Arnold Schoenberg In The Austro-Hungarian Army In 1916

This photograph, from 1916, depicts a group of soldiers in the Austro-Hungarian Army. Arnold Schoenberg—at age 42—appears in the front row, second from the right.

The Austro-Hungarian Empire was so desperate for manpower sixteen months into the war that Schoenberg was classified as fit for service in December 1915. Schoenberg served for almost a year before a petition for his release was granted.

A year later, things had so deteriorated for The Central Powers that Schoenberg was again called to active duty. For his second period of service, beginning in 1917, Schoenberg was assigned light duties in and around Vienna.