Bibliography - Suggestions on Austro-Hungarian Naval History

The following, quoted by permission of the various authors, appeared on the WW1-L list, and provide useful pointers to sources on the history of the Austro-Hungarian Navy.


22 August 1998, Erich Fritsch (erich.fritsch@medinet.net)

As far as I know, there has never been written an official history of Austria-Hungaries naval WWI operations. The reason might be, that Austria was cut off from the Adriatic sea after the treaties of St. Germain and as a result there was a lack of interest in such affairs. Though some interesting books were edited. You already mentioned Linienschiffleutnant a.D. Hans Sokol, who was the author of "Oesterreich - Ungarns Seekrieg 1914-1918". This edition was reprinted by "Oesterreichisches Kriegsarchiv-Marinearchiv" in 1968. Recommended can be Nikolaus von Martiny's "Bilddokumente austerreich - Ungarns Seekrieg 1914-1918". Two volumes, reprinted by "Akademische Druck- u. Verlagsanstalt, Graz,Austria 1973, ISBN 3-201-00825-7. (Text, pictures, maps of the main events). I don't know if the book is available in English, but there is an introduction by Prof. Anthony E. Sokol (Stanford University), maybe a relative of the above mentioned Hans Sokol. I'm sure you know Paul G. Halpern's biography of Anton Haus, A-H's last grandadmiral, a book, that precicely and accurately informs about logistics and tactics of Austria's naval leadership. Less known, but not less informing are Heinrich Bayer von Bayersburg's "Oesterreichs Admirale 1867 - 1918" (biographies) and "Schiff verlassen!" 1914- 1918 (report of the sinking of Austria's most important vessels).

As for the map boxes and register volume of "Oe.-U. letzter Krieg", I can inform you that I didn't see an offer in antiquarian catalogues for a long time now. If there are offers, you have to order the complete edition in most cases.


22 August 1998, Hunt Tooley (htooley@austinc.edu)

I wasn't paying attention and missed the question, but I would like to mention a pertinent book by my friend Lawrence Sondhaus:

The Naval Policy of Austria-Hungary 1867-1918: Navalism, Industrial Development, and the Politics of Dualism (Purdue University Press, 1994).

It is a very broad treatment, and not an operational history, but nearly half of this 400-page book is devoted to WWI or the immediate preliminaries. It is a very fine book.


5 March 2000, Lincoln Paine (lpaine1@MAINE.RR.COM)

I don't know how hard they are to find, but for anyone interested in the Austro-Hungarian Navy these two books are a good start:


Last Updated: 5 March, 2000.

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