The Winter Battle in^ Masuria
extension far out to the Bukovina. Moreover the railway system was not sufficient to carry out such a plan.
While these operations were being discussed I was surprised by a telegram from our General Headquarters, stating that I had been made Chief of Staff of the Southern Army.
Field-Marshal von Hindenburg did not want to part with me. He wrote fully to H.M. the Kaiser, asking to be allowed to retain me, and in the position I had hitherto held.
Meanwhile, as once before at Insterburg, I said good-bye to the members of the Staff, and entered on my new duties, convinced that I should shortly return.
On the journey through the Carpathians I had an interview in Breslau with Generals von Conrad and von Falkenhayn, when the details of the deployment and the operations were settled. In particular, the equipment of the troops was discussed. General von Conrad considered that mountain equipment was not necessary. But when, later, I paid a visit to the concentration area, I was thoroughly convinced of the absolute necessity of such an equipment and lost not a moment in securing some.
We were warmly welcomed by the population of Hungary, as indeed later when we freed Transylvania. But once we had done our duty, their gratitude soon waned. All sorts of things occurred that made life uncomfortable for our troops. The Magyars are a strong and masterful people, but they lacked understanding of the common interests of Austria-Hungary and the just wishes and needs of the numerous nationalities living in Hungary. Hungary was the stronger half of the Dual Monarchy, and misused her position to further a disastrous foreign policy on the part of the Empire against Serbia and Rumania. Unfortunately we made no protest.
The Headquarters of the Staff of the Southern Army was at Munkacs. General von Linsingen and I travelled from there through the concentration area, and settled the question of its relations to the neighbouring Commands and the Austrian troops, who were already in position in the mountains, and were to join up with the Southern Army.
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