Archduke Eugen Ferdinand was born on 21 May 1863 and died on 30 December 1954. He was son of Karl Ferdinand, Archduke of Austria, and Elisabeth Franziska, Archduchess of Austria.
In 1885 Eugen was designated to the General Staff. From that moment, his career started to rise steeply. He became Lieutenant Colonel of infantry 13th Regiment at first. In 1900 Emperor of Austria appointed him to Commander of XIV. Army Corps in Innsbruck. Next year he gained the rank of Army General. Eight years later he was nominated as an Army Inspector and Senior Defence Commander for the Tyrol.
After the Beginning of the First World War he was entrusted with command of the Troops in the Balkans, where he reorganized the 5th Army. Since 1915 he was Commander at the "Southwest Front" against Italian Army. In November 1916 he gained the promotion of Field Marshal. Eugen became famous mainly for his activities during the Battles of the Isonzo. Following the breakthrough in Caporetto, he retired in December 1917.
After the End of the Great War and the Destruction of the Habsburg Empire he lived in Switzerland until 1934. After that Eugen returned to Austria. He died on 30 December 1954 in Merano, Italy.
Source:
RÁC, R.: Arcivévoda Evžen Habsbursko-Lotrinský 1863-1954, Sovinec / Eulenburg 2005.
