- Theresian Military Academy
The Theresian Military Academy is an academy, where the Austrian Armed Forces train their officers. The Academy is located in the castle of
Wiener Neustadt inLower Austria History
The Theresian Military Academy is the oldest military academy in the world Fact|date=September 2008 and was founded on
14 December 1751 byMaria Theresa of Austria who gave the first commander of the Academy,Fieldmarshal Leopold Josef Graf Daun (Lord Daun), the order “ _de. Mach’ er mir tüchtiger Officirs und rechtschaffene Männer darauß” (“Make me hard working officers and honest men”). Per year the Academy accepted 100 noblemen and 100 commoners to start their education there. In 1771Fieldmarshal 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
Styria n PrinceErzherzog Johann (Archduke John) was the principal Headmaster of the academy for 44 years (1805–1849)In the First Republic (1918–1938) the academy was located in Enns untll 1934 and then again in the castle of Wiener Neustadt. A very special thing in the time between the
Austrofascism and theAnschluss (Occupation of Austria byNazi Germany ) was thatLieutenant General Rudolf Towarek (Commander of the TherMilAk between 1933 and 1938) didn't let theWehrmacht inside the castle for several days, which was the only military resistance of Austria against the occupation by Nazi Germany. GenLt Towarek wasn't punished for this action but he was retired and had the right to wear the Austrian uniform after his retirement which was more than unusual in those days.After the Anschluss the Wehrmacht installed a war school for
non-commissioned officer s at the castle of Wiener Neustadt. The first commander of this school wasErwin Rommel . At this time the Germans erected a new building next to the castle which is nowadays known as Fort Daun in which the Military High School of Austria is located.After
World War II and theAustrian State Treaty which was signed in 1955 the totally destroyed castle was rebuilt and in 1958 the military academy was again located in Wiener Neustadt after a short intermezzo (1955-1958) in Enns.The TherMilAk today
The current commander of the TherMilAk is
Generalmajor Norbert Sinn.Since 1997 the TherMilAk is a 4-year college which can also be attended by civilian students and finishes with a masters degree in military leadership. In 2003 the first four women completed the academy. Since 1959 more than 3,600 young officers have been educated at the Theresian Military Academy.
See also
*
List of government-run higher-level national military academies
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