Otto zu Windisch-Graetz

Prince Otto of Windisch-Graetz (born 7 October 1873 in Graz as Otto Weriand Hugo Ernst Prince of Windisch-Graetz, from 1902 Prince of Windisch-Graetz; died 27 December 1952 in Lugano) was an Austrian nobleman, who became known through his marriage to Archduchess Elisabeth Marie of Austria, the so-called “Red Archduchess”. Early life Otto was born as the second son of Prince Ernst Ferdinand Weriand of Windisch-Graetz (1827-1918) and his wife, Princess Kamilla of Oettingen-Oettingen and Oettingen-Spielberg (1845-1888). Military career In 1891 he entered the Imperial and Royal Cavalry Cadet School in Hranice as a student, completing the curriculum in two years with moderate success. From 1894 to 1895 he attended the brigade officer school in Olomouc and was promoted to lieutenant on 1 May 1895. After two years stationed in Brno, he was appointed captain in 1899 and entered the war school, from which he graduated in 1901 with good results. During World War I he commanded a battalion on the Italian front.