FIELD MARSHAL SVETOZAR BOROJEVIĆ – A BIOGRAPHY
Objavljeno: 07/03/2021
A century after his death, Svetozar Borojević remains one of the most interesting yet misunderstood figures of the First World War. His successes on the Eastern Front in 1914 and the Isonzo Front from 1915 onwards made him the Habsburg Empire’s most popular war-time military leader, but his legacy came crashing down in 1918, together with the Empire to whom he was completely devoted. Thus, in a curious twist of fate, he has been largely omitted from the European collective memory of the war.
This book describes the life and times of Svetozar Borojević, a career army officer who was in many ways a typical representative of the Austro-Hungarian military system with all its virtues and flaws, and the only Slav in the Habsburg Empire who had ever reached the rank of field marshal.
It also describes Borojević’s personal side, examining his life from his birth in a hamlet in present-day Croatia, the early childhood years spent far away from his parental home, his education and life of service throughout the Empire, his hopes, thoughts, ambitions, character, and, above all, the ways in which he tirelessly climbed the social, political, and military hierarchies of his time, reaching the top in face of tremendous adversity.
And finally, this book explores the reasons why, despite playing a prominent role in the events of 1914 to 1918, he was destined to fall together with the Empire, consumed by the whirlwind of politics and ideology in the turmoil of post-war Europe.
CONTENTS
Introduction
Before the Great War
The Croatian Military Frontier
First time in war: the Bosnia and Herzegovina campaign
The travel guide Durch Bosnien
Continuation of an exemplary military career
Head of the Croatian Home Guard
The Borojević – Härtel affair
General of the infantry
On the Eastern Front
The road to war
The Battle of Komarów
Commanding the 3rd Army
The relief of Przemyśl
A shoemaker’s workshop
The Battle of Limanowa
Borojević’s great popularity in Hungary
The Carpathian winter
On the situation in the Carpathians
The Austrian Hindenburg in the Carpathians
The surrender of Przemyśl
Russian catastrophe
On the successful May Battle
The Isonzo
Departure for the Isonzo
Modesty and expertise were key to Borojević’s popularity
Portraying a general
By sacrificing a hundred, I can save thousands
Comparisons with Hinendburg and Ruprecht of Bavaria
An honorary citizen
A doctorate of the University of Zagreb
Praising the Dalmatians
A memorial plaque and postcard
The general who receives unannounced visitors
Idolized by his men
Colonel general
A gift to the archbishop of Zagreb
The unveiling of a bust of Borojević
Abandoning Gorizia
Signing up for the war loan
On the future of Austria-Hungary
A tenth victory
The heroic deeds of the 5th Army
The first Theresian knight of the Isonzo Army
The military recreation home Boroevic
Three million shells in vain
Operation Waffentreue
A memorial plaque planted on Borojević’s childhood home
The vandalization of Adam Borojević’s tombstone
The Italians had to succumb to our offensive
Field marshal
An end of an empire
Final Months
The death of Friedrich Borojević
Accusations of the socialist press
Unwanted in Croatia
The Allies demand Borojević’s extradition
Death was quicker
New accusations
Borojević – a Croatian ban
The final goodbye
A letter after death
In memory of Field Marshal Borojević: a funeral speech
The testimony of Alice Schalek
Addendum
The enigma of Borojević’s birthdate
A Croat or a Serb?
A military leader who had never lost a battle
Present-day attitudes towards Borojević
Conclusion
Appendix
On the War against Italy
Sources and Bibliography