Admiral Miklós Horthy in the First World War: the Birth of a Myth

Abstract

International audienceThe Austro-Hungarian navy was, despite reproaches uttered by the late Francis Ferdinand, a sizeable force whose potential had been seriously enhanced in the years leading up to the war. The German allies also had a favorable opinion of its capabilities and of the officer corps. The German Lieutenant-Commander Max Valentiner who joined the naval base at Pola (Pula) in 1917 was very impressed by the Austro-Hungarian officers: "This is a model body. The officers were all very well behaved, very distinguished, and for the most part belonged to noble families. (…) The training of Austrian naval officers must have been remarkable because they demonstrated the most extensive knowledge in all areas relating to the navy " 2. The navy is immediately preserved from destructive combat because Italy is still formally part of the Dreibund while having declared itself neutral, and Germany has mobilized in the Mediterranean a powerful and numerous fleet. Austria is currently safe in its bases in the Adriatic: to the north Trieste, Pola, and Fiume, further south Šibenik (Sebenico) Split (Spalato) and the mouths of Kotor (Cattaro). At the controls of the battleship Habsburg, a boat he considers old, slow and poorly armed, Captain Miklós Horthy (1868-1957) initially confines himself to fortifying the base of Pola which is protected by Fort Tegetthoff on the island of Brioni and the batteries placed on the tips of Maria Luisa-Ficella and Punto Cristo. The arsenal and garrison of Pola are also reinforced and made ready to withstand a possible siege. But hardly any ship ventures into these waters, a few submarines attempting to approach the ports of Kotor and Pola are neutralized. Most naval movements then took place in the southern Adriatic. The Kotor base is threatened by Montenegro from Mount Lovčen, making it difficult to use it to the full. The Habsburg belongs to the 4 th division of the 2 nd naval squadron commanded by Rear Admiral Franz Löffler. The 4 th division, commanded by Rear Admiral Karl Seidensacher, comprises three ships, including the Habsburg which is his flagship 3