Corps Arz

I have already touched the life of Colonel-General Arz von Straussenburg earlier here. Shortly after the beginning of the Great War, he was assigned a corps commander. After the tumultuous events of August and September 1914, Russian supremacy pushed the armies of the Monarchy back from Galicia to Krakow. To the south, the advance broke into the foothills of the Carpathians. In this crisis situation, the VI Corps under the command of Arz played a crucial role in halting the westward advance and liberating Krakow.

His post as corps commander lasted until August 1915. So he took part in the repression of the Russians, the breakthrough in Gorlice. He was subsequently appointed commander of the 1st Austro-Hungarian Army. The popularity of the successful commander is shown by the fact that the corps retained its name also in this period. At least on the badge. The VI. corps badge was produced in very large numbers. The material of the successive series, but also partly the shape of the badge body, show differences.

For some reason, a field postcard adorned with the corps badge has not come across until very recently. Either I had no luck or the piece is rarer than the other corps or division cards.