Anton Haus Biography

Admiral Anton Haus was the Commander in Chief of the Austro-Hungarian navy during World War I. He was a well-known naval strategist who saw value in using his fleet as a deterrent against the Allied forces rather than in risky offensive maneuvers. Early in his career, he taught at the Naval Academy in Fiume and published his influential textbook Oceanography and Maritime Meteorology. He was also the Austro-Hungarian envoy to the second Hague Peace Conference in 1907 before World War I broke out. Even though he did lead several heavy attacks with his fleet, he preferred to let light forces, such as submarines and destroyers, do the active fighting. In fact, he was well-known to favor unrestricted submarine warfare. His career saw several promotions, including Vice Admiral in 1907, Commander of Navy in 1913, and Grand Admiral in 1916, which he retained until his death a year later. He also received several awards and medals for his actions, including one posthumously.