Kaiserschützen

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The Kaiserschützen (English: Imperial Infantry) were three regiments of Austro-Hungarian mountain infantry during the K.U.K. Monarchy.

[edit] History

Established 19 December 1870 with ten Tirolian Landesschützen (English: Territorial Infantry) battalions, there were two companies of mounted infantry added in 1872. In 1906 they were reorganized in the pattern of the Italian Alpini as pure mountain troops. Despite being territorial forces, the Tirolians were used in the First World War in many theatres and took heavy losses.

[edit] Deployments 1914-1918

• Galicia: Lemberg, Gerodek, Przemysl, Pilica, Limanowa Lapanow, Gorlice Tarnow, Carpathia
• Serbia
• Bolzano-Bozen, Carniola: Monte Cristallo, Monte Piano, Falzarego, Tofana, Col di Lana, Marmolata, and others

They were principally deployed in opposition to the Italian Alpini. By the date of the armistice, November 4, 1918, the II^nd and III^rd regiments were positioned on Zugna Torta, over Monte Corno, up to Monte Spil. The I^st regiment were up to the Adamello-Presanella.

[edit] Further reading

• Heinz von Lichem: Spielhahnstoß und Edelweiß. Stocker, Graz (1977) (German)
• Karl Glückmann: Das Heerwesen der österreich-ungarischen Monarchie. Vienna (1911) (German)
• Georg Bartl: Tiroler Landesschützen/Kaiserschützen - Ein Rückblick. Innsbruck (1930) (German)