Minister of Defense (Austria)

Minister of Defense
Bundesminister für Landesverteidigung
Coat of arms
since 7 January 2020
Ministry of Defense
StyleMrs. Federal minister
(formal)
Member ofFederal Government
Council of Ministers
National Security Council
SeatRossauer Barracks, Innere Stadt, Vienna
NominatorPolitical parties
AppointerThe President
on advice of the Chancellor
Constituting instrumentConstitution of Austria
Defense law
PrecursorImperial and Royal Minister of War
First holderJosef Mayer
in the first Republic (10 November 1920)
Ferdinand Graf
in the second Republic
Websitebundesheer.at (in English)
bundesheer.at (in German)

The Minister of Defense of Austria heads the Ministry of Defense.

First Austrian Republic

No. Portrait Name
(Birth–Death) 		Term Political Party Government
Took office Left office[a] Duration
State Ministry for the Army
(Staatsamt für Heereswesen)
1
Josef Mayer [de]
Mayer, JosefJosef Mayer [de]
(1877–1938)		30 October 191815 March 1919136 daysDNPRenner I Cabinet
2
Julius Deutsch
Deutsch, JuliusJulius Deutsch
(1884–1968)		15 March 191922 October 19201 year, 221 daysSDAPÖRenner II–III
Mayr I Cabinet
3
Walter Breisky
Breisky, WalterWalter Breisky
(1871–1944)		22 October 192022 November 192029 daysCSMayr I Cabinet
Federal Ministry for the Army
(Bundesministerium für Heereswesen)
4
Egon Glanz [de]
Glanz, EgonEgon Glanz [de]
(1880–1945)
Beamter		22 November 19207 April 192129 daysNonpartisanMayr II Cabinet
(3)
Walter Breisky
Breisky, WalterWalter Breisky
(1871–1944)		7 April 192128 April 192121 daysCSMayr II Cabinet
5
Carl Vaugoin
Vaugoin, CarlCarl Vaugoin
(1873–1949)		28 April 19217 October 1921162 daysCSMayr II Cabinet
Schober I Cabinet
6
Josef Wächter [de]
Wächter, JosefJosef Wächter [de]
(1866–1949)
Army officer		7 October 192131 May 1922236 daysNonpartisanSchober I Cabinet–II
(5)
Carl Vaugoin*
Vaugoin, CarlCarl Vaugoin*
(1873–1949)		31 May 192221 September 193311 years, 113 daysCSSeipel I Cabinet–II–III
Ramek I Cabinet–II
Seipel IV–V
Streeruwitz
Schober III
Vaugoin
Ender
Buresch I–II
Dollfuss I
7
Engelbert Dollfuss*
Dollfuss, EngelbertEngelbert Dollfuss*
(1892–1934)		21 September 193312 March 1934172 daysCSDollfuss II Cabinet
8
Alois Schönburg-Hartenstein
Schönburg, AloisAlois Schönburg-Hartenstein
(1858–1944)
Army officer		12 March 193410 July 1934120 daysNonpartisanDollfuss II Cabinet
(7)
Engelbert Dollfuss*
Dollfuss, EngelbertEngelbert Dollfuss*
(1892–1934)		10 July 193425 July 1934 †15 daysVFDollfuss II Cabinet
9
Ernst Rüdiger Starhemberg
Starhemberg, ErnstErnst Rüdiger Starhemberg
(1899–1956)
Acting		26 July 193429 July 19343 daysVFDollfuss II Cabinet
Federal Ministry for National Defence
(Bundesministerium für Landesverteidigung)
10
Kurt Schuschnigg*
Schuschnigg, KurtKurt Schuschnigg*
(1897–1977)		29 July 193411 March 19383 years, 225 daysVFSchuschnigg I Cabinet–II–III–IV
11
Arthur Seyss-Inquart*
Seyss, ArthurArthur Seyss-Inquart*
(1892–1946)		11 March 193813 March 19382 daysNSDAPSeyss-Inquart Cabinet

* Partly as Chancellor or Vice-Chancellor.

Second Austrian Republic

No. Portrait Name
(Birth–Death) 		Term Political Party Government
Took office Left office[a] Duration
Ministry for National Defence
No minister, section of the Federal Chancellory Ministry (Bundeskanzleramt)
Federal Ministry for National Defence
(Bundesministerium für Landesverteidigung)
1
Ferdinand Graf [de]
Graf, FerdinandFerdinand Graf [de]
(1907–1969)		15 July 195611 April 19614 years, 270 daysÖVPRaab II Cabinet–II–III
2
Karl Schleinzer [de]
Schleinzer, KarlKarl Schleinzer [de]
(1924–1975)		11 April 19612 April 19642 years, 357 daysÖVPGorbach I Cabinet–II
3
Georg Prader [de]
Prader, GeorgGeorg Prader [de]
(1917–1985)		2 April 196421 April 19706 years, 19 daysÖVPKlaus I Cabinet–II
4
Johann Freihsler [de]
Freihsler, JohannBrigadier
Johann Freihsler [de]
(1917–1981)		21 April 19704 February 1971289 daysIndependentKreisky I Cabinet
–
Bruno Kreisky
Kreisky, BrunoBruno Kreisky
(1911–1990)
Acting		4 February 19718 February 19714 daysSPÖKreisky I Cabinet
5
Karl Lütgendorf
Lütgendorf, KarlBrigadier
Karl Lütgendorf
(1914–1981)		8 February 197131 May 19776 years, 112 daysIndependentKreisky I Cabinet–II–III
–
Bruno Kreisky
Kreisky, BrunoBruno Kreisky
(1911–1990)
Acting		31 May 19778 June 19778 daysSPÖKreisky III Cabinet
6
Otto Rösch
Rösch, OttoOtto Rösch
(1917–1995)		8 June 197721 May 19835 years, 347 daysSPÖKreisky III Cabinet–II
7
Friedhelm Frischenschlager
Frischenschlager, FriedhelmFriedhelm Frischenschlager
(born 1943)		21 May 198312 May 19862 years, 356 daysFPÖSinowatz Cabinet
8
Helmut Krünes [de]
Krünes, HelmutHelmut Krünes [de]
(born 1941)		12 May 198621 January 1987254 daysFPÖSinowatz Cabinet
Vranitzky I Cabinet
9
Robert Lichal
Lichal, RobertRobert Lichal
(1932–2024)		21 January 19876 November 19903 years, 289 daysÖVPVranitzky II Cabinet
–
Alois Mock*
Mock, AloisAlois Mock*
(1934–2017)
Acting		6 November 199017 December 199041 daysÖVPVranitzky II Cabinet
10
Werner Fasslabend
Fasslabend, WernerWerner Fasslabend
(born 1944)		17 December 19904 February 20009 years, 49 daysÖVPVranitzky III Cabinet–II–III
Klima Cabinet
11
Herbert Scheibner [de]
Scheibner, HerbertHerbert Scheibner [de]
(born 1963)		4 February 200028 February 20033 years, 24 daysFPÖSchüssel I Cabinet
12
Günther Platter
Platter, GüntherGünther Platter
(born 1954)		28 February 200311 January 20073 years, 317 daysÖVPSchüssel II Cabinet
13
Norbert Darabos
Darabos, NorbertNorbert Darabos
(born 1964)		11 January 200711 March 20136 years, 59 daysSPÖGusenbauer Cabinet
Faymann I Cabinet
Federal Ministry for National Defence and Sport
(Bundesministerium für Landesverteidigung und Sport)
14
Gerald Klug
Klug, GeraldGerald Klug
(born 1968)		11 March 201326 January 20162 years, 321 daysSPÖFaymann I Cabinet–II
15
Hans Peter Doskozil
Doskozil, HansHans Peter Doskozil
(born 1970)		26 January 201618 December 20171 year, 326 daysSPÖFaymann II Cabinet
Kern Cabinet
16
Mario Kunasek
Kunasek, MarioMario Kunasek
(born 1976)		18 December 20178 January 201821 daysFPÖKurz I Cabinet
Federal Ministry for National Defence
(Bundesministerium für Landesverteidigung)
16
Mario Kunasek
Kunasek, MarioMario Kunasek
(born 1976)		8 January 201820 May 20191 year, 132 daysFPÖKurz I Cabinet
17
Johann Luif
Luif, JohannLieutenant General
Johann Luif
(born 1959)		22 May 20193 June 201912 daysIndependentKurz I Cabinet
18
Thomas Starlinger [de]
Starlinger, ThomasMajor General
Thomas Starlinger [de]
(born 1963)		3 June 20197 January 2020218 daysIndependentBierlein Cabinet
18
Klaudia Tanner
Tanner, KlaudiaKlaudia Tanner
(born 1970)		7 January 2020Incumbent4 years, 351 daysÖVPKurz II Cabinet

*Entrusted with continuation of the ministry

See also

Notes

  1. ^ a b Based on when the successor took office

References