Emperor Charles I in front of the guard of honour

Emperor Charles I was the successor of Emperor Franz Joseph I, head of state of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, who died in November 1916. Charles reigned from 1916 to 1918. In November 1918, he relinquished power (but did not abdicate) in Austria and Hungary, which finally approved the dissolution of the Austro-Hungarian monarchy. In the photograph the Emperor Charles I is standing in front of the guard of honour of the German army. On the left is a high-ranking officer – most likely a German general – with a spike helmet on his head. The spike helmet was a leather helmet used by Germany until 1916. Later, it was replaced by the M16 steel helmet which was worn by the soldiers of the honour.