1866 - AT THE END WAS THE BATTLE OF KONIGGRATZ

Esamina in modo sistematico le strategie militari austriache durante la guerra dell'Austria contro la Prussia del 1866, con particolare attenzione alle tattiche dimenticate che caratterizzavano l'esercito austriaco.

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The scholarly inquiry of the causes of Austrias defeat in 1866 is almost as old as the war against rising Prussia itself. Already in the immediate aftermath of the conflict, considerable energy was devoted to identifying the sources of failure. At the time, responsibility was attributed to the misjudgements of the high command, and above all to the commander-in-chief of the k.k. North Army, Feldzeugmeister Ludwig von Benedek. This one-sided interpretation, together with the broader debate surrounding the so-called question of guilt (Schuldfrage), was later treated with increasing nuance. During the twentieth century, historians sought the origins of the defeat at both political and military levels. From a military perspective, research has primarily examined developments in armaments technology, the (strategic-) operational miscalculations of the campaign, and the structural deficiencies of the k.k. Army, which stemmed in large part from severe budgetary restrictions. By contrast, comparatively little attention has been devoted to battle tactics. In 1866, Austria entered the war against Prussia with a tactical doctrine nearly sixty years old, based on an overestimation of the historical tradition of military values.

This volume examines precisely this neglected aspect. Within the broader context of armed conflicts since the Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars against France, it introduces and systematically analyses Austrian military doctrine, with particular emphasis on tactics. The study critically examines the outdated systems of recruitment and training, while also considering the related fields of uniforms and equipment, soldiers daily life, and military communication. The investigation, however, focuses primarily on two main themes: first, the Austrians disdain for the employment of firearms; and second, their unshakeable belief in the invincibility of their own close-order battle formations. The bayonet charge, in particular, was accorded a special and almost emblematic status. The volume further explores the interaction between the various arms in wartime and highlights the complex interrelationship between strategic and tactical concepts. It becomes clear that the k.k. Austrian Army was among the very last of the truly Napoleonic forces; an army whose admirable courage could no longer compensate for hopelessly outdated infantry tactics in the age of industrialised warfare.

Contents

Foreword

Introduction

State of research

The army

The Austrian army spirit

Impact of the financial crisis

The clash of arms

The long road to war an overview

The Schleswig-Holstein Question 1863-1865

Mobilisation and deployment

The war begins

All quiet in the south

The invasion of Bohemia

The North Army in crisis

Königgrätz

Retreat to Olmütz

Formation of the k.k. Danube Army

Conclusion of peace

Forgotten fronts: Tyrol and the Main Campaign

The theatre of war

The terrain

Fortified defensive positions and entrenchments

The tactical level

General considerations

Army organisation

Conscription and length of service

Drill manuals

The firefight

Hurrah and charge the Austrian shock tactics

Morale, discipline and panic

Transport, march, and rations

Uniform and equipment of the soldier

Colours

Cooperation between the branches

Excursus: The strategic level

Theoretical starting point

The operational plans in 1866

Command and control

Intelligence

Summary

Answering the research questions

Recap and outlook

Concluding words

List of sources and references

Picture credits

Index of places and persons