Alfred Redl
Alfred Redl
Colonel - Austro Hungarian Army Counter Intelligence
14 March 1864 – 25 May 1913
“On this particular day, 24th May 1913, Alfred Redl had no eyes for Vienna’s beauty. just a few hours later, in the early hours of 25 May, the former head of the counter intelligence branch of the Intelligence Bureau of Austria Hungary was found dead in his hotel room. He had shot himself through the mouth. The projectile was found stuck in his skull.”1 The Redl Affair can still cause hard feelings in Austria. For all the controversy that surrounds Alfred Redl, assertions that his actions mortally wounded the Austro Hungarian Empire cannot be proved; either his actions caused severe damage to the army or the situation has been exaggerated. The Hapsburg Empire by that time was moribund at any rate.
Redl was born poor. The son of a railway inspector in Lemberg (now Lviv in the Ukraine), young Redl was accepted into the Karthaus Miltary Academy in Brno: it accepted 50 students annually. The boy showed high intelligence, work ethic and never looked back. “ Redl compensated for a modest background with grit and determination…” After graduation from the academy he was promoted to Lieutenant while serving in an infantry regiment. Accepted at the War Academy Redl followed an interest in Russia that was to become his career focus.
The clearest motive: Redl desired the life of a Hapsburg officer: an assured place in society, code of honor and career of a ‘comer’ not to mention a well tailored Staff Officers uniform. Salary was a pittance and probably motive for his actions. His lifestyle - clearly beyond the means of an Austro Hungarian officer included a car - in that day a rarity, horses, a well furnished apartment and a social life clearly beyond the means of an officer. He played that part in action, appearance, thought and reputation - outwardly a success. One hears much about Redl’s double life - all spies have one. His ascent in Austro Hungarian society was more than a man of his origins might have expected - herein lies the downfall. The fierce desire to succeed caused conflict that finished him - Icarus flew too close to the sun.
‘I liked Alfred very much. He was always dignified – entirely the gentleman – but in a very friendly way. I think he liked me because I held a number of radical ideas for the reformation of the Army which we used to discuss. I personally enjoyed our association because he was a brilliant man to talk to. He knew a great deal about military and international affairs but more than that, his knowledge of human behaviour was startling.2” Redl’s homosexuality was apparently not a factor though there is disagreement on this point. There is no record of blackmail and such tastes were not unknown in higher ranking army circles. The issue was financial.
Redl was on the rise. Even for an Austrian Staff Officer his appetite for work was formidable and fifteen hour days were the norm. Traveling widely in Eastern Europe he studied Russian in Kazan becoming fluent in Ukrainian besides Russian, German and Polish. He was an innovator in espionage using modern cameras, sound devices and a fingerprint file. He was appointed to the Russian section of the General Staff in 1900 and head of counter intelligence (Evidenzburo) in 1907. By that time was spying for the Russians. What did he pass to his handlers? Austro Hungarian war plans including Plan III- the invasion of Serbia. The Austro Hungarian Army took ruinous losses in the campaign. Plans for orders of battle, mobilization,fortress plans were in Russian hands. False assessments of the Russian Army were provided to Austria. It became known that a spy existed high up in the Austrian Army. The Russians fed Redl with a number of unimportant agents he promptly exposed; his performance gained plaudits.
Redl was posted away from counter intelligence around 1912. Soon after Maximillian Ronge, his successor, found suspicious mail linked to a Poste Restante mailbox that contained significant amounts of money. In early May 1913 another letter was found in the same mailbox to one ‘Nikon Nizetas.’ A watch had been placed on the box and the letter was claimed on May 25th but police lost the contact when the person hailed a taxi. In a twist of fate that taxi returned to the same spot and took the police to the previous destination, the Hotel Klomser during which a pocket knife sheath was found; given to the front desk with instructions to inform customers of its loss. The claimant was Alfred Redl. Confronted by officers in his apartment and briefly interrogated a furious Emperor Franz Joseph ordered a pistol to be left in his apartment and Redl shot himself. A colossal blunder if there ever was one. The damage done died with Redl.
It is well known that the Austro Hungarian Army lost 28,000 dead and 120,000 +/- in its campaigns in Serbia. The question remains how much is directly related to Redl.In 1914 regardless of nation war was joined eagerly with ignorance and almost with merriment. The Austro Hungarian Army was no different in this respect and casualties were horrific for all the powers involved. By the end of 1914 the army was crippled due to campaigning in Russia and Serbia. It is easy to say Redl ruined the Empire but in spite of documents passed one cannot be so sure of the damage as the Austro Hungarian Army’s problems were formidable and worsened quickly without Redl’s treachery. It remains fascinating history, but his impact was probably limited.
Notes
John Sadler and Sylvie Fisch, Spy of the Century: Alfred Redl and the Betrayal of Austria Hungary, Pen and Sword Books Ltd, 2016 97 of 2680
IBID Loc 1922 of 2680
Sources
John Sadler and Sylvie Fisch, Spy of the Century: Alfred Redl and the Betrayal of Austria Hungary, Pen and Sword Books Ltd, 2016
Austria Hungary’s Last War 1914 -1918, Volume 1 Outbreak of War to the Outcome of the Battle of Limanowa - Lapanow Compiled by the Austrian Federal Ministry of the Army and War Archive under the Direction of Edmund Glaise-Horstenau 2005