Marine

Navy: Adhesion to the new economic system of Mercantilism, as well as the establishment of Trading Companies, Privileged paved the way for the formation of an Austrian merchant fleet. In 1719 Emperor Karl VI granted Trieste and Rijeka (then Fiume) the status of free ports. During the first half of the 19^th century Austria´s highly efficient navy operated from Trieste, Fiume and Venice. Both the Donau-Dampfschiffahrts-Gesellschaft Erste, DDSG(founded in 1829), as well as theÖsterreichischer Lloyd(founded in 1836) had ships sailing to the Levant, the Far East, Africa and America. In 1850 a Central Shipping Office was founded in Vienna to regulate merchant shipping. After the Austro-Hungarian Compromise of 1867, the colours of the Austrian merchant ships (until then striped red-white-red) had to be changed. Thus, one half of the lower stripe, which had originally been red, was coloured green. Having lost all its vessels in 1918, Austria again began to build up a fleet after World War II - The first standing navy was formed in 1719 to protect Austrian merchant ships against pirates cruising the Mediterranean and the Adriatic Sea. In addition, another armed fleet called Danube Fleet evolved, which was particularly successful in delivering Austria from the Turks. In 1786 Emperor Joseph II bought two naval vessels from the Dutch. At approximately the same time the Austrian flag was hoisted on all of the Empire´s ships. From 1798-1848 Venetian (used in the Italian army) was the common language among members of the Austrian naval forces. Having been abolished in 1809 (due to the loss of all the Austrian ports to Napoleon), the Austrian Navy was re-formed by A. de Coninck in 1814. In addition, an Austrian Naval Academy was founded at Fiume). In 1853 German replaced Venetian as lingua franca. In 1857 Archduke Ferdinand Maximilian initiated a reorganization of the Austrian Navy. From 1862-1865 a Ministry of Naval Affairs existed, which was later on integrated into the War Ministry. In 1875 the rank of Admiral was created. In the years to follow A. Bourguignon, R. Daublebsky von Sterneck and Admiral Count R. Montecuccoli vigorously promoted the introduction of organizational reforms, the application of new naval strategies (Bourguignon) and the use of new technological equipment. After the Habsburgs had lost Venice, Pula (Croatia; then Pola, Italy) became the Empire´s main port followed by Kotor (then Cattaro) and Šibenik (then Sebenico). At the beginning of World War I the gross tonnage of Austria´s ships amounted to one million.

Austrian naval forces often proved highly successful in battle, for example they protected Austrian interests during the Greek fight for independence (1821-1830); in 1829 they fought Marocco; between 1839 and 1840 they fought Syria; between 1848 and 1849 they upheld the embargo raised against the rebellious province of Venice; in 1859 they fought French vessels; they were victorious in the Battle of Helgoland (1864) fought during the German-Danish War; under the command of W. Tegetthoff they were successful in the Naval Battle of Lissa in 1866; together with other fleets they crushed the Boxer Revolt in China (1900-1902); between 1896 and 1897 they participated in an international demonstration of naval forces off Crete; in 1905 the Austrian Navy took part in a demonstration of naval forces against Turkey.

Under Admiral A. Haus Austrian naval vessels prevented the advance of hostile forces to the Adriatic Sea in World War I and thereby crushed an attempt by the allied powers to land in Central Dalmatia. The most outstanding Austrian submarine commanders were G. Trapp, R. Singule, H. Rigele (awarded the Maria Theresia Cross) and Z. Hudecek. The top naval airmen were G. Banfield (awarded the Maria Theresia Cross) and D. Konjovics. When the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy was on the brink of falling apart, Austrian sailors rose in revolt at Kotor (then Cattaro). On October 31, 1918 Emperor Karl gave the Austrian fleet to Yugoslavia, which had not yet been recognized as an autonomous state. The truce of Villa Giusti, however, had provided for a transfer of the vessels to the allied powers. As a consequence, two Italian frogmen sank the imperial-turned-Yugoslavian flagship "Viribus Unitis" by means of a time fuse in the port of Pola (Pula) on November 1, 1918. Finally, it should be mentioned that the Austro-Hungarian Navy was not only engaged in the field of national defence but also vigorously promoted and supported science and research.

Literature: W. Aichelburg, Die Unterseeboote Österreich-Ungarns, 1981; H. F. Mayer and D. Winkler, Als Österreich die Welt entdeckte, 1991; P. Schupita, Die k. u. k. Seeflieger, 1983; A. E. Sokol, Seemacht Österreich, 1972; H. H. Sokol, Österreich-Ungarns Seekrieg 1914-18, 1973; L. Sondhaus, The Naval Policy of Austria-Hungary 1867-1918, 1994.