Viktor Graf von Scheuchenstuel

Viktor Graf von Scheuchenstuel (May 10, 1857 – April 17, 1938) was a colonel general in the Austro-Hungarian Army. He was a general staff officer and division commander until World War I broke out. During World War I he was a Corps and Army commander serving in Serbia, Albania and Italy. During World War I he was promoted to Graf (equivalent to a Count) in the Austrian nobility. Following the end of World War I and the end of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, Scheuchenstuel retired from the military. He died in Vienna.

Before World War I Scheuchenstuel was born in Witkowitz, Moravia (now part of the Czech Republic). In 1874 he attended Pioneer Cadet School in Hainburg in Austria. He served as a lieutenant and Oberleutnant in the Pioneers until 1884 when he attended a military academy in Vienna. Following graduation in 1886, Scheuchenstuel joined the Austro-Hungarian General Staff. In 1903 he commanded the Austro-Hungarian 50th Infantry Regiment. Following the promotion to major general in 1907 he commanded the 69th Infantry Brigade, the 8th Mountain Brigade and the 10th Infantry Division. In 1911 he was promoted to field marshal lieutenant and in 1912 took over the 9th Infantry Division.

World War I

Serbian Front In August 1914 Field Marshal Lieutenant Scheuchenstuel commanded the Austrian 9th Infantry Division, which was part of General Arthur Giesl von Gieslingen's VIII. Corps on the Serbian border. Around August 12 three Austrian Armies, including the VIII. Corps, attacked Serbia in what became known as the First Invasion of Serbia. The Austrians were driven back by August 24, with over 50,000 men lost. On October 12, 1914, Gieslingen was relieved of duty In an attempt to break the stalemate, on May 15, 1916 Army Group Archduke Eugen under the command of the Archduke Eugen of Austria attacked into the Trentino area in Italy. Scheuchenstuel's VIII. Korps was included as part of the XI. Army which formed half of the Army Group. Initially the attacks, which became known as the Battle of Asiago, were successful. The Austrian army was able to open a 5 mile wide and 12 mile deep gap in the Italian lines. Conrad blamed the suppliers and Army Headquarters ordered an increase in the meat ration. However, the supplies didn't exist and this order was not fulfilled.

The unsuccessful Battle of the Piave River in July 1918 resulted in Scheuchenstuel's troops being unable to advance. Due to dissatisfaction of his troops he was forced to retreat from Trentino after the Battle of Vittorio Veneto, which ended World War I on the Italian Front. Following the war, Scheuchenstuel retired in 1918. He died in Vienna on 17 April 1938.