Conrad, Franz Xaver Josef (1852–1925)

Austrian general, field marshal from 1916. Appointed chief of staff in 1906, he was largely responsible for modernizing and reorganizing the Austro-Hungarian army. Believing in an aggressive policy towards Italy and Serbia, he supported the diplomatic moves that set the war in motion. He was a good organizer and strategist but his performance in the field was poor and his successes were largely due to German support.