Wilhelm von Tegetthoff


Wilhelm von Tegetthoff - Definition

Count Wilhelm von Tegetthoff (December 23, 1827-April 7, 1871) was an Austrian Admiral who commanded the Austrian North Sea fleet in during the Second War of Schleswig of 1864 and the Seven Weeks' War of 1866. Considered one of the prominent naval commanders of the 19th Century Tegetthoff was known for both his innovative tactics as well as his inspirational leadership.

Contents

1 Early life and career

2 Second War of Schleswig and the Seven Weeks' War

3 See also

4 Further reading

Early life and career

He was born in Marburg (Maribor), Styria in Austria on December 23, 1827 to Major Karl von Tegetthoff. Entering the Marinecollegium (naval academy) in Venice on July 23, 1845 Tegetthoff was present as a cadet in Venice during the early stages on the Italian Revolution in 1848-1849 before earning a commission on a ship of the line upon his graduation on April 16, 1849. Taking part in the Austrian blockade of Venice from May-August 4, 1849 Tegetthoff was promoted to Lieutenant on June 16, 1851 and later Lieutenant Commander on November 16, 1852.

In December 1857, after nearly ten years of service, Tegetthoff was made a staff officer and was appointed Commander on April 27, 1860. In less then two years he was a Captain on November 23, 1861 and in January 1862 was given command of the Levant Squadron.

Second War of Schleswig and the Seven Weeks' War

During the Second War of Schleswig Tegetthoff was assigned to a squadron in the North Sea to support Prussian naval forces in February 1864. He defeated a larger Danish squadron, in which his flagship the Schwarzenberg had taken 93 hits, near Helgoland on May 9, 1864 breaking the Danish blockade of the Elbe and Weser rivers.

Winning his admiral's flag at Helgoland, Tegetthoff was given command of the Austrian fleet as a Rear Admiral on May 9, 1866, shortly before war against Italy. Despite the larger and more powerful Italian fleet, Tegetthoff decided to engage the fleet easily outmaneuvering the fleet while on reconnaissance of the Italian base of Ancona on June 27, 1866.

With the Italian army suffering defeats against the Austrians during the first week of the war from June 20-27, 1866, the Italians sought to gain a victory over the Austrian navy by sending their fleet against the Austrian naval bases on Lissa off the coast of Dalmatia near Spoleto (Split) on July 16, 1866. Encountering the Italian fleet early on the morning of July 19, 1866, Tegetthoff sailed straight for the center line of the Italian fleet, hoping to ram the ships to make up for his own fleet's lack of firepower. The smoke from the Italian fleet made visibility very poor, however, and the Austrians missing the Italian fleet completely. Swinging back around, Tegetthoff again charged the Italian fleet, attacking the fleet directly; he set two Italian armored ships on fire and damaged several more.

After Tegetthoff's flagship the Erzherzog Ferdinand Max rammed and sank the armored Italian frigate Re d'Italia, the Italian fleet retreated the next day. He returned in triumph to his base at Pola (Pula), but his victory could not prevent Austria's surrender. He later left for Austria, falling ill on the way.

Tegetthoff died suddenly at Trieste on April 7, 1871.