Keywords: Conrad von Hötzendorf; general chief of staff; Austro-Hungarian Monarchy; World War I
At the beginning of World War I, the Austro-Hungarian army struggled with serious deficiencies in equipment and military leadership, had no combat experience, bu tits main problem was the flawed strategy. The Prussian strategists treated the expected war too optimistically, and expected to defeat France in six weeks, after which they could turn their powers against Russia. The Marne catastrophe overturned this plan radically, so they could not turn against the East, thereby putting into an extremely difficult position their main ally, the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy, and the leader of its army, Conrad von Hötzendorf. Initially, von Hötzendorf has also committed major tactical mistakes, but in September 1914 he already recognized the need to change the strategy. His position as a strategist was further complicated by the dynastic relationships of the Monarchy and the repeated interventions of Franz Joseph I. In this difficult position, he often had to improvise,which he accomplished brilliantly at Limanowa, marking a psychological turning point for the Central Powers.
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