29 May 2008

Last Central Powers Veteran dies


Franz Künstler , the last known veteran of the Austro-Hungarian army and the last known surviving Central Powers veteran died in Germany on Tuesday. He was 107.

Romanian-born Franz Künstler, who served in the Austro-Hungarian army and fought on Germany's side, died after an operation on his intestine in the southern German town of Niederstetten. Künstler, who was the oldest man living in Germany, was born on July 24, 1900 in Soost in what is now Romania and was drafted into the 1st Artillery Regiment of Austro-Hungarian army in February 1918 He fought on the Italian front.

Künstler had lived in Niederstetten since 1946 and worked as a guide in the hunting museum of Schloss Haltenbergstetten castle. He is believed to have been the last World War I veteran living in Germany.

There are now just 11 known WWI veterans still alive (Six British, two Italian, One American, One Canadian, One Australian)

10 comments:

Nunyaa said...

What a grand age to live to. I hope the generations of today and those to come remember the veterans and how difficult it was for them.

Anonymous said...

Well, he didn't quite make 110, but the devil came to get him anyway.

Anonymous said...

Depuis le mardi soir nous cherchons désespérément dans les rues de Paris un adorable Irlandais qui portait avec lui un appareil photo et qui saluait au monde avec beaucoup de patience et de générosité. savez_vous ou est_il par hasard???

Elaheh , Azade

CherryPie said...

What a grand old age :-) Amazing that he carried on working all that time.

jams o donnell said...

He certainly made it to a great age. We will see the last veteran die in the next couple of years and then that terrible war will truly pass into history.

jams o donnell said...

Elahe, Azadeh... Awww shucks!!!! Malhereusement it est a Romford. Il pleut (like horse tails!). Peut-etre je visterai Tehran.

Bill Haydon said...

Hey man, you did a brilliant job: I'll raise a glass to you...oh hang on..where's my English beer...oh well, Stella it is then. Cheers!

jams o donnell said...

Just as well he was on the losing side Tin Drummer!

SnoopyTheGoon said...

It looks like a good gig to participate in one of the WWs. If you survive, of course.

jams o donnell said...

Well there's no doubt he had a good innings. Allingham, the oldest veteran is getting an RAF flypast on Friday for his 112th birthday