Theresian Military Academy

Geschichte

The Theresian Military Academy is a military academy in Austria founded in 1751, where the Austrian Armed Forces train their officers. The academy is located in the castle of Wiener Neustadt in Lower Austria.HistoryThe Theresian Military Academy is one of the oldest military academy in the world, and was founded on 14 December 1751 by Maria Theresa of Austria who gave the first commander of the Academy, Fieldmarshal Leopold Josef Graf Daun, the order "Mach er mir tüchtige Officier und rechtschaffene Männer daraus" . Per year the Academy accepted 100 noblemen and 100 commoners to start their education there. In 1771 Fieldmarshal Lieutenant Hannig published the official studying plan and in 1775 Maria Theresa published the Academy Rules. At this time it took 11 years to complete the Academy but step by step it was shortened to 3 years.The Styrian Prince Erzherzog Johann was the principal Headmaster of the academy for 44 years .In the First Republic the academy was located in Enns untll 1934 and then again in the castle of Wiener Neustadt. A very remarkable event in the time between Austrofascism and the Anschluss was that Lieutenant General Rudolf Towarek prevented the Wehrmacht from entering the castle for several days. This was the only military resistance made by Austrians against the occupation by Nazi Germany. GenLt Towarek wasn't punished for this action; he was, however, retired while retaining the right to wear the Austrian uniform after his retirement which was highly unusual in those days.