Berchtold, Leopold Graf#

b. Vienna, April 18, 1863, d. Peresznye near Sopron, Hungary (then Oedenburg), Nov. 21, 1942, politician, 1906-1911 ambassador in St. Petersburg, 1912-1915 Foreign Minister. After the Balkan Wars 1912/13 supported the creation of the new state of Albania to deny Serbia access to the Adriatic. After the 1914 assassination of the Austrian heir to the throne, Franz Ferdinand, he drafted the Austrian ultimatum issued to Serbia. When Italy and Romania announced their neutrality at the outbreak of World War I, B. resigned his post as Foreign Minister. Subsequently Master of Ceremonies and political adviser to the future Emperor, Archduke Karl.

Literature#