The Bosnian-Herzegovinian Infantry was a branch of the army of Austria-Hungary, which had been granted some special and unique privileges distinct from other (Christian) units. They had their own uniforms and units were given its own number sequence within the common army.
The units were part of the line infantry in 1914 and consisted of four infantry regiments (numbered 1-4) and a Field Rifles Battalion (Feldjägerbataillon).[1]
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Between July and 20 October 1878 the two Ottoman provinces of Bosnia-Herzegovina and Novi Pazar were taken over by the army of Austria-Hungary. "The Austrians' total losses came to 946 dead and 3980 wounded."[2]:135
Although the two provinces constitutionally still belonged to the Ottoman Empire the Austrian Imperial Administration began to build up a rudimentary administrative apparatus based on a reform of the existing systems. There was ongoing communal rension and resistance to Habsburg rule in many rural areas, especially in Hercegovina and along the eastern border with Serbia. "The Austrians set up a special local militia force there, the 'Pandurs'; but many of these militia men became rebellious themselves, and some took to brigandage."[2]:138
"In November 1881 the Austro-Hungarian government passed a Military Law (Wehrgesetz) imposing an obligation upon all Bosnians to serve in the Imperial Army."[3] This led to widespread riots over December 1881 and throughout 1882 - which could only be defeated and suppressed by military means. The Austrians appealed to the Mufti of Sarajevo, Mustafa Hilmi Hadžiomerović (born 1816) and he soon issued a Fatwa "calling on the Bosniaks to obey military Law."[4] Other important Muslim community leaders such as Mehmedbeg Kapetanović, later Mayor of Sarajevo, also appealed to young Muslim men to serve in the Habsburg military.
Infantry formations were first set up in 1882 in each of the four main areas of Sarajevo, Banja Luka, Tuzla and Mostar. Initially each was composed of one infantry company which was enlarged in subsequent years by a company each. By 1889 there were eight independent battalions. In 1892 three more battalions were established. In 1894 the military administration set up the Bosnian Herzegovinian Infantry Regiment Association (Bosnisch-Hercegowinische Infanterie den Regimentsverband) in order to integrate them into the rest of the Imperial Austrian army. On 1 January 1894 a "Most High Resolution" (Allerhöchste Entschließung) formalised this measure but it proved to be difficult and was not completed until 1897.
The Field Rifles Battalion (Feldjägerbataillon) was established in 1903.
Bosnian infantry regiments differed from all other units of the Austro-Hungarian army in their uniforms. The most distinctive characteristic garment of this European military force was the Oriental fez, which was worn on parade and for field uniform. The Fez was made of reddish-brown felt and equipped with a tassel of black sheep's wool. This tassel was 18.5 cm long and mounted on a rosette fringes. The fez had to be worn such that the tassel was at the back. Officers and cadets often wore alternate Austrian military infantry caps. If the officers were Muslims, they could also wear the fez. If the officer was not Bosnian then he wore a standard Austro-Hungarian officer's beret instead. Tunics and blouses were consistent with those of the standard German line infantry. The buttons were yellow with the respective regimental number. Officers' uniforms consisted of blue coats with red collar and yellow buttons, and from 1894 the uniform featured the regiments' numbers.
Ordinary soldiers had a light blue uniform with trouser pants bearing so-called knee breeches after the oriental models. They consisted of the two leg parts and the leg pieces (like the German V-away or breeches of the armed forces - but instead issued after the front side) that were each composed of a front and back. At the front were two diagonally cut pockets. The leg parts were kept far below the knee and narrowed from there. The running down Wade pieces were connected by a 3.5 cm wide alliance of double pleated fabric with the leg parts.
The Field Rifles Battalion (Feldjägerbataillon) had a different uniform. The officers and cadets wore the same uniform as the Tyrolean Jägerbataillon, while the ordinary soldiers wore grey uniforms with a grey fez. The žandamerijskom Corps is particularly striking as the men wore the hat with black feathers.
For most of its existence the formation was equipped with the Austrian Gewehr Mannlicher M 1890 rifle. The religious requirements of Muslim soldiers were meticulously observed and respected. Junior officers and NCOs came up the ranks during the first phase of training. Within the German-speaking Habsburg army these five units were considered equal to other components, and brave enough to warrant a special separate numbering system (within the line infantry).
In 1895 Eduard Wagner wrote the "Bosniaken Marsch" (Bosniaks March) to honour the k.u.k. Bosnian soldiers, the second Infantry Regiment in particular.
In 1916 Austria-Hungary occupied Albania and about 5000 Albanian men were recruited "to serve in a militia with Bosnian Muslim officers."[5]
Many Bosnian soldiers from the Second Regiment were killed over 1916 and 1917 in fighting in north Italy during World War I and were subsequently buried in the small village Lebring, near Graz, Austria. Since 1917 locals have held a modest memorial service to mark the anniversary of the Battle of Monte Meletti in South Tyrol, only interrupted briefly during the Nazi period. Currently there is a Memorial plaque and a street named "Zweierbosniakengasse" ("Second Bosnian Street") in Graz. The Italians and the Austrians have also erected a Memorial plaque to the role of the Bosnian soldiers in the biggest Italian military defeat of the war. An impassable ridge defended by Bosnian soldiers four kilometers north of Gorizia is now called the "Posso del Bosniako" (Pass of the Bosnians). In honour of the Fourth regiment a monument has been erected on the eastern slope of Rombon mountain in Slovenia. Two Bosnian soldiers wearing fez are carved on granite, which takes into account the Rombon. The monument was made by Ladislav Kofranek, a sculptor from Prague.
In 1929 the Army History Museum in Vienna erected a Memorial Plaque to the Bosnian veterans.
The most prominent Bosnian officer to rise the ranks was Colonel Hussein Biscevic (Husein Biščević or Biščević-beg) who later served in the Waffen SS.[6] Muhamed Hadžiefendić (1898–1943) served as a lieutenant in this formation during World War I.