Austrian Artillery 1866

[cameronian]

Interesting email from our translator in Colorado, he's currently finishing up Fontane. It would appear that another of our dearly held 'facts' about Koniggratz has more of the mythic than the factual. The 'marked ranges' down which the Austrians were firing appear not to have been marked at all. Claims regarding the marked ranges with guns all nicely registered and good to go by the start of the battle originate exclusively from Prussian sources. The translator, who's 1866 bibliography is a book in itself, can find no Austrian claims anywhere to this effect, indeed it is specifically and hotly refuted in 'Der Nebel von Chlum', and in more measured tone by Ditfurth, who it seems is emerging from the Fontane research as a hitherto unoticed diamond in the rough. Ditfurth argues that apart from there being no first hand Austrian claims to this effect, most of the batteries only moved into their battle positions after receiving Benedek's final orders which didn't leave his HQ until 2am on the morning of the 3rd. He claims that the Prussians made up the measured range story to explain away the accuracy and industry of the Austrian artillery which was in sharp distinction to their own poor showing.

[Leman]

An age old way of explaining away one's own shortcomings - listen to losing football fans.

[cameronian]

I asked him who/what 'Der Nebel von Chlum' was and got the following answer:

Hi Gerry,  "Der Nebel von Chlum" "The Fog of Chlum" was written in 1867 by "One of the North Army".  It takes its name from Benedek's telegram reporting the defeat to the Emperor,  where he said " . . . . after more than five hours of brilliant fighting by the entire army and the Saxons in the locally fortified position of Koniggratz,  with its center at Lipa,  the enemy succeeded in establishing himself,  unnoticed,  in Chlum.  Rainy weather held the powder - smoke down to the ground so that it interfered with good visibility.  An unsuspected gap in the position remained at Chlum."

Unfortunately for Benedek,  that was a poorly chosen excuse since,  at the time of the capture of Chlum the weather was already clearing so "The Fog of Chlum" became a symbolic phrase for the official Austrian attempts to shift the blame for the defeat away from the fundamental weaknesses in the structure and management of the army and the like.  Of course,  the official Austrian inquiry took advantage of Benedek's honourable refusal to defend himself in allowing the government to shift ALL of the blame to him,  personally,  so as to avoid undermining the army's self - confidence.

The little book (78pp) starts  off as a rather vitriolic polemic,  making some assertions that are unjustifiable,  along with others that are apt. I consider that the author's analysis of the terrain is flawed,  denying or ignoring some of the real strengths of the position while focusing on its weaknesses as a convex position with exposed flanks.  

However,  once he gets into his discussion of the morale of the army and the effect of Benedek's emphasis on details of spit and polish and disciplinary punishments for uniform irregularities,  he makes some very real points,  and his subsequent discussion of the action makes some good points. He does,  of course,  place a large share of the blame on Benedek,  often with justification.   I found it thought provoking,  though I would rate it as a very minor piece of background reading,  since whatever points he raised back in 1867 were amply recognized,  or I should say,  have been amply recognized by Friedjung and von Lettow - Vorbeck,  and,  of course,  Ditfurth.

[mollinary]

Fascinating stuff, I am really looking forward to publication of this Fontane translation.   Wawro, Craig and Barry all quote the "measured ranges" thing, but at least Craig gives a footnote source, attributing his piece to Bleibtreu and Friedjung, neither of which I have, unfortunately.

By the way, any news on the Swiepwald translation?

Mollinary

[cameronian]

Its there waiting to be finished, meantime I'm moving house - however - by the summer all will be in place, my new office (with door lock, I kid you not) will be ready and I will have the time to devote to 'the project'. Are you going over this summer ?

[Steve J]

Interesting stuff and look forward to other interesting bits of info as and when they occur.

[mollinary]

Its there waiting to be finished, meantime I'm moving house - however - by the summer all will be in place, my new office (with door lock, I kid you not) will be ready and I will have the time to devote to 'the project'. Are you going over this summer ?

Yes, I'll be helping John Dz with his Cultural Experience tour., 

[cameronian]

Might just come along, I've been invited to loads of 1866 Committee stuff but its over several months, annoyed to have missed the period costume ball  Mustn't miss the formal unveiling of the Cav Mem sculpture at Langenhof, 1st July.

[holdfast]

We are all disappointed, nay devastated, that you missed the period costume ball. You would have been a vision in tulle. Or would you have gone as the hairy hound from Budapest?

[Duke Speedy of Leighton]

You would have been a vision in tulle.

Those Austrian formal uniforms are sooooo macho!

[holdfast]

PS Cam, the Cultural Experience Tour departs from UK on 2nd July so the re-enactment on 3rd is the first event of the tour.