed a war school for non-commissioned officer
Non-commissioned officer
A non-commissioned officer , called a sub-officer in some countries, is a military officer who has not been given a commission...
s at the castle of Wiener Neustadt. The first commander of this school was Erwin Rommel
Erwin Rommel
Erwin Johannes Eugen Rommel , popularly known as the Desert Fox , was a German Field Marshal of World War II. He won the respect of both his own troops and the enemies he fought....
. At this time the Germans erected a new building next to the castle, which is now known as Fort Daun, in which the Military High School of Austria is located.
After 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...
and the Austrian State Treaty
Austrian State Treaty
The Austrian State Treaty or Austrian Independence Treaty re-established Austria as a sovereign state. It was signed on May 15, 1955, in Vienna at the Schloss Belvedere among the Allied occupying powers and the Austrian government...
which was signed in 1955 the demolished castle was rebuilt and in 1958 the military academy was again located in Wiener Neustadt after a short intermezzo (1955–1958) in Enns.
The TherMilAk today
The current commander of the TherMilAk is GeneralmajorGeneral (Germany)
General is presently the highest rank of the German Army and Luftwaffe . It is the equivalent to the rank of Admiral in the German Navy .-Early history:...
Norbert Sinn.
From 1997-2008 the TherMilAk was a 4-year college which can also be attended by civilian students and finishes with a masters degree in military leadership. In 2008 it was changed into a 3-year curriculum, graduating with a bachelor's degree. In 2003 the first four women completed the academy. Since 1959 more than 3,600 young officers have been educated at the Theresian Military Academy.