Svetozar Boroević von Bojna (or Borojević) (13 December 1856 – 23 May 1920) was an Austro-Hungarian field marshal who was described as one of the finest defensive strategists of the First World War. He commanded Austro-Hungarian forces in the Isonzo front, for which he was nicknamed the "Lion of Isonzo". For his service during the First World War, Boroević rose to the rank of Feldmarschall before the end of the war in 1918, becoming the first and only Austro-Hungarian field marshal of South Slavic descent. Life Early life Boroević was born on 13 December 1856 in the village of Umetić, Croatian Military Frontier. He was baptized in the Eastern Orthodox Church, most likely in the parish church in Mečenčani, where his father served. Some sources state that Boroević was an ethnic Serb or of Serb origin. Other sources regard him as an ethnic Croat or of Croat origin. Boroević himself stated that he was a Croat and that Croatia was his homeland. Military career Early career Boroević joined cadet school at the age of ten. After finishing grade school he moved to Kamenica and later Graz where he studied in military academies. He attended the Liebenau cadet school in 1875. After graduating from Military School he served as a Junior Officer in the army. He advanced quickly through the ranks. He was a corporal in 1872, and later on May 1, 1875, he became a lieutenant. He would also fight battles in Bosnia in 1878. He was awarded for his service in the capture of Sarajevo. Svetozar would eventually become a commander in the Croatian Home Guard. Before the First World War, he commanded the 42. Home Guard Infantry Division of the Croatian Home Guard. In 1903 he was formally released from the Home Guard, already having been assigned to the Imperial & Royal Army in 1898. During war, the defensive troops were part of the Armed Forces commanded by the Supreme Army Command and could be used at the front. He distinguished himself in the Austro-Hungarian occupation of Bosnia and Herzegovina in 1878. Because of his service, he was awarded Military Merit Cross. Afterwards, he was promoted to the rank of Oberleutnant in 1880. From 1881 to 1883 he studied at the military academy in Vienna. Between 1887 and 1891 he underwent additional military training and worked as an instructor after that, and he would begin his teaching at