Arz von Straussenberg was born in 1857. He joined the Austro-Hungarian Army and in 1915 was highly praised for his command of the First Army on the Eastern Front.

In March 1917, Karl I, Emperor of Austria and King of Hungary, sacked his chief of staff, Count Franz Conrad, and replaced him with Straussenberg. However, Karl, who had himself, been a commander on the Italian Front before the death of Franz Josef, made most of the important military decisions and Straussenberg later complained he was unable to exert control over his own field commanders.

After the Armistice Straussenberg retired from public life. Arz von Straussenberg died in 1935.