Austrian Army Corps of Engineers. III

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53,000 people (2014)

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History of the Austrian Armed Forces

The Austrian army was directly involved in almost all major European military conflicts of the modern era. Between and the Austrian semi-regular army was called "Volkswehr". She fought against Yugoslav army units occupying parts of Carinthia.

In January 2013, a plebiscite was held in Austria on the issue of switching from compulsory conscription to a professional army. Voters favored maintaining universal conscription by a large margin (60%).

At the moment, Austria has a small but well-trained and equipped army.

Composition of the armed forces

Number of military personnel: about 53,000 people (including 12 thousand conscripts)

Mobilization resources: about 1,550,000 people

Military budget, $: 3,209,000,000

Ground troops

The number of ground forces of the Austrian Armed Forces is about 21,700 people.

By the beginning of 2013, it is planned to reduce the number of armored vehicles from 1147 to 389 units. Over time, some Leopard tanks will also be decommissioned and sold.

Air Force

Insignia

Generals and officers

Sergeants and soldiers

1. Many units of the Austrian army maintain the traditions and continuity of the imperial Austro-Hungarian army.

2. Until 2006, the Austrian army included the Danube Flotilla, which traditionally belonged to the engineering units of the ground forces.

3. In 2011, plans were announced for a large-scale reduction in the fleet of armored vehicles in order to reduce costs. Upon completion of decommissioning, the number of combat vehicles will decrease from 1147 to 389 units.

4. Despite its small size, the Austrian army has a large number of original samples of military equipment of its own production. The most famous are the Glock pistols, the SSG69 sniper rifle, the Steyr AUG assault rifle and other small arms from the Steyr Mannlicher company (adopted, in particular, by the Russian airborne special forces), the Cuirassier light tanks, the Ulan infantry fighting vehicle, and the Pandur armored personnel carrier. These samples are not only used by the national armed forces, but are also actively exported.

5. One of the most famous people of our time who served in the Austrian army is Arnold Schwarzenegger, who served in tank units in 1965, during his service he managed to serve 2 months in a military prison for AWOL and drowning a tank in a river.

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An excerpt characterizing the Austrian Armed Forces

The starting point for the creation of the Austrian army can be considered the date of formation of the state itself. In 976, Leopold I became Margrave of the Eastern March, who founded the Babenberg dynasty in Austria. In 996, the old German name Ostarrichi was first mentioned, from which the modern name Austria (German: Osterreich) was derived. Under the successors of Leopold I, a gradual strengthening of the state began, increasing its independence and authority among the principalities of the empire, as well as the development of the army.

The Austrian army participated in almost all major wars in Western Europe from the founding of the state until the second half of the 20th century. During this time, she experienced many high-profile victories and no less high-profile defeats. The Russian army played an important role in the latter.

Currently, according to the Constitution, the President of Austria is the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces. In reality, the real control of the army is in the hands of the Chancellor and the Ministry of National Defence. The Chancellor also heads the National Defense Council, which includes the Vice-Chancellor, the Minister of Defense, a representative of the Ministry of National Defense, the Inspector General, and a parliamentary representative. The Minister of Defense, acting jointly with the Minister of the Interior, coordinates the activities of four committees of the National Defense Council: the Military Committee, the Economic, Civil and Psychological Defense Committee. The Inspector General serves as a military adviser to the Secretary of Defense and heads the General Staff, which is responsible for planning operations. In addition, the army commander exercises direct control of the army (Bundeser) in peacetime and war. According to Article 79 of the Constitution of the Republic of Austria, the Bundeser is entrusted with the military defense of the country. In addition, in accordance with legislative acts, the Austrian army is charged with protecting the constitutional institutions of the state, the democratic freedoms of citizens, maintaining order within the country's borders and assisting in the elimination of natural disasters. The Ministry of National Defense consists of four departments:

1st department - legal issues and legislative activities;

2nd department - personnel and disciplinary issues, conscription;

3rd department - management of military detachments, training centers, this also includes departments G-1...G-5 responsible for the combat readiness of the Air Force;

4th department - acquisition of weapons, deployment and supply of troops.

The Austrian armed forces consist exclusively of ground forces. The Air Force is considered an integral part of them. In 1993, the number of armed forces was 52 thousand people, of which 20 to 30 thousand were conscripts, called up for a period of six to eight months. In 1993, 46 thousand people served in army units. (of which 19.5 thousand are conscripts). In the Air Force - 6 thousand.

According to the doctrine for the defense of Austrian territory defined before 1993, the country’s army was divided into three components:

Standing fighting forces (Bereitschaftstruppe), including the Air Force;

Mobile police (Mobile Landwehr), consolidated into eight mechanized brigades, deployed in the event of martial law in places where the enemy is likely to attack;

Standing militia forces (Raumgebundene Landwehr), consisting of twenty-six infantry regiments guarding the assigned territories.

At the army level, headquarters, special forces and an artillery corps operated. One corps headquarters was located in Graz (eastern lands) and Salzburg (western lands). They were entrusted with command and control of troops in the entrusted territories. Each corps included artillery, anti-tank, air defense units, an engineer battalion and a transport regiment. There are training regiments in each of the nine provinces. If mobilization were announced, police detachments would be deployed at their base.

In peacetime, the ground forces number about 15 thousand professional military personnel. Conscripts are added to their number. The ground forces are consolidated into a mechanized division consisting of three armored infantry brigades. Each brigade consists of three infantry brigades and a self-propelled artillery battalion. Two brigades are equipped with self-propelled artillery units. The division headquarters is located in Baden (near Vienna), the brigade headquarters are located in the northeast of Austria.

The new structure of the ground forces, which came into force in 1995, replaces the previous system of organization of the Austrian army corps. The headquarters of the corps is located in Baden; the corps itself covers the two northeastern provinces of Austria: Upper and Lower Austria. The corps includes three mechanized brigades stationed near Baden. The mobile militia forces were reduced from eight to six brigades, as was the total number of personnel - the fully mobilized Austrian army was reduced from 200 to 120 thousand people, and the permanent fighting forces were reduced from 15 to 10 thousand people. The time for mobilization and deployment of units was reduced to one hour (for example, on the border with Slovenia). The core of each brigade is fully equipped, and conscripts will be trained in police units deployed in each province. In the final stage of training, conscripts will be transferred to permanent combat forces.

Currently, the Austrian army is undergoing a reorganization. After its completion in 2010, the armed forces will have 21,000 officials, 21,000 officers and
24,000 militia soldiers24,000 soldiers.In addition to these, employees of the Ministry of Defense and Sports, of further agencies, academies and schools contribute to a total troop strength of 55,000, including a pool of experts drawn from militia. And, in addition to them, employees of the Ministry of Defense, military institutions, academies and schools. This would bring the total number of troops to 55,000.

As a member of the UN, Austria contributes to joint international efforts to maintain peace. Since 1960, more than 70,000 Austrian troops have taken part in more than 50 international peacekeeping and humanitarian missions. Since the end of the Cold War the number of missions has been growing rapidly.

WEAPONS

The main armament of the Austrian army is 169 American-made M-60 tanks. At the end of the 1980s. The Austrian company Steyr-Daimler-Puch was tasked with modernizing the M-60. New engines, fire extinguishing systems, gun stabilization, and laser guidance systems were installed. At the end of the 1960s. The light French tank SK-105 was adopted for service; its purpose was to fight enemy tanks. The main armored personnel carrier of the Austrian army is the Saurer 4K-4E/F, supplied by Steyr-Daimler-Puch to other countries. Modern artillery weapons - fifty-four 155 mm. howitzers, American made. In addition to them, it is additionally planned to purchase 24 more howitzers of this caliber. Except 155 mm. howitzers in service with Austria are 105 mm. guns, multiple launch rocket systems of 130 mm caliber. Czech production. The Austrian government purchased 200 Centurion tanks from the Netherlands, and later 155 mm tanks were installed on them. guns. The basis of air defense is 40 mm. self-propelled anti-aircraft guns, radar detection systems equipped with 35 mm. guns, and 20 mm. anti-aircraft guns. Hand-held small arms consist mainly of Steyr Aug assault rifles and its modifications, Glock pistols, Heckler & Koch MP5 submachine guns and its modifications.

The first aircraft of the Austrian Air Force were the Yak-11 and Yak-18, received from the USSR. Currently, Austria has one of the smallest air forces in Europe, performing purely defensive missions. For a long time, the only combat aircraft in its arsenal were Saab 35 Draken interceptors. Currently, they have been replaced by modern multi-role Typhoon fighters. Austria is the first international customer for the EF-2000 fighters. The fighters are armed with short-range IRIS-T air-to-air guided missiles developed by Diehl BGT Defense and a 27-mm Mauser BK-27 cannon. Due to the doctrine adopted by the Austrian government in December 2001, the EF-2000 Typhoon purchased by Austria is equipped only with weapons to combat air targets. The fighters also did not receive the EuroDASS on-board personal protection system.

Standard equipment for an Austrian Army infantryman

Equipment of an infantryman of the Austrian Army:

1 - 1 Feldrucksack - field backpack, 1 pc.;
2 - 1 Feldschlafsack - field sleeping bag, 1 pc.;
3 - 1 Spaten mit Tasche - entrenching tool (shovel) with a cover, 1 pc.;
4 - 1 Rollmatte - sleeping mat, 1 pc.;
5 - 1 Kampfgeschirr - combat equipment (ammunition, suspenders), 1 pc.;
6 - 1 Feldsack mit aufgeschnalltem Stahlhelm, Innenhelm und Tarnenetz (mit Kampfhelmuberzug) - field backpack with attached steel helmet, fiber liner and camouflage cover (helmet covering), 1 pc.;
7 - 1 Paar leichte Feldschuhe mit Schuhstreckern - light boots, 1 pair;
8 - 1 Paar schwere Feldschuhe mit Schuhstreckern - heavy boots, 1 pair;
9 - 2 Unterhosen und 3 Unterleibchen - long johns, 2 pcs. and panties, 3 pcs.;
10 - 4 Paar Wollsocken - wool socks, 4 pairs;
11 - 1 Paar Uberfaustlinge - mittens, 1 pair;
12 - 1 Paar Feldfaustlinge - gloves, 1 pair;
13 - 2 Feldhosen - field trousers, 2 pairs;
14 - 2 Feldhemden - field shirts, 2 pcs.;
15 - 2 Feldblusen - field blouses, 2 pcs.;
16 - 1 Compakt Ration - dry ration, 1 pc.;
17 - 1 Handfeuerwaffe inkl. Reinigungsgerat - weapons with cleaning accessories, 1 pc.;
18 - 1 Butterdose - butter dish, 1 piece;
19 - 1 Essgeschirr - bowl (pot), 1 pc.;
20 - 1 Einmannkocher (mit Esbit) - dry alcohol burner, 1 pc.;
21 - 2 Feldjacken - field jacket, 2 pcs.;
22 - 1 Uberhose - overalls, 1 piece;
23 - 1 Trainingsjacke mit Trainingshose - sports jacket and pants, 1 set;
24 - 1 Pluschkappe - winter headdress, 1 pc.;
25 - 1 Mehrzweckplane - universal awning (raincoat tent) - 1 pc.;
26 - 1 Sporthose - sports shorts, 1 pc.;
27 - 1 Paar Sportschuhe - sports shoes, 1 pair;
28 - 2 Handtucher - towels, 2 pcs.;
29 - 1 Barett bzw. Fliegermutze braungrau - beret or cap, 1 pc.;
30 - 1 Wollmutze - woolen hat, 1 pc.;
31 - 1 Wehrdienstausweis/Erkennungsmarke - soldier's book and badge, 1 pc.;
32 - Waschzeug, Putzzeug - toiletry case, washing accessories;
33 - 2 Halstucher - neckerchief, scarf, 2 pcs.;
34 - 2 Feldkappen - field cappie, 2 pcs.;
35 - 1 leichte Feldjacke - light field jacket, 1 pc.;
36 - 1 GWD Tragtasche - cargo bag, 1 pc.;
37 - 1 Feldpullover - field sweater, 1 pc.;
38 - 1 Splitterschutzweste (nur bei bestimmten Ausbildungsvorhaben und bei Bedarf) - anti-fragmentation vest (used only by combat units and only when necessary);
39 - 1 Regenhose - storm (waterproof) trousers, 1 piece;
40 - 1 Unterziehhaube - balaclava (balaclava mask), 1 piece;
41 - 1 Dreieckstuch - headscarf (triangular dressing scarf) - 1 pc;
42 - 1 Leibbinde - corset made of dog hair - 1 piece;
43 - 1 ABC-Schutzanzug leicht - light OZK, 1 piece;;
44 - 2 Verbandspackchen - individual package, 2 pcs.

ABOUT The general change in the military-political situation in Europe, caused by the influx of uncontrolled flows of migrants, the increase in terrorist attacks and the civil war on the territory of Ukraine, forced the leadership of the Republic of Austria to change approaches to issues of defense and military development. As a result, the Austrian armed forces began a new stage in their history.

For the period from the reunification of Germany until 2015. Austria's defense policy has been characterized by a steady decline in the military budget from an initial 0.99 percent of GDP to 0.55 in 2016, or two billion euros less than any of its peers. He assumed the post of Minister of Defense and Sports of the country at the beginning of 2016. Hans Peter DOSKOSIL demanded a review of national security issues. The Austrian Armed Forces initiated a course of reorganization.

Austrian Minister of Defense and Sports Hans Peter DOSKOZIL

The transition to a new organizational structure officially started in October 2016, and already on January 1, 2017. It was announced that the main measures for the reorganization of troops had been completed. At the solemn ceremony on this occasion, H. DOSKOTSIL stated: “We recognized the challenges of the future! Military defense is indeed our main task and we cannot ignore security issues such as terrorism, migration and the development of cyber technologies.”

Austrian Armed Forces - purpose and composition

The declared goal of reforming the Austrian Armed Forces is to increase their readiness to respond to emerging crisis situations at home or abroad. For this reason, the former infantry and mechanized units of the ground forces received a unique specialization according to newly defined tasks. The military command and control bodies were reorganized and units subordinate to them were redeployed throughout the country (). The combat readiness of troops and the rapid use of forces are guaranteed by relying on contract servicemen.

According to the new approach, the Austrian armed forces are designed to perform the following tasks:

• military defense of the country;
• armed protection of residents and institutions;
• providing assistance to authorities and the population in case of natural disasters and accidents;
• providing assistance abroad as part of participation in international organizations.

Structurally, the Austrian Armed Forces consist of ground forces ( Landstreetcraft), air force ( Luftstreitkräfte) and rapid reaction forces ( Spezialeinsatzkräfte).

The total number of personnel is determined at 47 thousand people, of which: 14 thousand people. – soldiers of the Austrian army 8 thousand people. - civil servants and 25 thousand people - police personnel ( Miliz-Soldaten).

Higher military command

According to the new structure, the general leadership of the Austrian Armed Forces is carried out by the General Staff. He is responsible for operational planning and combat employment of subordinate forces and assets. Chief of the General Staff – Lieutenant General Othmar COMMENDA.

Formed in 2007 in Graz, the Armed Forces Control Command (Streitkrafteführungskommando) was disbanded. Instead, the following were formed: the command of the ground forces (Kommando Landstreitkräfte), the command of the air force (Kommando Luftstreitkrafte), the logistics command (Kommando Logistik), as well as the command of communications, information and cyber defense (Kommando Führungsunterstützung & Cyber ​​Defense).

Austrian Land Forces

The Austrian ground forces are the basis of the combat potential of the country's armed forces. Crisis response forces are subordinated to the Ground Forces Command ( Krisenreaktionskräfte), territorial forces, or military-territorial commands ( Militärkommanden), as well as college (school) SV ( Heerestruppenschule) and operational bases abroad. The commander of the Austrian Army is Lieutenant General Franz REIßNER.

The crisis response force includes:

• Rapid Response Command ( Kommando Schnelle Einsätze,K.S.E.), Mautern;
• mountain command ( Kommando Gebirgskampf), Innsbruck;
• 4 “heavy” motorized infantry brigade (MPBR), Hörsching;
• 7 “light” infantry brigade (pbr), Klagenfurt.

The Rapid Reaction Command (RRC) was formed on the basis of the former 3rd Mechanized Brigade. The CBI is designed to ensure the combat readiness of subordinate forces for operations at home and abroad and specializes in combat operations in urban areas. Command tasks:

• protection from terrorist threats;
• ensuring security and order after a terrorist attack, when security forces have not yet identified the source of the threat;
• strengthening, if necessary, military police units.

The 6th Mountain Brigade specializes in conducting operations in the mountains at medium and high altitudes. The brigade command is responsible for coordinating the mountain training of mobile units of the Austrian armed forces. It is also responsible for the work of the European Center for Mountain Military Training ( europäischen Zentrums für Gebirgskampf).

The 4th infantry brigade combines all mechanized units of the ground forces. The brigade is designed to organize the defense of the country by conventional means and strengthen the operations of the armed forces in the country and abroad.

Units of the 7th PBR specialize in stabilization operations abroad. They can be used to support rapid reaction forces. The brigade's training and equipment allows it to conduct airborne operations.

Territorial defense units

The territorial forces of the new organization include nine military-territorial commands ( Militärkommando). Each territorial command is assigned one infantry battalion and one militia infantry battalion ( Jägerbataillon der Miliz). Attached battalions are formed by conscripts and work closely with regional authorities. Military-territorial commands are responsible for maintaining local infrastructure in operational and combat readiness, and also serve as the basis for the formation of police units ( Miliz).

During the reorganization, the Austrian armed forces for the first time in the last 38 years, in the interests of strengthening territorial defense, formed five new infantry battalions. Of these, 1pb (Burgenland), 7pb (Carinthia) and 15 pb (Upper Austria) are new divisions. On the basis of the former 3rd anti-aircraft division (Salzburg) and 26th infantry battalion (Tamsweg), the 8th anti-aircraft battalion (Salzburg) was formed. The basis for the creation of 6 infantry battalions were the former 6th headquarters battalion (Innsbruck) and 23 infantry battalions (Landeck).

Other components of the Austrian Armed Forces

The "Air" part of the former Graz Armed Forces Command has been transformed into a new separate Air Force command. Subordinate to him:

• Air Support Command, Hörsching;
• airspace control command, Salzburg;
• school of pilots and air defense troops, Langelebarn.

The Air Force Commander is Brigadier Karl GRUBER.

The logistics command includes: six centers for logistics support of the armed forces ( Heereslogistikzentren), four health centers ( Sanitätszentren), clothing control ( Heeresbekleidungsanstalt), three arsenals ( Heeresmunitionsanstalten), 1 support regiment ( Versorgungsregiment 1), military dog ​​breeding center ( Militärhundezentrum), ten military sports centers.

The activities of the rear command are implemented in the area of ​​those core competencies: logistics support for the armed forces, military medicine and sports development.

The Communications, Information and Cyber ​​Defense Command is the center of competence of the Austrian Armed Forces in the areas of military command and control system organization, information and communication technologies, as well as military geoinformation.

The command is responsible for organizing the communication system and information support for military command and control bodies. The command carries out the tasks facing it on the territory of the country and abroad, in normal and emergency conditions.

Results and prospects

The course towards the development of national armed forces initiated by H. Doskocil received the support of the Federal Chancellor of Austria and various parliamentary parties. As a result of the efforts of the minister, the country's defense budget in 2016. received an additional 246 million euros to the planned 2.318 billion euros. In the period up to 2020 the total amount of additional funding for defense spending could be, according to various sources, from 1.305 to 1.7 billion euros.

According to experts, since the start of the reforms, the Austrian armed forces have already felt visible results. In particular, as of the beginning of 2017, for the first time in many years, all the main units of the Austrian army were equipped. At the end of 2016 About 3,800 military personnel entered service on a contract basis, and about 1,400 positions previously vacated due to military retirement were filled. According to publications, the command of the Austrian Armed Forces expressed confidence in the possibility of annually attracting about 300 contract military personnel.

In conclusion, it should be noted that after the elections in Austria in December 2017, the new Chancellor from the Austrian People's Party, Sebastian KURZ, was sworn in. The newly elected head of state changed the names of a number of ministries and appointed new key ministers. As a result of the start of its activities, the former Austrian Ministry of Defense and Sports became the Ministry of Defense. Former soldier Mario KUNASEK has been appointed to the post of head of the department.

Based on materials from the magazine "Europäische Sicherheit &Technik"

www. bundesheer. at

COMPOSITION OF THE AUSTRIAN ARMY

The army is recruited by conscription, to which, with few exceptions, all Austrian subjects are subject upon reaching the age of twenty. The annual contingent is 80,000 - 85,000. But you can pay off the concept. The service life in the active forces is eight, in the reserve is two years. The latter does not gather in peacetime. The short duration of service in the reserve is a weak point of the Austrian organization, although it should be noted that the role of the reserve is generally played by leave pay from those on active service more than by the so-called reserve itself.

Every infantry and cavalry regiment is constantly recruited in a certain district of the same province; only special types of weapons are recruited from all parts of the empire, and the fleet is from the coastal provinces. As a result, the Austrian army is an amalgam of regiments recruited from a mass whose parts are not only not connected by common interests, but are hostile to each other, and especially to the dominant German tribe. This makes it extremely difficult to command an army and complicates its bringing into martial law: active regiments are never located in the provinces from which they are recruited, because placing them in their homeland or nearby is considered dangerous; It is considered no less dangerous to give regiments officers of a non-alien nationality, as a result of which there cannot be much in common between commanders and subordinates, since only command words are understandable to both sides. In such a situation, there is, of course, no point in thinking about, for example, means of development such as literacy.

Thus, it is completed with:

In addition, the Military Frontier and the Tyrol are subject to special provisions. The entire male population of the Military Frontier capable of bearing arms is considered in service starting at the age of 20; The border guard has no property and uses the land only as long as he is in service. Moreover, he does not have the right to engage in any craft, neither the soldier nor the officer have the right to buy land. In wartime, the border guards consist of 14 regiments and 1 separate battalion. The Border Guards represent the only foreign infantry branch in Austria that has officers from their compatriots.

Tyrol and Vorarlberg comprise only one regular unit - the imperial rifle regiment, consisting of 6 battalions. In case of war, a special militia is formed for local defense, consisting of drafts: 1) rifle companies - 6200 people, 2) volunteer companies,

3) Landsturm.

The active army has the following composition:

1) Infantry. 80 regiments, consisting of 4 battalions and one reserve cadre each; from the latter, in wartime, two companies of the fifth battalion are formed, assigned to serve in the fortresses. Six-company battalions. 38 Jaeger battalions also consist of six companies, including the Imperial Jaeger Regiment. Each battalion has a cadre to form one reserve company for the duration of the war.

Granichary - 8 regiments of four battalions;

3 regiments of three battalions, with the addition of a separate division (2 companies); 3 regiments of three battalions.

The fourth battalions, where all are four companies, and the others are six companies.

Line infantry is armed with rifled rifles with triangular bayonets, and light infantry with rifled rifles with double-edged bayonets; The whole thing is built in two ranks.

Cavalry. 12 cuirassier regiments of five squadrons; 2 dragoons, 14 hussars, 13 lancers of six squadrons. In wartime, the fifth squadrons in heavy and sixth squadrons in light regiments are separated from the regiments and form reserve units for the formation of recruits and dressage horses.

Artillery. 12 regiments of ten batteries: 9 of them have 6 four-pound and 2 eight-pound foot batteries, 2 four-pound horse batteries of eight guns; one park, four fortress companies and one missile battery. The remaining three regiments represent the difference that they have 1 four-pound, 4 eight-pound foot and 5 horse batteries.

In peacetime, there is only one serf company and one reserve company for training recruits.

All Austrian field artillery is armed with copper rifled guns, muzzle loaded.

Corps of Engineers. Two engineering regiments, four battalions each, four companies strong. With martial law, one reserve company is formed for each battalion. There are six pioneer battalions of four companies.

Sanitary companies numbering 10, for picking up the wounded and setting up dressing stations.

6) Transport squadrons, number 24.

Austria began military preparations in early March: the first step was to strengthen the troops located in Bohemia and Galicia, call up the leavers of these units and order the preparation of five armored frigates in the Adriatic Sea. Newspapers were strictly forbidden to print anything about these preparations.

In mid-April, according to the old style, the following order was issued:

On bringing to martial law the regiments occupying the Venetian region, as well as those recruited from it. Their fourth battalions were also attached to the first of these regiments to occupy the fortresses of the quadrangle.

On the mobilization of active battalions in the border regiments, which were supposed to occupy Dalmatia and strengthen the garrisons of Italian fortresses.

On taking all measures to speed up the collection of vacation pay in those recruitment areas where this has not yet been done.

4) On the purchase of horses for cavalry, artillery, and convoys.

The order to bring the entire army on a military footing followed soon after these orders.

In view of the possible speedy departure of the existing regiments to Bohemia and Italy, local brigades from the fourth battalions were formed in Vienna, Linz, Grez, Lemberg and other large cities; in the month of May, in the recruiting areas, first the fifth and then the sixth battalions were formed from reserve divisions, which were staffed partly with reservists, partly with volunteers.

Only after completing the staffing of these units was it allowed to form volunteer rifle corps in Vienna, Styria, Bohemia and Hungary and a cavalry legion in Galicia.

At the beginning of June, a second recruitment was announced throughout the empire, excluding provinces with special rights, and a five new Jaeger battalions.

The shortage of doctors prompted the government, at the very beginning of armament, to invite free practitioners to serve, canceling their preliminary three-month test and assigning 200 guilders to senior and 100 junior doctors as a reward, not counting the raise money.

To ensure food supply for the army, contracts were concluded in May for the supply of supplies to Bohemia and Italy.

To care for the wounded, the War Ministry ordered the establishment of hospitals on the main railway lines, on navigable rivers, away from large cities, in noble castles and government buildings. Many hospitals were entrusted to the care of civilian doctors, city societies and private individuals.

The population responded to this call more sympathetically than could be expected from the apathy to which it was led in Austria by internal politics. What they would not have done, perhaps out of sheer affection for their own government, they were ready to do out of hatred for the Prussians. The middle class was inspired by anger at the instigators of the war, which threatened to undermine its already precarious well-being. The nobility was also ready to make some sacrifices, because Prussian tendencies towards the unification of Germany threatened to undermine the Austrian order, thanks to which this nobility had prospered very, very much, despite the misfortunes of the people. These fears resulted in the fact that not only in German, but also in other provinces, the developed part of the population was quite favorably disposed before the war. But there could not be any special inner strength in such a mood, which was revealed by the extreme modesty of the donations made to the army.

There was not even that slight agitation against the Italians that the Prussians had caused: many among the Austrian subjects even found it very natural that they would want to free their brothers from foreign rule.

The regular strength of the Austrian army before the war was as follows:

80 infantry regiments - 240 battalions... 253,000 people

80 fourth battalions - 80 battalions... 80,000

43 Jaeger battalions (including newly formed ones) ... 46,000

14 border regiments - 42 battalions... 42,000

12 heavy cavalry regiments - 48 squadrons ... 32,000

29 regiments of line cavalry - 145 squadrons ... 32,000

12 artillery regiments - 120 batteries, 960 guns... 43,000

2 engineering regiments - 8 battalions... 7000

6 pioneer battalions - 6 battalions ... 6000

10 sanitary companies... 2000

24 convoy squadrons ... 24,000

Tyrolean militia... 6000

Volunteer corps… 12,000

Total: 558,000

Reserve troops:

80 fifth and 80 sixth battalions... 160,000

41 squadron... 7000

8 engineering companies... 1000

Total: 163,000

It should be noted, however, that the difference between the regular and available numbers, judging by rumors, was very large. Unfortunately, I could not collect much positive data regarding the Austrian army.

All active troops, with the exception of 19 batteries and most of the fourth battalions, became part of the Italian and Bohemian armies, except for one division sent to the allied corps and the troops defending Dalmatia.

With the distribution of these forces among the armies, two new corps had to be formed, which indicates the uselessness of the corps organization in peacetime.

The Northern Army, entrusted to Feldzeichmeister Bepedek, consisted of seven corps and five cavalry divisions.

The corps consisted of: 1) four brigades (the division into divisions was abolished after the Italian campaign), each consisting of two infantry regiments, a Jaeger battalion, and a battery

4-pounder, squadron and engineer company.

2) From an artillery reserve of 6 batteries, with a squadron as permanent cover.

Pioneer battalion and four engineering companies.

One sanitary company.

Two field hospitals.

Telegraph office.

The Third Corps represented the difference that it was a force of five brigades, of which one consisted of only five battalions: a regiment of border guards and two fourth battalions.

The first light cavalry division consisted of three, the second - of two brigades; three reserve ones - each of two.

In total, the northern army represented a force of 199 battalions, 163 squadrons, 648 guns, 6 pioneer battalions, 12 engineering and 5 sanitary companies.

These forces should also include the Saxon army, remarkable both for its excellent spirit and for the fact that of the small German armies, only it was ready on time. In spirit and education of the officers, it stands quite close to the Prussian army, which was revealed in action: despite the fact that the Saxon army was in all cases against the northern mass of Prussian forces, it did not submit to the needle panic, fought excellently everywhere, and even after the Königgrätz pogrom retreated in much greater order than the Austrian corps, which stood in reserve and took very little part in the battle. The Saxon army represented a corps with a force of 20 battalions, 16 squadrons, 58 guns, consisting of two infantry divisions, one cavalry and an artillery reserve. Two squadrons were assigned to each infantry division.

The artillery consisted half of Prussian rifled guns and half of howitzers. Two batteries were assigned to the infantry divisions and one battery to the cavalry; the remaining five batteries constituted the artillery reserve.