Austria-Hungarian soldier- Freiherr Arz von Straußenburg Medal

The Freiherr Arz von Straußenburg Medal

is an Austro-Hungarian commemorative coin from the First World War (1917), dedicated to Arthur Arz von Straußenburg (1857–1935). He was a Colonel General and the last Chief of the General Staff of the Austro-Hungarian Army.

Features of the medal

• Obverse: Contains the text "G.d.J." (General der Infanterie) and "v. ARZ", usually accompanied by his portrait in profile.
• Reverse: Russian bear, head facing forward, forepaws resting on the lower, raised edge of the image, a battle axe in the back of its head.
• Material: The most common variants are struck in iron, which was typical for war-related medals from that period (known as "Kriegsmetall").
• Size: Typically has a diameter of approximately 5 cm (50 mm). Historical Context

Arthur Arz von Straußenburg was one of the most esteemed officers of the Dual Monarchy.

• Military successes: He played a key role in the Gorlice-Tarnów Offensive and led the successful defense of Transylvania against the Romanian invasion in 1916.
• Chief of the General Staff: In March 1917, he succeeded Franz Conrad von Hötzendorf as the highest military leader under Emperor Charles I.
• Late recognition: Despite his high position, he lived in relative poverty in Vienna after the war until he received a pension from the Hungarian state in 1926.