Austro-Hungarian Army

The Austro-Hungarian Army (German: Landstreitkräfte Österreich-Ungarns; Hungarian: Császári és Királyi Hadsereg) was the ground force of the Austro-Hungarian Dual Monarchy from 1867 to 1918. It was composed of three parts: the joint army (Gemeinsame Armee, "Common Army", recruited from all parts of the country), the Imperial Austrian Landwehr (recruited from Cisleithania), and the Royal Hungarian Honvéd (recruited from Transleithania).

Army of Austria-Hungary
Landstreitkräfte Österreich-Ungarns  (German)
Császári és Királyi Hadsereg  (Hungarian)
Arms of Austria-Hungary
Active1867–1918
Country Austria-Hungary
Branch
TypeArmy
Size7,800,000 c.1917
Part ofAustro-Hungarian Armed Forces
Engagements
Soldier of the Landwehr-Regiment Nr. 6 in battle dress

In the wake of fighting between the Austrian Empire and the Hungarian Kingdom and the two decades of uneasy co-existence following, Hungarian soldiers served either in mixed units or were stationed away from Hungarian areas. With the Austro-Hungarian Compromise of 1867 the new tripartite army was brought into being. It existed until the disestablishment of the Austro-Hungarian Empire following World War I in 1918.

The joint "Imperial and Royal Army" (kaiserlich und königliche Armee or k.u.k.) units were generally poorly trained and had very limited access to new equipment because the governments of the Austrian and Hungarian parts of the empire often preferred to generously fund their own units instead of outfitting all three army branches equally. All of the Honvédség and the Landwehr regiments were composed of three battalions, while the joint army k.u.k. regiments had four.

The long-standing white infantry uniforms were replaced in the later half of the 19th century with dark blue tunics,[1] which in turn were replaced by the pike grey M1908 uniform used in the initial stages of World War I. In September 1915, field gray was adopted as the new official uniform colour.[2] As the KuK Army was plagued with supply shortages, when the new Field-gray uniforms were first introduced, remaining stocks of the preexisting Pike-grey uniforms remained in use alongside the newer Feldgrau model.

The last known surviving member of the Austro-Hungarian Army was World War I veteran Franz Künstler, who died in May 2008 at the age of 107.

From the Compromise of 1867 to the World War

Planning and operations

The major decisions 1867-1895 were made by Archduke Albrecht, Duke of Teschen, who was the nephew of the Emperor Franz Joseph and his leading advisor in military affairs. According to historians John Keegan and Andrew Wheatcroft:

He was a firm conservative in all matters, military and civil, and took to writing pamphlets lamenting the state of the Army’s morale as well as fighting a fierce rearguard action against all forms of innovation…. Much of the Austrian failure in the First World War can be traced back to his long period of power…. His power was that of the bureaucrat, not the fighting soldier, and his thirty years of command over the peacetime Habsburg Army made it a flabby instrument of war.[3]

Austria-Hungary avoided major wars in the era between 1867 and 1914 but engaged in a number of minor military actions. Nevertheless, the general staff maintained plans for major wars against neighboring powers, especially Italy, Serbia and Russia. By contrast, the main enemies Russia and Serbia had engaged in large scale warfare in the decade before the First World War.[4]

In the late 19th century the army was used to suppress unrest in urban areas of the empire: in 1882 and 1887 in Vienna[5] and notably against German nationalists at Graz and Czech nationalists in Prague in November 1897.[6] Soldiers under the command of Conrad von Hotzendorf were also used against Italian rioters in Trieste in 1902.[7]

The most significant action by soldiers of the Dual Monarchy in this period was the Austro-Hungarian occupation of Bosnia and Herzegovina in the summer of 1878. When troops under the command of Josip Filipović and Stjepan Jovanović entered the provinces expecting little or no resistance, they were met with ferocious opposition from elements of both Muslim and Orthodox populations there. Despite setbacks at Maglaj and Tuzla, Sarajevo was occupied in October. Austro-Hungarian casualties amounted to over 5,000 and the unexpected violence of the campaign led to recriminations between commanders and political leaders.[8]

Size and ethnic and religious composition

In 1868, the number of active-duty troops in the army was 355,000, and the total could be expanded to 800,000 upon mobilization. However, this was significantly less than the European powers of France, the North German Confederation and Russia, each of which could field more than one million men.[9] Though the population of the empire had risen to nearly 50 million by 1900, the size of the army was tied to ceilings established in 1889. Thus, at the start of the 20th century, Austria-Hungary conscripted only 0.29% of its population, compared to 0.47% in Germany, 0.35% in Russia and 0.75% in France.[10] The 1889 army law was not revised until 1912, which allowed for an increase in annual conscriptions.[11]

The ethnic make-up of the enlisted ranks reflected the diversity of the empire the army served; in 1906, out of every 1000 enlisted men, there were 267 Germans, 223 Hungarians, 135 Czechs, 85 Poles, 81 Ukrainians, 67 Croats and Serbs, 64 Romanians, 38 Slovaks, 26 Slovenes, and 14 Italians.[12]

To aid communication between the multitude of ethnicities, the army developed a simple language called Army Slavic, based primarily on Czech.

From a religious standpoint, the Austro-Hungarian army officer corps was dominated by Roman Catholics. In 1896, out of 1000 officers, 791 were Roman Catholics, 86 Protestants, 84 Jews, 39 Greek-Orthodox, and one Uniate. Of the pre–World War military forces of the major European powers, the Austro-Hungarian army was almost alone in its regular promotion of Jews to positions of command.[13] While the Jewish population of the lands of the Dual Monarchy 4.4% including Bosnia and Herzegovina), Jews made up nearly 18% of the reserve officer corps.[12] There were no official barriers to military service for Jews, but in later years this tolerance eroded to some extent, as important figures such as Conrad von Hötzendorf and Archduke Franz Ferdinand sometimes expressed anti-Jewish sentiments. Franz Ferdinand was also accused (by Conrad) of discriminating against Protestant officers.[14]

Funding and equipment

Austro-Hungarian artillery unit appearing in The Illustrated London News in 1914

Following the 1867 constitutional arrangements, the Reichsrat was dominated by German Liberals, who generally regarded the army as a relic of feudalism. In Budapest, legislators were reluctant to authorize funds for the joint army but were generous with the Hungarian branch of the army, the Honvédség. In 1867 the military budget accounted for about 25% of all government spending, but the economic crash of 1873 hit Austria-Hungary hard and foreign observers questioned whether the Dual Monarchy could manage a major war without subsidies.[15] Despite increases throughout the 1850s and 1860s, in the latter half of the century Austria-Hungary was still spending less on its army than were other major European powers.[15] While the budget continued to rise—from 262 million crowns in 1895 to 306 million in 1906—this was still far less per capita than for other major European states, including Italy, and about on par with Russia, which had a much larger population.[16] Further contributing to the monarchy's military weakness was the low rate of conscription: Austria-Hungary conscripted only 0.29% of its population annually, compared to 0.47% in Germany and 0.75% in France. Attempts to increase the yearly intake of recruits were proposed but repeatedly blocked by officials in Budapest until an agreement was reached in 1912.[10]

In the emerging field of military aviation, Austria-Hungary lagged behind other European states. While balloon detachments had been established in 1893, they were mostly assigned to the fortress artillery, except for a brief period from 1909 to 1911 when they were under command of the multifaceted Verkehrs Brigade.[17] Realization that heavier-than-air machines were necessary or useful came late, and Austria-Hungary acquired only five airplanes by 1911. In 1914 the budget for military aviation was approximately 125th the amount spent by France. Austria-Hungary entered the war with only 48 first-line aircraft.[17]

Command Structure

Austria-Hungary had a complex military structure. The country had three main distinct ground forces. As a union the Monarchy had a common government of three ministers (Minister of the Imperial Household and Foreign Affairs; Minister of War and Minister of Finance). The Imperial Minister of War had authority over the Common Army, the Navy, and, shortly before and during WWI, the newly established independent Air Troops.

The Common Army was the premier land force. It was the best equipped and had the main role to secure the borders of the Monarchy. In case of war it was to absorb the Austrian Landwehr and the Hungarian Honvéd within its command structure. For that reason the Common Army was organised in army corps even in peacetime, while the Landwehr and Honvéd were organised in territorial districts. The provinces of Bosnia and Herzegovina were governed as a condominium between the Austrian and the Hungarian parts of the dual monarchy. As such the local troops of Bosnian Riflemen were subordinated through the Governor of Bosnia and Herzegovina to the Imperial Minister of War. The general peacetime order of battle of the Common Army included:

The Austrian part of the monarchy (officially called Kingdoms and Lands Represented in the Imperial Council, unofficially and for short Cisleithania) had its own government. It included the Imperial and Royal Ministry of National Defence (completely independent from the Imperial War Ministry). In peacetime it had complete authority and responsibility for the Imperial-Royal Landwehr and its:

The Hungarian part of the monarchy (officially called Lands of the Crown of Saint Stephen, unofficially and for short Transleithania) also had its own government. One of its ministries was the Royal Hungarian Honvéd Ministry (also completely independent from the Imperial War Ministry). In peacetime it had complete authority and responsibility for the:

  • Honvéd High Command (Budapest)
    • Royal Hungarian I. Budapest Honvéd District Command
    • Royal Hungarian II. Szeged Honvéd District Command
    • Royal Hungarian III. Kassa Honvéd District Command
    • Royal Hungarian IV. Pozsony Honvéd District Command
    • Royal Hungarian V. Kolozsvár Honvéd District Command
    • Royal Hungarian VI. Zagreb Croat-Slavonian District Command (the Kingdom of Croatia-Slavonia was in personal union with Hungary, including a local Croat-Slavonian Homeguard (Landwehr in German), incorporated into the Honvéd as its sixth territorial district)[18]

Austro-Hungarian Army in July 1914

Austro-Hungarian soldiers resting in a trench
Austro-Hungarian POWs in Russia, 1915; photo by Prokudin-Gorskii
  • 36,000 Officers
  • 414,000 NCOs and troops
  • 120,000 horses (estimate)
  • 1,200 artillery pieces

Official designations were as follows:

  • regiments of the common army were designated Imperial and Royal (German: "kaiserlich und königlich" (k.u.k.); Hungarian: "Császári és Királyi"), in which Imperial stands for the Kaiser of Austria, who was also King of Hungary.
  • Austrian Landwehr regiments were Imperial-Royal (German: kaiserlich-königlich (k.k.), in which Imperial stands for the Kaiser of Austria, who was also King of Bohemia in the Austrian part of the dual monarchy (kaiserlich österreichisch/königlich böhmisch)); Hungarian: császári/királyi)
  • Hungarian Honvéd regiments were called Royal Hungarian for the Kaiser's title of Apostolic King of Hungary (German: königlich ungarisch; Hungarian: Magyar Királyi). Within the Hungarian part of Austria-Hungary the monarch was also King of Croatia-Slavonia, this was however not included in the titles of the Honvéd's units.

After war was declared, 3.35 million men (including the first call-up of the reserves and the 1914 recruits) gathered for action.

The Austro-Hungarian Imperial Army was officially under the control of the Commander-in-Chief, Emperor Franz Josef. By 1914, however, Franz Josef was 84 years old and the chief of staff, Count Franz Conrad von Hötzendorf, effectively had more power over the armed forces. Conrad favored an aggressive foreign policy and advocated the use of military action to solve Austria-Hungary's territorial disputes with Italy and Serbia.[19]

Archduke Friedrich, Duke of Teschen was appointed Supreme Commander of the Austro-Hungarian army by Franz Joseph on July 11, 1914. It was thought he would not interfere with the operational and tactical plans of Conrad von Hötzendorf. Friedrich remained Supreme Commander until February 1917, when Emperor Charles I decided to assume the office himself.

Common Army

Corps areas in the Austro-Hungarian Army

The Common Army (k.u.k.—kaiserlich und königlich) consisted of:

  • 16 corps
  • 49 infantry divisions: 76 infantry brigades, 14 mountain brigades
  • 22 cavalry divisions: 44 cavalry brigades
  • 102 infantry regiments (each of four battalions), including 4 Bosnian-Herzegovinian (Bosnisch-Hercegowinische) infantry regiments (each of four battalions)
  • 4 Imperial Tyrolian rifle regiments (Tiroler Kaiserjäger) (each of four battalions)
  • 32 rifle battalions (Feldjäger), including 1 Bosnian-Herzegovinian rifle battalion (Bosnisch-Hercegowinisches Feldjäger Bataillon)
  • 42 field artillery regiments (Feldkanonen-Regimenter), including 14 field howitzer regiments (Feldhaubitz-Regimenter)
  • 15 mounted artillery battalions (originally named Reitende Artillerie Division), 14 heavy howitzer battalions (originally named schwere Haubitz-Division)
  • 11 mountain artillery regiments (Gebirgsartillerie Regimenter)
  • 6 fortress artillery regiments (Festungsartillerie Regimenter): 8 independent fortress artillery battalions (selbst. Festungsartillerie Bataillone)
  • 15 regiments of dragoons (Dragoner), 16 regiments of hussars (Husaren), 11 regiments of lancers (Ulanen)
  • 16 transport battalions (railway)
  • 23 engineer battalions (Sappeure/Pioniere), 1 bridge construction battalion (Brücken Bataillon), 1 railway regiment (Eisenbahn-Regiment), 1 telegraph regiment (Telegraphen-Regiment)

Imperial-Royal Landwehr

Officer's helmet, Imperial and Royal Dragoons

The Imperial-Royal Landwehr (k.k. or kaiserlich österreichisch/königlich böhmisch) was the standing army of Austria responsible for the defence of Austria itself.

  • 35 Landwehr infantry regiments: each of 3 battalions (Landwehr Infanterie-Regimenter)
  • 6 Landwehr regiments of lancers (uhlans)
  • 8 Landwehr field artillery battalions (Feldkanonen), 8 Landwehr field howitzer battalions (Feldhaubitz)

The mountain infantry had the following units:

  • 2 Landwehr mountain infantry regiments (Gebirgsinfanterie-Regimenter), the 4th and 27th
  • 3 Tyrolean rifle regiments (Tiroler Landesschützen Regimenter)—from January 1917 named "imperial rifles" (Kaiserschützen)
  • 1 mounted Tyrolean rifle battalion (Reitende Tiroler Landesschützen)
  • 1 mounted Dalmatian rifle battalion (Reitende Dalmatiner Landesschützen)

Royal Hungarian Landwehr

Officer's Czapka (cap), 2nd Landwehr Lancers

The Royal Hungarian Landwehr (königlich ungarische Landwehr) or Royal Hungarian Honvéd (k.u. Honvéd) was the standing army of Hungary. A part of the Honvéd was the Royal Croatian Landwehr (Kraljevsko hrvatsko domobranstvo), which consisted of 1 infantry division (out of 7 in Honvéd) and 1 cavalry regiment (out of 10 in the Honvéd).

  • 6 Landwehr districts (honvéd katonai kerület)
  • 2 infantry divisions (honvéd gyalogos hadosztály)
  • 9 cavalry divisions (honvéd lovassági hadosztály)
  • 4 infantry brigades (honvéd gyalogosdandár)
  • 12 independent infantry brigades (honvéd önálló gyalogdandár)
  • 18 cavalry brigades (honvéd lovasdandár)
  • 32 infantry regiments (honvéd gyalogezred)
  • 10 regiments of hussars (honvéd huszárezred)
  • 8 field artillery regiments (honvéd tábori tüzérezred)
  • 2 horse artillery battalion (honvéd lóvontatású tüzérosztály)

The infantry regiments of the k.u.k. army had four battalions each; the infantry regiments of the k.k. and k.u. Landwehr had three battalions each, except the 3rd Regiment of the "Tiroler Landesschützen" (Tyrolian fusiliers), that had also four battalions.

In 1915 units that had nicknames or names of honour lost them by order of the War Ministry. Thereafter units were designated only by number. For instance, the k.u.k. Infanterie-Regiment (Hoch und Deutschmeister) Nr. 4 became Infanterie-Regiment No. 4 (4th Infantry Regiment).

Landsturm

The Landsturm consisted of men aged 34 to 55 who belonged to the Austria k.k. Landsturm and the Hungarian k.u. Landsturm. The Landsturm formed 40 regiments totaling 136 battalions in Austria and 32 regiments totaling 97 battalions in Hungary. The Landsturm was a reserve force intended to provide replacements for the first line units. However, the Landsturm provided 20 brigades who took to the field with the rest of the army.

Standschützen

The Standschützen (singular: Standesschütze[A. 1]) were originally rifle guilds and rifle companies that had been formed in the 15th and 16th centuries, and were involved time and again in military operations within the borders of the Austrian County of Tyrol. A Standschütze was a member of a Schützenstand ("shooting club"), into which he was enrolled,[A. 2] which automatically committed him to the voluntary, military protection of the state of Tyrol (and Vorarlberg). In effect they were a type of Tyrolean local militia or home guard.

Medals (example)

Medals for valour, 1914–1918

The following were the medals awarded to a Zugsführer (Staff-Sergeant) of the 2nd Regiment of the Tyrolian Imperial Rifles (later transferred to the 30th High Mountain Company), who saw action at:

  • Galicia
  • the Carpathian Mountains (RomaniaHungary eastern border area.)
  • Col di Lana: AustriaItalian border
  • Monte Piano: Austria-Italian border
  • bei Lafraun (Lavarone/seven communities area): Austria-Italian border
  • Monte Pasubio: Austria-Italian border
  • Sextner Dolomiten Mountains: Austria-Italian border
  • Ortler Mountain: Austria-Italian border
  • Hohe Schneid (Ortler Massiv): Austria-Italian border
  • Tonale Paß (Adamello–Presanella Massiv): Austria-Italian border
  • Cima Presena (Mountain (Adamello–Presanella Massiv): Austria-Italian border
  • Busazza Mountain (Adamello–Presanella Massiv): Austria-Italian border

He received the following decorations:

  • Silver Medal of Bravery 1st Class (Kaiser Karl I./after January 1917)
  • Silver Medal of Bravery 2nd Class (Kaiser Karl/after January 1917)
  • Bronze Medal of Bravery Emperor Franz Joseph/before January 1917)
  • Karl-Cross (for a minimum of 12 weeks or one more than three days battle in active fight)
  • Casualty Medal (after January 1917) (wounded on 9/20/1918 at the Zigolon Mountain near the Adamello)
  • Medal of Honor of the State of Tyrol to its defenders

The triangular folded style of ribbon seen on medals of the Austro-Hungarian Army could be seen with armies of former territories or successor states of Austria-Hungary, including the Royal Hungarian Army and the Croatian Home Guard (World War II).

Ranks and rank insignia of the Austro-Hungarian Army

The different colors of the rank patches and buttons on the tunic are the marks for identifying the infantry regiments (except Generals)

k.u.k. cavalry, 1898
k.u.k. infantry, 1898
Infantry Cavalry Artillery Rifles Rank insignias
TroopsHeerMountain rifles
Infanterist
Honvéd (Hung.)
Szeregowy (Polish)

Vojín (Czech)

Soldat (Romanian)
Vojnik (Croatian)
(Private/Trooper/Gunner/Rifleman)

Dragoner
Husar
Ulan
Kanonier

Dělostřelec (Czech)

Jäger

Myslivec (Czech)

Gefreiter
Őrvezető (Hung.)
Svobodník (Czech)
Fruntaș (Romanian)
Razvodnik (Croatian)
Caporale (Italian)
(Private 1st Class/Lance Corporal)
Gefreiter

Svobodník (Czech)

Vormeister

Nápředník (Czech)
Főtűzér (Hungarian)

Patrouilleführer

Závodčí/Stráževod (Czech)
Járőrvezető (Hungarian)

Non-Commissioned Officers HeerMountain rifles
Korporal
Tizedes (Hung.)
Kapral (Polish)

Desátník (Czech)
Caporal (Romanian)
Desetnik (Croatian)
(Corporal)

Korporal

Desátník (Czech)
Tizedes

Geschütz-Vormeister

Dělostřelecký Nápředník (Czech)

Unterjäger

Podmyslivec (Czech)

Zugsführer
Szakaszvezető (Hung.)
Plutonowy (Polish)
Četař (Czech)
Sergent (Romanian)
Vodnik (Croatian)
(Sergeant)
Zugsführer

Četař (Czech)
Szakaszvezető

Zugsführer

Četař (Czech)
Szakaszvezető (Hungarian)

Zugsführer

Četař (Czech)
Szakaszvezető (Hungarian)

Feldwebel
Őrmester (Hung.)
Šikovatel (Czech)
Plutonier (Romanian)
Sierżant (Polish)
Narednik (Croatian)
(Master-Sergeant)
Wachtmeister

Strážmistr (Czech)
Őrmester

Feuerwerker Tűzmester

Střelmistr (Czech)

Oberjäger

Nadmyslivec (Czech) Fővadász (Hungarian)

Kadett-Feldwebel / Hadapród őrmester (Hung.)
(Hadapród)
Kadet-narednik (Croatian)
(Cadet Sergeant; Cadet after 1908)
Kadett-Wachtmeister
(Kadett)

Kadet-Strážmistr (Czech)

Kadett-Feuerwerker
(Kadett)

Kadet-Střelmistr (Czech)

Kadett-Oberjäger
(Kadett)

Kadet-Nadmyslivec (Czech)

Stabsfeldwebel
Törzsőrmester (Hung.)
Štábní šikovatel (Czech)/
Sierżant sztabowy (Polish)
Stožerni narednik (Croatian)
(1st Sergeant after 1913 - rank badges until 1914)
Stabs-Wachtmeister

Štábní-Strážmistr (Czech)

Stabs-Feuerwerker

Štábní-Střelmistr (Czech)

Stabs-Oberjäger

Štábní-Nadmyslivec (Czech)

Stabs-Feldwebel
Törzsőrmester (Hung.)
Štábní šikovatel(Czech)
Plutonier-major (Romanian)
Sierżant sztabowy (Polish)
Stožerni narednik (Croatian)
(1st Sergeant, rank badges after 1914)
Stabs-Wachtmeister

Štábní-Strážmistr (Czech)

Stabs-Feuerwerker

Štábní-Střelmistr (Czech)

Stabs-Oberjäger

Štábní-Nadmyslivec (Czech)

Offiziersstellvertreter (seit dem 6. Juni 1915)
Tiszthelyettes (Hung.)/
Důstojnický zástupce(Czech)
Locțiitor de ofițer (Romanian)
Časnički namjesnik (Croatian)
(UK Warrant Officer [II] or US Warrant Sergeant)
Offiziersstellvertreter

Důstojnický zástupce (Czech)

Offiziersstellvertreter

Důstojnický zástupce (Czech)

Offiziersstellvertreter

Důstojnický zástupce (Czech)

Officer Candidates
Kadett-Offiziersstellvertreter
Hadapród-Tiszthelyettes (Hung.)
Kadet-časnički zamjenik (Croatian)
(Cadet Warrant Officer, UK Warrant Officer I, or US Warrant Officer) (until 1908)
Kadett-Offiziersstellvertreter

Kadet-Důstojnický zástupce (Czech)

Kadett-Offiziersstellvertreter

Kadet-Důstojnický zástupce (Czech)

Kadett-Offiziersstellvertreter

Kadet-Důstojnický zástupce (Czech)

Fähnrich (ab 1908)
Zászlós (Hung.)
Stegar (Romanian)

Praporčík (Czech)
Zastavnik (Croatian)

Chorąży (Polish)
(Ensign or Officer Cadet) (from 1908 - replaced the CWO/WO I)

Fähnrich

Praporčík (Czech)

Fähnrich

Praporčík (Czech)

Fähnrich

Praporčík (Czech)

Low Grade Officers
Leutnant
Hadnagy (Hung.)

Poručík (Czech)
Podporucznik (Polish)
Locotenent (Romanian)
Poručnik (Croatian)
Tenente (Italian)
(Lieutenant/2nd Lieutenant)

Leutnant

Poručík (Czech)

Leutnant

Poručík (Czech)

Leutnant

Poručík (Czech)

Oberleutnant
Főhadnagy (Hung.)
Nadporučík (Czech)
Locotenent-major (Romanian)
Porucznik (Polish)
Natporučnik (Croatian)
(First Lieutenant/Lieutenant)
Oberleutnant

Nadporučík (Czech)

Oberleutnant

Nadporučík (Czech)

Oberleutnant

Nadporučík (Czech)

Captains
Hauptmann
Százados (Hung.)
Kapitán (Czech)
Kapitan (Polish)
Căpitan (Romanian)/
Satnik (Croatian)
Capitano (Italian)
(Captain)
Rittmeister

Rytmistr (Czech)

Hauptmann

Kapitán (Czech)

Hauptmann

Kapitán (Czech)

Staff-Officers
Major
Őrnagy (Hung.)
Maior (Romanian)
Bojnik (Croatian)
Maggiore (Italian)
Major

Major (Czech)

Major

Major (Czech)

Major

Major (Czech)

Oberstleutnant
Alezredes (Hung.)
Podplukovník (Czech)
Locotenent-colonel (Romanian)
Potpukovnik (Croatian)
(Lieutenant Colonel)
Oberstleutnant

Podplukovník (Czech)

Oberstleutnant

Podplukovník (Czech)

Oberstleutnant

Podplukovník (Czech)

Oberst
Ezredes (Hung.)
Plukovník (Czech)
Colonel (Romanian)
Pułkownik (Polish)
Pukovnik (Croatian)
(Colonel)
Oberst

Plukovník (Czech)

Oberst

Plukovník (Czech)

Oberst

Plukovník (Czech)

Please note, that the first name is always in German.

General officers

InfantryCavalryArtilleryRiflesRank insignias
Generalmajor  |  Vezérőrnagy (Hung.)  |  Generálmajor (Czech)  |  General-maior (Romanian)  |  General-bojnik (Croatian)  |  Maggiore Generale (Italian)
(en: Major general, however, equiv. to Brigadier-General)
Feldmarschall-Leutnant  |  Altábornagy (Hung.)  |  polní podmaršálek (Czech)  |  Podmaršal (Croatian)  |  Marseciallo Tenente (Italian)
(en: Field marshal lieutenant, equiv. to Major-General)
General of the branch (en: Lieutenant general)
  • General der Infanterie
  • Gyalogsági tábornok (Hung.)
  • Generál pěchoty (Czech)
  • General pješaštva (Croatian)
  • General piechoty (Polish)
  • Generale della fanteria (Italian)
    (en: General of the Infantry)
no equivalent
since 1915 Generaloberst  |  Vezérezredes (Hung.)  |  General-pukovnik (Croatian)  |  Generálplukovník (Czech)  |  General pulkownik (Polish) |  General Polkovnik (Slovene)

(en: Colonel general)

Feldmarschall  |  Tábornagy (Hung.)  |  Polní maršál (Czech)  | Feldmaršal (Croatian)  |  Mareșal (Romanian)  |  Marszałek (Polish)
(en: Field marshal)
Note

The ranks displayed after the "/" are the Hungarian and Croatian equivalents of the Austrian ranks, since they were used in this format in the Magyar Királyi Honvédség / königlich ungarische Landwehr (Royal Hungarian Home Defence Forces) as well as in the Kraljevsko Hrvatsko Domobranstvo / königlich kroatische Landwehr (Royal Croatian Home Guard).

The English equivalents are from the Austrian Bundesheer's homepage.

Types of uniforms

See also

References

  1. Rothenberg, G. (1976). The Army of Francis Joseph. West Lafayette, IN: Purdue University Press. p. 83. ISBN 0911198415.
  2. Rothenberg 1976, p. 193.
  3. John Keegan and Andrew Wheatcroft, Who's Who in Military History: From 1453 to the Present Day (2001) p, 12.
  4. Rothenberg 1976, pp. 97, 99, 113–17, 124–25, 159.
  5. Rothenberg 1976, p. 121.
  6. Rothenberg 1976, p. 130.
  7. Rothenberg 1976, p. 143.
  8. Rothenberg 1976, pp. 101–02.
  9. Rothenberg 1976, p. 81.
  10. Rothenberg 1976, p. 126.
  11. Rothenberg 1976, pp. 126, 165.
  12. Rothenberg 1976, p. 128.
  13. Rothenberg 1976, p. 118.
  14. Rothenberg 1976, p. 142, 151.
  15. Rothenberg 1976, p. 78.
  16. Rothenberg 1976, pp. 125–26.
  17. Rothenberg 1976, p. 175.
  18. Steiner, Glenn Jewison & Jörg C. "Austro-Hungarian Land Forces 1848-1918". www.austro-hungarian-army.co.uk. Archived from the original on 2019-01-03. Retrieved 2018-10-04.
  19. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2009-02-07. Retrieved 2009-02-17.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  1. The German word Standschütze is derived from Schützenstand or Schießstand, which means "firing point" or "firing range", and generally refers to the members of a local shooting club – the Schießstand, Schützenstand or Schützenverein – in German-speaking countries. These were in essence volunteer militia. They still exist today, albeit their role is purely social and ceremonial.
  2. enrolliert is the Austrian military jargon for "enrolled" (from the Old French enroller).

Further reading

  • Bassett, Richard. For God and Kaiser: The Imperial Austrian Army, 1619-1918 (2016).
  • Deák, István. "The Habsburg army in the first and last days of world war I: a comparative analysis." in Bela K. Kiraly and Nandor F. Dreisziger, eds. East Central European Society in World War I (1985): 301-312.
  • Stone, Norman. "Army and society in the Habsburg Monarchy, 1900-1914." Past & Present 33 (1966): 95-111. in JSTOR
  • Watson, Alexander. "Managing an ‘Army of Peoples’: Identity, Command and Performance in the Habsburg Officer Corps, 1914–1918." Contemporary European History 25#2 (2016): 233-251.

In German

  • Lichem, Heinz von (1977). Spielhahnstoß und Edelweiß. Graz: Stocker Verlag. ISBN 370200260X.
  • Lichem, Heinz von (1985). Der Tiroler Hochgebirgskrieg 1915–1918. Berwang (Tirol): Steiger Verlag. ISBN 3854230524.
  • Allmeyer-Beck; Lessing (1974). Die K.u.K. Armee 1848–1918. München: Bertelsmann.
  • Rest; Ortner; Ilmig (2002). Des Kaisers Rock im 1. Weltkrieg. Wien: Verlag Militaria. ISBN 3950164200.
  • Schreiber, Georg (1967). Des Kaisers Reiterei. Wien: Verlag Kremayr & Scheriau.
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