Eugen was promoted to Generaloberst on 22 May 1915; only five days later, on 27 May 1915, Archduke Eugen assumed command of the Southwestern Front, which unified the armies guarding the Austrian frontier with Italy; meanwhile, the Southern Front was reorganised as Army Group Tersztyanszky, still under the Archduke's umbrella. Eugen was elevated to the rank of Feldmarschall on 23 November 1916. The Archduke remained commander of the Southwestern Front until 11 January 1918, after which time the whole Italian battlefront was reorganised following the successes of the Caporetto Offensive.
After the war, Eugen was "Hoch- und Deutschmeister" (Grandmaster of the "German Order" - "Ordo Teutonice"). He remained in this capacity until 1929, when the order was transformed to a priestly order. Archduke Eugen died on 30 December 1954 in Meran, northern Italy.
GWS, 7/01 [rev. 11/03]
Immediately following Italy's declaration of war against the Empire
Southwestern Front, Generaloberst Erzherzog Eugen
Chief of Staff, Feldmlt. Alfred Krauss
Tirol Defense Command, Gen. d. Kav. Viktor Dankl von Krasnik
Chief of Staff, Genmj. Kletus Pichler
Rayon I (Ortler)
53., hus. brig., Obstlt. Hradezny
Sperren Nauders und Gomagoi
Rayon II
54. hus. brig., Oberst Stiller
Sperren Tonale, Pejo
Rayon III (Südtirol)
91. inf. div., Feldmlt. v. Können-Horak
50. hus. brig., Oberst Spiegel
detachment Riva. fortress detachment command, Genmj. Schiesser
181. inf. brig., Genmj. Englert
180. inf. brig., Genmj. Edler v. Verdross
52. hus. brig., Oberst Edl. v. Kreschel
Rayon IV (Fleimstal)
90. inf. div., Feldmlt. Edl. v. Scholz
55. mtn. brig., Oberst Frh. v. Concini
179. inf. brig., Oberst Schiessler
Sperren Paneveggio und Moena
Rayon V (Pustertal)
Komb. div. Pustertal, Feldmlt. Ludwig Goiginger
51. mtn. brig., Oberst Edl. v. Sparber
56. mtn. brig., Genmj. Bankowski
Sperren Corte, Ruaz, Tre Sassi, Plätzwiese, Landro, Mitterberg, Haideck
Fortress Trient, Feldmlt. Edl. v. Gusek
k.k. 5. Landsturm matrosen brig., Genmj. v. Jonak
3. fort. art. brig., Oberst Kleinschnitz
Army Group Rohr, Gen. d. Kav. Franz Rohr
Chief of Staff, Feldmlt. Karl Scotti
92. inf. div., Feldmlt. Karl Edl. v. Langer
183. inf. brig., Genmj. Gössmann
184. inf. brig., Genmj. Jaschke
Sperren Malborgeth, Raibl - Predil, Flitsch
57. hus. brig., Genmj. Lanzinger
59. mtn. brig., Genmj. Fernengel
VII. Korps, Gen. d. Kav. Erzherzog Joseph (transferred from E. Front, mid-May)
Chief of Staff, Obstlt. Eisner-Bubna
17. inf. div., Feldmlt. Edler v. Gelb
33. inf. brig., Oberst Pacor
34. inf. brig., Oberst Frh. v. Henneberg
17. field art. brig., Oberst Zagar
20. Honvéd inf. div., Genmj. Paul v. Nagy
39. Honvéd inf. brig., Oberst Stadler
81. Honvéd inf. brig., Genmj. Perneczky
20. field art. brig., Oberst Pohl
V. Army, Gen. d. Inf. Svetozar v. Boroevic
Chief of Staff, Genmj. Aurel v. le Beau
93. inf. div., Genmj. v. Boog
58. mtn. brig., Oberst Staufer
185. inf. brig., Oberst Vidale
94. inf. div., Feldmlt. Kuczera
187 inf. brig., Kontreadmiral Frh. v. Koudelka
60. mtn. brig., Oberst Mitlacher
57. inf. div., Feldmlt. Heinrich Goiginger
2. mtn. brig., Genmj. Geza v. Lukachich
6. mtn. brig., Oberst v. Hellebronth
57. field art. brig., Genmj. Adolf Aust
Küsten detachment, Oberst Voglhuber
Küsten detachment, Genmj. v. Maric
XV. Korps, Gen. d. Inf. Vincenz Fox
Chief of Staff, Oberst v. Falkenhausen
1. inf. div., Feldmlt. Bogat
7. mtn. brig., Genmj. Ströher
8. mtn. brig., Genmj. Andrian
1. field art. brig., Oberst Dworak
50. inf. div., Feldmlt. Edl. v. Kalser
3. mtn. brig., Genmj. Gerabek
15. mtn. brig., Genmj. Edl. v. Wieden
XVI. Korps, Feldzeugsmeister Wenzel v. Wurm
Chief of Staff, Oberst v. Loefen
58. inf. div., Genmj. Erwin Zeidler
4. mtn. brig., Genmj. Konopicky
5. mtn. brig., Genmj. Nöhring
58. field art. brig., Obstlt. Nadherny
18. inf. div., Genmj. Böltz
1. mtn. brig., Genmj. Novak v. Arienti
13. mtn. brig., Genmj. Gf. Berchtold v. Pr., Ch., u. P.
18. field art. brig., Oberst Secullic
48. inf. div., Feldmlt. Gabriel
11. mtn. brig., Genmj. Lawrowski
12. mtn. brig., Oberst Felix Prinz zu Schwarzenberg
Fortified Harbour of Pola, Vice-admiral Ritt. v. Chmelarz
Chief of Staff, Oberst Funk
k.k. 112. Landsturm inf. brig., Genmj. Szentgyörgyi
4. fort. art. brig., Genmj. Hlavacek
14. mtn. brig., Oberst Großmann
Orders of Battle: Isonzo Front in March 1916
Immediately preceding the Tirol Offensive conducted by General Dankl von Krasnik
Commander, Erzherzog Eugen
X. Armee, General der Kavallerie Rohr
I. det., XCIV. inf. div., Feldmarschalleutnant Kuczera
II. det., Globocnik Group, Generalmajor Globocnik
III. det., XCII. inf. div., Genmj. Fernengel
IV. det., XLIV. Schützen div., Feldmlt. Nemeczek
V. det., XV. Korps, Gen. d. Inf. Stöger-Steiner von Steinstätten
L. inf. div., Feldmlt. Kalser von Maasfeld
I. inf. div., Feldmlt. Schmidt von Fussina
XLVIII. inf. div., Feldmlt. Gabriel
V. Armee, Gen. d. Inf. Boroevic von Bojna
I. det., XVI. Korps, Feldzeugmeister von Wurm
LXII. inf. div., Genmj. Novak von Arienti
LVIII. inf. div., Genmj. Zeidler
II. det., VII. Korps, Gen. d. Kav. Erzherzog Josef
XX. Honved inf. div., Genmj. von Lukachich
XVII. inf. div., Feldmlt. von Gelb
CVI. Landsturm div., Feldmlt. Kletter
III. det., Feldmlt. Winckler
LXI. inf. div., Feldmlt. Winckler
IX. inf. div., Genmj. Krasel
IV. det. (Küstenland), Konteradmiral von Koudelka
V. det. (Fiume), Genmj. von Istvanovic
Support: III. Korps, Feldmlt. von Krautwald
VI. inf. div., Feldmlt. Schönburg-Hartenstein
XXII. Schützen div., Genmj. Schön
XXVIII. inf. div., Feldmlt. Schneider von Manns-Au
XVIII. inf. div., Genmj. Stracker
Orders of Battle: Tirol Front in May 1916
Immediately preceding the Tirol Offensive conducted by General Dankl von Krasnik
Army Group Archduke Eugen, GO Archduke Eugen
Chief of Staff, Feldmlt. Alfred Krauss
XI. Army, GO Viktor Dankl
VIII. Korps, FZM Viktor Scheuchensteuel
57. Inf. Div., Feldmlt. H. Goiginger
59. Inf. Div., Genmj. Kroupa
48. Inf. Div., Feldmlt. Gabriel
Border detachment 4
XX. Korps, Feldmlt. Archduke Karl Franz Josef
Chief of Staff, Obst. Alfred Frh. v. Waldstätten
3. Inf. Div., Feldmlt. Edler v. Horsetzky
8. Inf. Div., Feldmlt. Fabini
58. Mtn. Brig., Obst. v. Merten
180. Inf. Brig., Feldmlt. Edler v.Verdross
III. Korps, Feldmlt. Ritter v. Krautwald
6. Inf. Div., Feldmlt. Fst. V. Schönburg-Hartenstein
22. Schützen Div., Genmj. Edler v. Kochanowski
43. Schützen Brig., Obst. Ritter v. Ellison
18. Inf. Brig., Obst. W. Laxa
22. F.A. Brig., Obst. Nobile di Giorgi
5. Kompanie
28. Inf. Div., Feldmlt. Schneider v. Manns-Au
III. Army, GO Hermann v. Kövess
XVII. Korps, Gen. d. Inf. Karl Kritek
18. Inf. Div., Genmj. Stracker
2. Mtn. Brig., Obst. Panzenböck
8. Mtn. Brig., Genmj. Wossala
181. Inf. Brig., Genmj. Kindl
I. Korps, Gen. d. Kav. Karl Frh. v. Kirchbach
10. Inf. Div., Feldmlt. Edler v. Mecenseffy
34. Inf. Div., Feldmlt. Rudolf Krauss
43. Schützen Div., Genmj. Tunk
XXI. Korps, Feldmlt. Fhr. V. Lütgendorf
Kaiser Schützen Div., Genmj. Englert
44. Schützen Div., Feldmlt. Nemeczek
Landesverteidigungskommando in Tirol (Tirol Defense), Gen. d. Inf. Roth
Rayon I (Stilfserjoch), Obst. Fhr. v. Lempruch
Rayon II (Tonale), Genmj. Edler v. Steinhart
Rayon III (Südtirol), Feldmlt v. Können-Horák
Rayon IV, 90 Inf. Div., Feldmlt. Edler v. Scholz
Rayon V (Pustertal), Feldmlt. L. Goiginger
Reproduced from a newspaper interview: "You have seen what my troops, exceeding all expectations, have quickly accomplished in the most difficult terrain imaginable. Any success the Italians could possibly have, they had at the very beginning of the war, when we had only weak forces, Landsturm formations, and native sharpshooters, sparsely lining the Italian border.
How the Italians Failed
"But Cadorna, my enemy, adhered strictly to the rules of the art of strategy, and at first systematically felt out our entire front, seeking by means of smaller thrusts to determine the stength and make-up of the Austrian troops against him, and by lively artillery fire trying to determine the number and make-up of our batteries. This methodical, but time-consuming procedure cost him the very first two weeks, during which time we were bringing up our reserves and putting our positions in a state of defense.
"When General Cadorna actually did seriously begin to go for us, he collided with an unbreakably strong front. Although the enemy was at that time numerically far superior to us, we still succeeded in making a stand against him all along the line, something we had hardly hoped to be able to do when the Italian war declaration came. The centre of gravity of the Italian attacks shifted to the Isonzo front, where particularly the second and fourth battles of the Isonzo were extraordinarily hard and bloody. Even in these battles, it was demonstrated what our offensive has now confirmed: that our men, but not the Italians, could stand the horrors of drumfire.
The Gruesome Scenery of War
"Specifically, the close cooperation between our infantry and our artillery, and the batteries among one another has been the main source of our success. Our artilleristic defense has cost the enemy veritable hetacombs of dead.
"Before certain sectors of our front, such as [Monte] San Michele and Podgora, veritable mountains of bodies were frequently piled up. Since, owing to the rocky nature of the terrain and the incessant enemy fire, one couldn't bury them for weeks at a time, and they rendered the air so pestilent that our officers could not eat. Our men, fortunately, have indestructible nerves, which did not give way even when the Italian shells crashed into the midst of these herds of half-decayed bodies. Two of our men once remained lying wounded among these bodies, keeping alive from food they found in the pockets of the dead. After twenty-one days, they were found by one of our patrols among the decaying bodies, both in good spirits and their wounds almost healed of themselves. Where burial was impossible the bodies have been covered with quicklime.
Building Upon Solid Rock
"Just as difficult, because of the rock. in the laying out of trenches. Rock splinters and fragments caused by heavy shells striking frequently causes far more serious wounds than the shells themselves, since the rock splinters are razor-sharp and frequently carry dirt into the wounds they inflict. We have accomplished a great deal, particularly in the matter of road building, which will later be a benefit to tourist traffic. We have also built various new railways, two here in the Tirol alone.
"I was present at the beginning of our attack on the morning when Asiago was bombarded, where the Italian division command had headquarters. Our second shot was a bulls-eye and caused a grand confusion among the surprised enemy. When I came out again in the afternoon, to my army a photograph of this shot was handed to me. One of our fliers who had been circling over the place during the bombardment had photographed this hit, flown home, and at once had it developed. One really could not ask more.
"The Italian prisoners unanimously declared the effect of our artillery fire was frightful, simply unendurable. Under cover of this artillery fire, it was possible for our infantry, with relatively really very slight losses, to tear from the enemy position after position.
"The Italian artillery answered our fire only weakly--not, as captured magazines afterward showed, from lack of ammunition, but because they were holding back for our infantry attacks but when it was always too late.
Reinventing the War Club
"This war employs not only the newest and most unheard-of auxiliary means of modern technology, such as big-calibre guns of fabulous range and effect, wire entanglements charged with high-tension electrical current, and gas attacks, but digs up offensive and effective devices out of long-forgotten ages, such as the steel helmet, which, by the way, is too heavy, and worthless against near shots; breastplates and armoured shields, the knife of the Bavarians and our own mountaineers, and even the old battle-mace and war club.
This latter first appeared on the Isonzo, where in the front hand-to-hand fighting there, our men found themselves hindered rather than aided by rifles, so they took gas pipes, cut them into convenient lengths, and fitted them into blocks of wood which they studded with nails after the manner of the medieval 'morgenstern.' These primitive battle clubs proved such a success in hand-to-hand fighting in narrow trenches that in compliance with the wishes of our men substantially made battle clubs have now been generally placed at their disposal. Thus, war makes invention."
Immediately following the Italian Isonzo Offensive that captured Görz
Army Group Erzherzog Eugen, Generaloberst Erzherzog Eugen
Rayon I-Stilfserjoch
Rayon II-Tonale, Genmj. von Steinhart
XI. Army, Generaloberst Rohr
Rayon III-Feldmlt. von Koennen-Korak
XXI. Korps, Feldmarschal von Lütgendorf
Guseck Group, Feldmlt. von Guseck
Kaiser Schützen div., Genmj. Englert
XX. Korps, Feldmlt. Schönburg-Hartenstein
III. inf. div., Feldmlt. von Horzetzky
VIII. inf. div., Feldmlt. von Fabini
III. Korps, Feldmlt. von Krautwald
VI. inf. div., Genmj. Müller
XXII. Schützen div., Genmj. von Kochanowski
XXVIII. inf. div., Feldmlt. Schneider von Manns-Au
X. inf. div., Feldmlt. von Mecenseffy
XVII. Korps, Gen. d. Inf. Kritek
XVIII. inf. div., Genmj. von Hrozny
Roth Korps, Gen. d. Inf. von Roth
Rayon IV-Feldmlt. von Scholz
XC. inf. div., Feldmlt. von Scholz
LVII. inf. div., Feldmlt. H. Goiginger
Rayon V-Feldmlt. L. Goiginger
X. Armee, Feldmlt. Scotti
XCIV. inf. div., Genmj. Lawrowski
XCII. inf. div., Genmj. von Krasel
V. Armee, Generaloberst Boroevic von Bojna
XV. Korps, Gen. d. Inf. Stöger-Steiner von Steinstätten
L. inf. div., Genmj. Gerabek
I. inf. div., Feldmlt. von Fussina
XVI. Korps, Feldz. von Wurm
LXII. inf. div., Feldmlt. von Arienti
LVIII. inf. div., Genmj. Zeidler
VIII. Korps, Gen. d. Kav. Erzherzog Josef
XX. Honved inf. div., Genmj. von Lukachich
XVII. inf. div., Feldmlt. von Gelb
IX. inf. div., Feldmlt. Alfred Edl. von Schenk
Reinforcement, XXVIII. inf div., Feldmlt. Schneider von Manns-Au
XLIV. Schützen div., Feldmlt. Nemeczek
XVI. inf. div., Feldmlt. von Schariczer
Triest Rayon, Conteradmiral von Koudelka
Fiume Rayon, Genmj. von Istvanovic
Immediately preceding the Caporetto Offensive
Erzherzog Eugen Army Front, Feldmarschal Erzherzog Eugen
Deutsch XIV. Armee, Gen. d. Inf. von Below
Group Krauss, K.u.K. I. Korps, Gen. d. Inf. Alfred Krauss
Edelweiss, III. K.u.K. inf. div., Genmj. von Wieden
XXII. Schützen div., Genmj. Müller
LV. inf. div., Genmj. Felix Prinz zu Schwarzenberg
Group Stein, III. Bayerisch Korps, Genlt. von Stein
L. inf. div., Genmj .Gerabek
XII. inf. div., Genmj. Lequis
Deutsch Alpenkorps, Genmj. von Tutschek
CXVII. inf. div., Genmj. Seydel
Group Berrer, Genlt. von Berrer
XXVI. inf. div., I. Württembergisch inf. div., Genlt. von Hofacker
CC. Deutsch inf. div., Genmj. Hans von Below
Group Scotti, XV. K.u.K. Korps, Feldmlt. Scotti
I. inf.div., Feldmlt. Metzger
V. Deutsch inf. div., Genmj. von Wedel
The conquest of Friulia and part of Venezia following Caporetto was a relief for the Army's supply situation, but not for long. On 30 December 1917, Archduke Eugen wrote to his military governor in Bosnia-Herzegovina, General Stefan v. Sarkotic, "Economically, the situation here is less pleasing. The food situation is at the moment worse than critical since, from the start of the offensive, I have fed the three armies under my command exclusively from the occupied territory. Supplies from the hinterland was irregular and scarce. Almost no tobacco, which the troops find hard to bear, but they do still get every day half a litre of wine [the full ration] which is plentifully available in this region. Bread is bad and only half the ration."
GWS, 9/03
