Alfred Freiherr von Henikstein

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Alfred Freiherr von Henikstein (* August 11, 1810 in Oberdöbling near Vienna; † January 29, 1882 in Vienna).

He was the highest ranking Jewish officer in the Austrian army and chief of staff before the battle of Königgrätz in the Austro-Prussian War.

1835 he married the sister of the major general Heinrich baron von Scholl, Santina von Scholl (geb. 1818) in Verona, who died 1853 in Venice.

Henikstein was the youngest son of the Jewish banker Ritter Joseph von Henikstein, was baptized as a child and entered 1828 in the Austrian engineering corps.

In 1829 he became Lieutenant, 1832 First Lieutenant and 1842 captain. 1835 he married Santina von Scholl, daughter of the fortress architect Franz von Scholl, the "Austrian Vauban".

1848 he fought in Italy. He was before Venice, participating in the construction of Fort San Pietro. He also participated in the Hungarian campaign and became 1848 Major in the general staff and in the following year colonel. With the IV. Corps he occupies Altona. 1852 he lives in Venice, his wife dies 1853. 1854 he becomes Major General, in 1859 Lieutenant General in South Tirol. 1864 he becomes Chief of Staff.

In the Austrian-Prussian war 1866 he is Chief of Staff, but is revoked the day before the battle of Königgrätz. He participates in the battle. After the war he is court martialed, but the process is stopped by the emperor. Henikstein has to retire.

Alfred von Henikstein dies on January 29, 1882 in Vienna.