First Army (Austria-Hungary)
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 on 15 April 1918, following peace with Romania.
Commanders
- Gen. Viktor Dankl von Krasnik : Aug 1914 - 23 May 1915
- Gen. Graf Kirchbach auf Lauterbach (ad interim) : 23 May 1915 - 10 June 1915
- Gen. Paul Freiherr Puhallo von Brlog : 10 June 1915 - 26 July 1916
- Gen. Arthur Arz von Straussenburg : 16 Aug 1916 - Feb 1917
- Gen. Franz Freiherr Rohr von Denta : Feb 1917 - 15 April 1918
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