Page - 929 - in THE FIRST WORLD WAR - and the End of the Habsburg Monarchy, 1914 – 1918

Brigadier von Bolzano is Missing It is a very inconspicuous entry that can be found in the Austrian War Archives in the ‘Register of Generals and Flag Officers 1911–1918’ : ‘Heinrich Bolzano Edler von Kronstätt, born 14.8.1868 in Slaný/Bohemia, Colonel, Infantry Regiment No. 88, 1.XI.1917 Brigadier, Commander of the 88th Infantry Brigade, missing since 17.6.1918 on the Montello.’ The entry by Antonio Schmidt-Brentano in the work Die k. k. bzw. k. u. k Generalität 1816–1918 (The Imperial and Royal and the Imperial-Royal Generals 1816–1918), printed in 2007 as a manuscript, is very different : ‘Bolzano Edler von Kro- nstätt, Heinrich (14.8.1868  – [missing Asiago] 17.6.1918).’ Like the entry on General Wodniansky, who had been registered as having fallen in battle in 1914, the two entries are incorrect. The records on which they are based gloss over a set of facts that would earn the connotation ‘tragic’. It cannot be ruled out that data was intentionally falsified, since the Montello and Asiago are a long way apart. Bolzano furthermore never com- manded the 88th Infantry Brigade, but instead led the 25th Rifle Brigade during the June fighting in Veneto. The relevant operational files of the 25th Rifle Brigade have disappeared without trace. It was intended that the General be regarded as missing. It was assumed, however, that it was a case of desertion. The mystification hides a very clear message : a general does not desert. Heinrich von Bolzano originated from Bohemia and was the son of a factory owner. In 1887, he had joined up voluntarily with Infantry Regiment No. 8, decided to take the path to become a career officer and went to the cadet academy in Prague. In 1893, he was accepted by the War Academy, became a General Staff officer and was Chief of Staff in the 29th Infantry Division before the outbreak of war. He counted among the personnel of Infantry Regiment No. 88 (‘Beraun’). Thus, his military background was predominantly Czech. At the beginning of the war, Bolzano was a colonel and Commander of Infantry Regiment 88, subsequently commander for two-and-a-half years of an infantry brigade that was named after him, and which was then renamed the 132nd Infantry Brigade. In spite of an almost continual deployment with front troops and participation in many battle and encounters, he was not promoted. Only in November 1917 did he reach the next rank, became brigadier and was still brigade commander, now of the 25th Rifle Brigade. His then divisional commander, Major General Peter Hofmann, regarded him as suitable only for ‘use away from the front’. His suitability for divisional command was denied.2239 Even so, Heinrich Bolzano did