With the outbreak of World War I, Bukovina then part of Austro-Hungary was immediately under siege by the Russian armies. The north of Bukovina and Czernowitz the capital fell within a month. Meanwhile in the unoccupied part of southern Bukovina, an armed resistance group was formed under the command of Colonel Eduard Fischer. His army included many volunteers in addition to the gendarmerie forces. The key points of resistance were Gura humora and Kimpulung. Fischer fended off the enemy forces, and retook the capital, but only for a short time. The Russians under General Selivanov occupied Czernowitz once again on November 20, 1914. He is buried in Vienna, in the cemetery Hietzing, in a grave of honour, Group 49, Number 234