Ferdinand Porsche and his Austro Daimler Works at Wiener Neustadt were a vital supplier of powerful artillery tugs to the Austro-Hungarian military in partnership with mortar maker Skoda
In mid-1902, Germany’s armed forces staged their annual manoeuvres. Their nation having pioneered horseless carriages, thanks to Gottlieb Daimler and Karl Benz, Germany’s general staff officers took pride in rolling entirely on wheels - bicycles, motorcycles and automobiles. Exploiting a new age of motive power, Germany greeted the new century with a wholehearted commitment to the motorisation of its military.
Neighbouring ally Austria-Hungary could not afford to tarry. Franz Josef I formally established the dual monarchy of Austria-Hungary in July 1867 in response to the strident nationalism of Bismarck’s Prussia. He ruled both as emperor of Austria - a title dating from 1806 - and as king of Hungary through a cabinet, common to both, that dealt with finance, defence, an internal customs union and external relations. Franz Josef allied with Germany in 1879.
Leading the charge to give motive power to Austria-Hungary was Capt Robert Wolf, heading the army’s research and development in his domain at Klosterneuburg on Vi…
