The Rebirth of the Habsburg Army: Friedrich Beck and the Rise of the General Staff

by Scott Lackey

Overview

Friedrich Beck was the single most important figure in the transformation of the inept Habsburg military into the modern military state that would wage World War I. He correctly perceived that only an elite body of officers responsible for war planning and preparation could provide lasting security for the Austro-Hungarian empire. After firmly establishing the general staff as an institution, Beck led war planning to counter threats from Russia, Italy, and the Balkans; and spearheaded a vast rebuilding of the rail network. While his rise to power marked a returban to the favorite system of military administration of the early Franz Joseph period, Beck proved himself a man with real military ability that revolutionized an army.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780313293610
Publisher:	Bloomsbury Academic
Publication date:	10/20/1995
Series:	Contributions in Military Studies , #16
Pages:	272
Product dimensions:	6.14(w) x 9.21(h) x 0.62(d)
Lexile:	1680L (what's this?)

About the Author

SCOTT W. LACKEY has a Ph.D. from the University of North Carolina. He is Chief of the Combat Training Center/Warrior Information Network Division of the U.S. Army Combined Arms Center History Office/Army Knowledge Network, Ft. Leavenworth, KS.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments
Abbreviations
Introduction: The Forgotten Feldzeugmeister
Death and Rebirth
The General Staff Question
The Eastern Crisis and Beck's Rise to Power
The Beck System
Defending the Dual Monarchy
The Bulgarian Crisis, Austria-Hungary Prepares for War
Conclusion: The Rebirth of an Army
Bibliography

Editorial Reviews

Pivoting on the crucial role of Friedrich von Beck (1830-1906), examines the transformation of the Habsburg army during the last third of the 19th century into the modern military organization that Austria-Hungary fielded in World War I. Beck headed Franz Joseph's military chancellery for 14 years and his general staff for 25, during which time he bypassed the ministerial controls on the army and established a command structure based on the Prussian model. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

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