![MKFM[1]](http://www.lazarus-union.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/MKFM1.jpg)
Dear comrades,
today we want to recall an event that took place 154 years ago and is closely linked to the Lazarus Union and its naval comradeship.
I am talking about the famous naval battle of Lissa, the largest naval battle since Trafalgar (so Wilhelm M. Donko, Österreichs Kriegsmarine – Eine Seemacht und ihre Ende, W-H-Verlag).
This naval battle was fought between the Austrian Imperial and Royal Navy and the Italian Navy and was part of the Third Italian War of Independence.
On the side of the Italian navy, the battle was led by Admiral Carlo Pellion di Persano, on the side of the Austrian navy by Rear Admiral Wilhelm von Tegetthoff.
Rear Admiral Tegetthoff Quelle: Gemeinfrei
The battle began on 18 July 1866, when the Italian admiral began shelling the island of Lissa (now Vis) and prepared a landing. Tegetthoff’s ships were initially all gathered in the Canal of Fasana, and he decided to sail towards the Italian fleet in the famous triangular formation in three waves. In the first wave under his command were the ironclad ships, which were modern at that time.
The Italian fleet sailed in straight line one after the other.
On July 20, Tegetthoff began the attack. A beneficial circumstance for the Austriab fleet was that the Italian admiral suddenly changed his flagship, surprising and confusing even the Italian fleet. However, this turned out to be a stroke of luck for the Italian admiral, as his original flagship “Re d’Italia” was damaged by artillery fire. Tegetthoff then decided to take a very drastic measure. He drove his flagship directly towards the damaged “Re d’Italia” and rammed it with his flagship. The Italian ship sank with more than 300 sailors on board.
Re d’Italia after the ramming Quelle: Gemeinfrei, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=8467133
Other ships of the Italian navy were hit so badly that they also sank. Numerous ships were also damaged on both sides. However, Tegetthoff did not lose a single ship and in total only 38 sailors of the Austrian Navy died, while the Italian navy lost 612 sailors.
The Italian navy withdrew demoralized after the heavy losses it had suffered. It is said that these losses were caused in particular by the tactical lack of leadership. Tegetthoff was the better tactician, his sailors were better trained and his victory is due in particular to the ramming tactics, which were already considered outdated at that time.
The Battle of Lissa was the first major battle between ironclad ships and, most recently, the last naval battle, in which pure wooden ships also played a major role.
Due to his overwhelming victory, Tegetthoff was promoted to Vice Admiral.[1]
So what does this battle have to do with the Lazarus Union and its naval comradeship? The answer is:
The flagship of Rear Admiral Tegetthoff was named “SMS Archduke Ferdinand Max”, but became known only as “Ferdinand Max”.
Quelle: Von http://www.geocities.com/pentagon/bunker/5294/battle.html, Gemeinfrei, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=595758
Our naval camaraderie “Vice Admiral Archduke Ferdinand Max” always reminds us of this famous naval battle.
[1] The description of the battle was taken (not literally) out oft he book by Wilhelm M. Donko, Österreichische Kriegsmarine – Eine Seemacht und ihr Ende, W+H-Verlag, ISBN 978-3-9504475-3-8, in particular pages 14/15
Other ships of the Italian navy were hit so badly that they also sank. Numerous ships were also damaged on both sides. However, Tegetthoff did not lose a single ship and in total only 38 sailors of the Austrian Navy died, while the Italian navy lost 612 sailors.
The Italian navy withdrew demoralized after the heavy losses it had suffered. It is said that these losses were caused in particular by the tactical lack of leadership. Tegetthoff was the better tactician, his sailors were better trained and his victory is due in particular to the ramming tactics, which were already considered outdated at that time.
The Battle of Lissa was the first major battle between ironclad ships and, most recently, the last naval battle, in which pure wooden ships also played a major role.
Due to his overwhelming victory, Tegetthoff was promoted to Vice Admiral.[1]
So what does this battle have to do with the Lazarus Union and its naval comradeship? The answer is:
The flagship of Rear Admiral Tegetthoff was named “SMS Archduke Ferdinand Max”, but became known only as “Ferdinand Max”.
Quelle: Von http://www.geocities.com/pentagon/bunker/5294/battle.html, Gemeinfrei, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=595758
Our naval camaraderie “Vice Admiral Archduke Ferdinand Max” always reminds us of this famous naval battle.
[1] The description of the battle was taken (not literally) out oft he book by Wilhelm M. Donko, Österreichische Kriegsmarine – Eine Seemacht und ihr Ende, W+H-Verlag, ISBN 978-3-9504475-3-8, in particular pages 14/15
