Karl Tersztyánszky von Nádas, alternatively written Tersztyánszky de Nádas, was an Austro-Hungarian general who served in World War I.
Biography
Tersztyánszky was born in Skalica in the Austro-Hungarian Empire on 29 October 1854. He graduated from the Theresian Military Academy in Vienna in 1877 and was commissioned into the Austro-Hungarian Army. Afterwards the dragoon officer went to war school, served in the general staff and held various cavalry commands. While his stubborn, cantankerous and hot-headed behaviour often got him into trouble he nonetheless was frequently commended by his superiors and enjoyed the patronage of the heir Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria and Chief of StaffFranz Conrad von Hötzendorf. In 1913 Tersztyánszky was promoted to the rank of General der Kavallerie. When World War I began Tersztyánszky, commanding IV Corps, served as part of 2nd Army in the Balkans theatre. Later that year the unit was transferred to the Eastern Front to fight in Galicia and Poland. In late spring 1915 he was given command of the short-lived Army Group Tersztyánszky, which soon became the 3rd Army, in Serbia.However, later that year he lost command after clashing with Hungarian Prime MinisterIstván Tisza. Tersztyánszky had to wait until mid 1916 for a new assignment, now as a recently promoted Generaloberst. He got command of the 4th Army during the Brusilov Offensive, back on the Eastern Front. He took the place of Archduke Joseph Ferdinand of Austria who had been dismissed on insistence of German general Alexander von Linsingen for failures during said campaign. In 1917 Tersztyánszky was relieved once more after clashing with von Linsingen, and was to lead 3rd Army again. However he was removed from command for a final time when unable to hold the lines during the Kerensky Offensive. Tersztyánszky then served on a ceremonial post as commander of the Imperial and Royal Mounted Lifeguard Squadron. He finally retired in December 1918after the war had ended; and lived in Vienna until he died there on 7 March 1921.
