Johann von Kirchbach on Lauterbach

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Johann Freiherr von Kirchbach on Lauterbach

Johann Ferdinand Franz Freiherr von Kirchbach auf Lauterbach (born September 7, 1858 in Kronstadt ; † October 3, 1920 in Vienna ) was an Austro-Hungarian Privy Councilor and general of the infantry in World War I and the last imperial city commander of Vienna.

Origin and family

Johann came from the Saxon line of the Kirchbach family . He was the son of Field Marshal Lieutenant (rank of November 1, 1871) Hans Ferdinand (* October 28, 1804 - February 1, 1876 in Graz ) from his marriage to Adelheid Franziska Josepha Freiin von Riefel ( * June 17, 1826 in Vienna; † April 27, 1899 in Gorizia ) and younger brother of Colonel General Hans Karl (1856–1939).

Since they moved to Austria, the family had the old Swedish baron title (June 18, 1720), but the two brothers and their two other siblings did not officially manage it in Austria until May 31, 1909 with the title "auf Lauterbach" from Kaiser Franz Joseph I. approved.

biography

Years of development

Battle of Krasnik, August 23, 1914

The young Kirchbach first attended a grammar school in Graz and soon switched to the military high school in St. Pölten . After graduation, he was accepted at the Theresian Military Academy in Wiener Neustadt , from which he was released on April 24, 1879 as a lieutenant in Feldjäger Battalion No. 10 and in 1880 transferred to Feldjäger Battalion No. 2. In the following time he frequented the war school. Promoted to first lieutenant on May 1, 1884 , he was employed in the General Staff from 1885, where he was promoted to captain on April 1, 1888 . From 1891 to 1894 he taught tactics at the military academy in Wiener Neustadt. After this successful activity he was translated back to the general staff and advanced to major on May 1, 1895 , and then to lieutenant colonel on November 1, 1897 .

On February 1, 1901 (rank of November 1, 1900) he advanced to the position of Colonel and Chief of Staff of the XIV Army Corps. He succeeded Colonel Erwin Ritter von Krismanic and held this position until November 1906.

Austro-Hungarian infantry resting during an ongoing advance in 1914

As a general

With rank of May 3, 1907, he became major general and commander of the 12th (until December 4, 1908), then the 55th infantry brigade, shortly thereafter, on October 18, 1910, commander of the Austro-Hungarian 8th Infantry Troop Division in Bozen and on 29 April 1911 appointed field marshal lieutenant.

At the beginning of the First World War he took part in the Battle of Kraśnik and Lemberg with his 8th Division , but handed it over to Major General Ludwig von Fabini in September 1914 to replace General of the Infantry Blasius Schemua in the command of the II Army Corps. Shortly afterwards he was promoted to General of the Infantry by the highest resolution with rank of February 16, 1915 and fought with his corps on the Volhyn Front in September 1915 , but was immediately reported sick and paid a waiting fee until he was reactivated on January 10, 1916 and was appointed city commander of Vienna. He held this office until the end of the war.

After the baron was honored with the title of a Privy Council on May 3, 1916, in July 1918 numerous domestic and foreign awards were received, including the Commander's Cross of the Austrian-Imperial Leopold Order , the Order of the Iron Crown 3. Class , the Imperial and Royal Military Merit Cross 3rd Class with the War Decoration (KD.) And the Iron Cross 1st Class , the decoration with the Grand Cross of the Imperial Austrian Franz Joseph Order by Emperor Karl I and finally his on January 1, 1919 Retirement.

As a result of his serious illness, which began in 1915, the officer died in Vienna at the age of just 62. Wilhelm Wacek dedicated the “Freiherr von Kirchbach-Marsch” composed by him to the last imperial military commander of Vienna.

In the specialist literature, Kirchbach's first name is usually "Johann", but it appears in the ÖBL under Ferdinand, in the Gotha Pocket Book under Hans Ferdinand.

coat of arms

Coat of arms of the barons of Kirchbach on Lauterbach

1720/1909: Shield squared by a golden paw cross with a heart shield, in it a silver church with a red roof and a silver cross, with a silver brook flowing out of the gate, one in the upper right corner, above a shield base in blue on a green lawn, divided three times by silver and red shining golden sun. 1 and 4 in blue under two slanted golden silver swords a golden aristocratic crown, 2 and 3 in red each a right-facing, upright silver lion (according to some: leopard). The baron's crown rests on the shield, and two helmets above it: on the right, between the open aisle divided by silver and red across the corner, a silver church tower with a red roof; on the left between two flags on golden tournament lances with two golden tassels each, the right silver with a blue border, the left blue, a golden lily. The ceilings are blue and gold. In depictions with a shield holder: two forward-looking natural lions (or leopards).

Individual evidence

  1. ^ A b Antonio Schmidt-Brentano: The kk or kuk generals 1816-1918. Austrian State Archives, Vienna 2007, p. 86
  2. ↑ Nobilitas ( Memento of the original from April 2, 2015 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and not yet checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / adelsmatrikel.de
  3. ^ Walter von Hueck (ed.): Genealogisches Handbuch des Adels . Verlag CA Starke, Limburg an der Lahn 1986, p. 202
  4. ↑ a b weltkriege.at% 20Johann / kirchbachjohann.htm Weltkriege.at  ( page no longer available , search in web archives )  Info: The link was automatically marked as defective. Please check the link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.@1@ 2Template: Toter Link / www.weltkriege.at  
  5. ↑ a b J. Kirchbach
  6. ^ Theodor Ritter von Zeynek: An officer in the General Staff Corps remembers. Böhlau Verlag GmbH & Co. KG, Vienna - Cologne - Weimar 2009, ISBN 978-3-205-78149-3 , p. 90
  7. ^ The Austrian Council of State: Minutes of the Executive Committee, the Council of State and the Executive Council of State Directorate: (October 21, 1918 to March 14, 1919). Volume 1, Verlag Österreich, 2008, p. 13
  8. ↑ Sport and Salon. No. 29, from Sunday, July 21, 1918, p. 1
  9. ^ Notices from the Documentation Center of the Austrian Brass band. No. 18 - November / December 2014
  10. ↑ Gothaisches genealogical pocket book of the baronial houses, part B, volume 91, Verlag Justus Perthes, Gotha 1941, p. 208
  11. ↑ JA Tyroff: Book of arms of the Austrian monarchy . Volume 35, Verlag Conrad Tyroffsches Wappen-, also Kunst- und Kommissionsbureau, Nuremberg 1867, p. 29
personal data
SURNAME Kirchbach on Lauterbach, Johann von
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Kirchbach auf Lauterbach, Johann Ferdinand Franz Freiherr von (full name)
BRIEF DESCRIPTION Austrian general of the infantry
DATE OF BIRTH September 7, 1858
PLACE OF BIRTH Kronstadt
DATE OF DEATH October 3, 1920
Place of death Vienna