Mitteilungen des Österreichischen Staatsarchivs 52. (2007)
FRIED, Marvin Benjamin: Feldmarschall Franz Conrad von Hötzendorf: A Memoir Analysis
FELDMARSCH ALL FRANZ CONRAD VON HOTZENDORF: A Memoir Analysis Marvin Benjamin Fried Preface Franz Conrad von Hötzendorf was bom in 1854 in the Viennese suburb of Penzing to an old Austrian family. Following his entry into the Austro-Hungarian military academy, Conrad rose through the ranks and in 1906 became the Chief of Staff of the Austro-Hungarian armed forces. His role in the Austro-Hungarian war planning and execution of the majority of the First World War was crucial, as he remained Chief of Staff until 1917. A year and a half before the war ended, the new Emperor of Austria, Kaiser Karl I, relieved Conrad of his command. Conrad died in 1925, following extensive writings about his career and wartime experiences. Conrad was seen as one of Europe’s finest strategists during his teachings at the military academy. He had seen action in Bosnia in 1878 and in Herzegovina in 1882, and was, according to his personal files, “brave, cold-blooded,” and “outstandingly courageous,”1 in short “an outstanding general.”2 Thus Conrad’s massive failure at the Battle of Lemberg (Lvov) in 1914 against the Russian forces was such a surprise, an event that decisively weakened the Austro-Hungarian forces for the rest of the war. Many also see Conrad as being responsible, at least in part, for the Austrian decision to go to war with Serbia which directly led to the outbreak of the First World War. Conrad discusses all of these accusations in his personal notes,3 compiled in 1925, and reassigns the blame which initially fell upon him. This article aims to translate,4 analyze, and put into context the thinking and visions of the man at the forefront the Austro-Hungarian military establishment at the outbreak of the First World War. The purpose of this article is to gain a better understanding of why one of the most central figures of the early Twentieth Century, a man who is seen by 1 Personalevidenzen [File]. 2 Personalevidenzen [File]. 3 Conrad von Hötzendorf, Franz: Private Aufzeichnungen: Erste Veröffentlichung aus den Papieren des k.u.k Generalstabschefs [Private Records: First publication from the papers of the Chief of the Imperial General Staff], Edited by Kurt Peball. Wien 1976. 4 All materials in German quoted or used in this article were translated by the author. Conrad’s memoirs are located in the Austrian War Archives [Kriegsarchiv] of the National Archives [Österreichisches Staatsarchiv] in Vienna, Austria. Mitteilungen des Österreichischen Staatsarchivs 52/2007 227
