[1] Born in Olmütz (Olomouc),[2] Moravia, Krobatin entered the Austro-Hungarian Army as a cadet in 1861 and moved on to attend the Artillery Academy in 1865, from which he graduated in 1869 as a Leutnant.

He served as a chemistry and chemical engineering instructor at the Imperial and Royal Technical Military Academy from 1877 to 1882 and recognized as an expert in munitions,[2] he was appointed to the War Ministry in 1896 where he successful worked as a head of department and as chief of a section[2] while also promoted to the rank of Major General in 1900.

In the Crown council on 9 September 1916, Krobatin sought backing for a proposal which would have allowed the army unrestricted powers to seize foodstuffs and punish hoarders, but this was vetoed by Austrian chancellor Karl Stürgkh and Hungarian premier Istvan Tisza.

Though occupied Serbia eventually produced more grain than Romania, food supplies to soldiers in the field remained a persistent and crucial worry to those at the higher echelons of the War Ministry.

[5] With Conrad von Hötzendorf's dismissal in March 1917, Krobatin was left isolated in the Crown Council and he was relieved of his tenure over the war ministry in April to be handed command of the Tenth army.