Critical shortages of fuel led to naval inactivity, shortages in food supplies brought dissatisfaction to the sailor, and the failure of the fleet to prevent Italy’s constant unopposed bombardment of shore towns in Dalmatia brought defeatism and mutinous behaviour to Njegovan. He was not capable of improving matters, as the Empire was virtually starving and the navy was the last in line, behind even the town and city garrisons.
After the Cataro mutiny in February 1918 was quelled peacefully by Admiral Miklós Hórthy, Njegovan was compelled to retire on 1 March. Hórthy was appointed his replacement as head of the Pola Fleet. Admiral Franz Holub was appointed head of the Naval Section in the Ministry of War but had fewer responsibilities than his predecessors.
The Admiral was the recipient of several awards during his service. He received the Order of Leopold for his bombardment of Ancona the night Italy declared war on the Empire, May 1915. He also received the Grand Cross of the Order of the Iron Crown on 15 May 1917 after the Battle of the Otranto. After the revolt at Cattaro, he was pensioned, and received the Grand Cross of the Order of Leopold for services rendered to his Kaiser. Njegovan moved to Venice after the war.
Maximilian Njegovan died in 1930.
GWS, 6/03 [rev. 11/03]
