Austro-Hungarian First Army
Encyclopedia
The Austro-Hungarian First Army was an Austro-Hungarian field army that fought during World War I
.
The First Army was formed in 1914 as part of Austro-Hungarian mobilization following its declaration of war on Serbia
and Russia
. The First Army was put under the command of Gen. Viktor Dankl von Krasnik. It was composed of the First, Fifth and Tenth Corps, originating from Kraków
, Presburg and Przemyśl
, respectively. The First Army earned the first Austro-Hungarian victory of World War I
during its first campaign by defeating the Russian Fourth Army
at the Battle of Krasnik
in northern Galicia in late August 1914. Gen. Puhallo replaced von Krasnik in May 1915 following the latter's transfer to the Italian Front. The First Army continued fighting on the Eastern Front
, taking part in Austria-Hungary
's difficult campaigns in Poland
and Ukraine
. In 1916 Gen. Arthur Arz von Straussenburg
became the new commander of the First Army.
The last commander of the First Army, Gen. Franz Freiherr Rohr von Denta, replaced von Straussenberg in 1917. However, Austro-Hungarian casualties were extremely high on the Eastern Front
, and the casualty-struck First Army had to be disbanded in 1917.
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
.
The First Army was formed in 1914 as part of Austro-Hungarian mobilization following its declaration of war on Serbia
Serbia
Serbia , officially the Republic of Serbia , is a landlocked country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeast Europe, covering the southern part of the Carpathian basin and the central part of the Balkans...
and Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
. The First Army was put under the command of Gen. Viktor Dankl von Krasnik. It was composed of the First, Fifth and Tenth Corps, originating from Kraków
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...
, Presburg and Przemyśl
Przemysl
Przemyśl is a city in south-eastern Poland with 66,756 inhabitants, as of June 2009. In 1999, it became part of the Podkarpackie Voivodeship; it was previously the capital of Przemyśl Voivodeship....
, respectively. The First Army earned the first Austro-Hungarian victory of World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
during its first campaign by defeating the Russian Fourth Army
4th Army (Russian Empire)
The Russian Fourth Army was a World War I Russian field army that fought on the Eastern Front.-Composition:At the beginning of the war, the army consisted of:...
at the Battle 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...
in northern Galicia in late August 1914. Gen. Puhallo replaced von Krasnik in May 1915 following the latter's transfer to the Italian Front. The First Army continued fighting on the Eastern 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...
, taking part in Austria-Hungary
Austria-Hungary
Austria-Hungary , more formally known as the Kingdoms and Lands Represented in the Imperial Council and the Lands of the Holy Hungarian Crown of Saint Stephen, was a constitutional monarchic union between the crowns of the Austrian Empire and the Kingdom of Hungary in...
's difficult campaigns in Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
and Ukraine
Ukraine
Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It has an area of 603,628 km², making it the second largest contiguous country on the European continent, after Russia...
. In 1916 Gen. Arthur Arz von Straussenburg
Arthur Arz von Straussenburg
Arthur Freiherr Arz von Straußenburg was an Austro-Hungarian Colonel General and last Chief of General Staff to the Austro-Hungarian Army.- Early life :...
became the new commander of the First Army.
The last commander of the First Army, Gen. Franz Freiherr Rohr von Denta, replaced von Straussenberg in 1917. However, Austro-Hungarian casualties were extremely high on the Eastern 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...
, and the casualty-struck First Army had to be disbanded in 1917.
Commanders
- Gen. Viktor Dankl von Krasnik - 1914 - 1915
- Gen. Paul Freiherr Puhallo von Brlog - 1915 - 1916
- Gen. Arthur Arz von StraussenburgArthur Arz von StraussenburgArthur Freiherr Arz von Straußenburg was an Austro-Hungarian Colonel General and last Chief of General Staff to the Austro-Hungarian Army.- Early life :...
- 1916 - 1917 - Gen. Franz Freiherr Rohr von DentaFranz Rohr von DentaFranz Rohr von Denta was an Austro-Hungarian Field Marshal and field commander who served as the last commander of the Austro-Hungarian First Army.- Early life :...
- 1917