austrian military records

72 FEEFHS Journal Volume IX

BackgroundMilitary records of the Austrian Empire include a

number of valuable genealogical sources. The militaryplayed a significant role in the lives of citizens of theAustrian Empire. Prior to 1802 a soldier’s term of servicewas for life, although he was not necessarily on active dutythe entire time. Those exempt from military service were theclergy, the nobility, certain government officials, andworkers employed in mining, iron production, and necessaryagricultural occupations.

One facet of Austrian military life that was unusual forthe time period was the absence of segregation anddiscrimination against non-conformist religious groups.Protestants, Orthodox, and Jews served alongside theCatholic majority in the military services. Soldiers fromeach group had all of the rights of military membership andthere were many who held high positions in the Austrianmilitary.

After 1802 the term of service was reduced to ten years,but many were still exempt from military service. In 1868 auniversal conscription went into effect. Every male citizenwas obligated to serve three years of active duty in themilitary. This was modified in 1912 to a two-year term of

active service. This remained the case throgh the dissolutionof the empire.

The War Archives (Kriegsarchiv) in Vienna containdocuments relating to the Austrian military from the 16thcentury until the end of World War I. Generally earlierrecords contain less genealogically relevant informationthan those of later years. Some of the more recent recordswere turned over to modern successor nations includingHungary, Yugoslavia, Romania, and the Ukraine.

Family History Library CollectionsThe major collections in the Vienna War Archives were

microfilmed and are available in the Family History Libraryand Family History Centers. Indexes to some of the recordsare available, particularly if your ancestor happens to be anofficer, staff member or official. It is estimated that over10% of soldiers were officers.

Enlisted men can be located when the name of theregiment or military unit, or place of recruitment can bediscovered. Recently filmed alphabetical personnel files orsheets called Grundbuchblätter for soldiers born in areascorresponding to the states of modern Austria have beenmade available. Similar lists for soldiers born in other areas

An Introduction to Austrian Military RecordsUsing Military Records to Find Your Ancestors

© Steven W. Blodgett, AG. MLS

Fig. 1 -Military personnel sheet for Ignaz Birkner, born in Schwarzau im G[ebirge], W[iene]r Neustadt,Niederösterreich. Includes personal information, description, enlistment, transfer and discharge data

73FEEFHS Journal Volume IX

of the empire have not been located. [See FEEFHSQuarterly VII 1-2 for details on Czech military records].

Personnel SheetsMajor collections of significance for enlisted soldiers

are the Personnel Sheets (Grundbuchblätter). These coversoldiers born as early as 1780 up through those whomustered out or died as late as 1930. These records arestrictly alphabetical and are contained on 616 rolls of film.These personnel background sheets include all soldiers andofficers born within the states of the modern Republic ofAustria. You can search for the record of your ancestor bornwithin one of the following states: Vienna (Wien), LowerAustria (Niederösterreich), Upper Austria (Oberösterreich),Styria (Steiermark), Carinthia (Kärnten), Salzburg, Tirol,and Vorarlberg.

These Personnel Sheets are arranged alphabetically bysurname within each state. Records began to be kept about1820, and include soldiers’ born as early as 1780. Mostsoldiers mustered out after World War I, but some as late as1930 have been found.

Documents show year of birth, place of birth, religion,occupation and record of service, including names ofregiments where served and dates of service. If you do notknow the exact birthplace of an ancestor, but you know hewas born in one of the states of modern Austria, thepersonnel sheets can be used to determine his exactbirthplace. A list of the film numbers for these

records has been included in Table 1. The beginningsurname is shown for each microfilm. The same surnamemay appear on the preceding film. See Table 1 formicrofilms of Austria Personnel Sheets.

Muster RollsThe Muster Rolls and Formation Tables (Musterlisten

und Standestabellen) cover all soldiers and officers duringthe time period 1740-1820. They are contained on 5,104rolls of film. These records are filed and cataloged by thename of the regiment or unit. To determine which regimentto search for enlisted men, use the Location Index discussedlater. Most regiments have individual indexes, but there isno general index for all enlisted men. Information given foreach soldier includes name, age, birthplace, children’snames, some birth dates (after 1770), religion, occupationand marital status.

An Officers’ Index (Kartei für Musterlisten undStandestabellen) to the above records covers the years 1740-1820, and is contained on 29 rolls of film. This is analphabetical file of officers’ names showing the regimentalunit number in which your ancestor may be found in themuster lists. An index card is available for each regiment forwhich an officer served.

Personnel BooksThe regimental personnel books and formation lists

(Grundbücher und Stellungslisten) cover the years 1820-

Fig. 2 - Military personnel sheet for Robert Musil, born in Klagenfurt, Kärnten. Includes personalinformation, description, enlistment, transfer and discharge data


Fig. 3 - Muster list for Infantry Regiment 25 Fig. 4 - Officers’ Index cards for M. Plunkett

Service RecordsA major collection of significance for officers only are

the Service Records (Dienstbeschreibungen undQualifikationslisten) which cover the years 1823-1918.These records are contained on 3,408 rolls of film. They arefiled alphabetically and supplement the muster andbackground books with more complete informationconcerning the actual service of each officer, official or staff

1869. These include enlisted soldiers and officers and arecontained on 2,884 rolls of film. They are arranged andcataloged by the name of the regiment. To find the name ofthe regiment use the Locator Index discussed later. Nameindexes within each regiment are arranged alphabetically byyear of mustering out. Information for each soldier includesname, age, birthplace, children’s names and birth dates,religion, occupation and marital status.

Fig. 5 - Service record for Franz Tauer, born in 1838 in Chotomischl, Böhmen


member. These records give the exact birth dates, specialduties, transfers, and other events such as marriages andbirths of children. Some information about parentage maybe given as well as the units in which the officer served.Military Church Records

Military Church Records (Militärkirchenbücher) werekept by many of the regiments. Some of these cover years asearly as 1654 and may extend as late as 1922. So far 551microfilm rolls of military church records have been filmed.Church records were kept for most military units, hospitalsand garrisons. They are to be found cataloged under thename of the unit and/or by the name of the place where theunit was stationed if known. These records contain mostlydeath records, but a surprising number of births andmarriages were also recorded.

A tool for locating the military church records is theMilitary Church Records Directory (Militär-Matriken-Index). It is contained on 5 rolls of film. It indexes the namesof regiments, units, hospitals, and places where the militaryparishes were stationed or garrisoned. The index does not

show the names of soldiers, but show the dates of theavailable church records, names of regiments and locationsof military parishes. Film numbers are 1442862-1442866item 1.Location Index

An indispensable tool for determining the name of theregiment into which an ancestor was recruited is theLocation Index for Recruitment into the Imperial and RoyalAustrian Army and Navy Troops (Dislokations-Verzeichnisdes k.u.k. Heeres und der k.u.k. Marine, 1649-1914) by OttoKasperkowitz. It is a typescript made in 1969, consisting320 pages. It appears on film # 1186632 item 1.

The Location Index shows the names of regiments,battalions, and other units which had permission to recruit atvarious locations throughout the Austrian Empire. To usethis index one must know at least the district in which thesoldier lived prior to enlisting. If the name of the district isknown, the Location Index can be used to determine thename of the regiment or unit into which a soldier wasrecruited. The time period to search in the Location Indexwould be when the recruit has reached at least 17 years ofage.

An essential addition to the Location Index is theRecruiting District Guide (Uebersicht der Werb-(Ergänzungs- Bezirks-Eintheilung von 1781 bis 1889). This

Fig. 7 - Births of the Artillerie Zeugsdepot at Graz, 1832

Fig. 5 - Deaths for the year 1816, military parish ofInfantry Regiment 16

Fig. 6 - Marriages of the Military Academy at WienerNeustadt


is a series of tables found the History of the Austrian andAustro-Hungarian Armed Forces (Geschichte der k. und k.Wehrmacht) by Alphons Wrede. This valuable work wasonly partially published in Vienna by L. W. Seidel & Son,1898-1909. Some of the volumes appear in manuscript form.The tables are found in volume 1 following page 114 (Film# 1187917 item 2).

Military staff records (Stabsbücher), 1753-1825. 89rolls of microfilm. Includes salary, pension and dischargerecords of military staff. These files are indexed.

Pension records (Pensionsakten), 1770-1920. 220 rollsof microfilm. Each pensioned officer, and eventually hiswidow and orphaned children received support from themilitary. These records are arranged by unit and category ofservice. Includes some indexes by category of officer.

ConclusionThe recent acquisition of the alphabetical military

personnel files for Austria proper and the Czech republichave made locating genealogical data for soldiers born from1780 to 1900 in these areas easy to locate.

To find the records of enlisted men in other locationsthroughout the Empire and in earlier time periods one mustdetermine the regiment in which he served, and then find themuster rolls or service records for that regiment. These andother military records have been microfilmed and areavailable through the Family History Library and its Family

Fig. 7 - Mlitary church directory for Husaren Regiment 16

Fig. 8 - Directory of units at Wadowice, Galizien

These tables include some regimental recruitment areaassignments not included in the Location Index, so it isnecessary to use these tables to find possible additionalregimental assignments. For convenience I have reproduceddata from Wrede’s tables here in Table 2.

Other Austrian Military Records CollectionsGuardianship records (Pupillar Protokolle), 1702-

1882. 83 rolls of microfilm. These records are arranged bytime period and category. Includes some indexes. Givessoldier’s name and date of death, names and birth dates oforphaned children.

Marriage bonds (Heirats-Cautionen), 1750-1883. 10rolls of microfilm. Each officer had to post a bond whichcould be used to sustain his widow and children in the eventof his death. These records are arranged by categories ofofficers within specific time periods. Gives names ofmarriage partners and marriage dates. There are indexes inseveral of the series.

Widow and Orphan records (Witwen und Waisenakten),1749-1828. 16 rolls of microfilm. This special collection ofpensions for widows and orphans is arranged by time periodand category of soldier. Gives names and dates of death andmarriage. Includes some indexes.

Fig. 9 - Page from the Location index. Gives names ofregiments assigned to localities for the years shown


History Centers.If an approximate birth place is

known use the Location Index and theSupplementary Recruiting LocationsTable to determine the name of theregiment where your ancestor served.Vienna (Wien):A- 2016892 it. 2 - 3Bauer - 2016975Bohuslaw - 2016976Daber - 2017027Edler - 2017028Fischer - 2017123Geringer - 2017124Habermann - 2017185Hendel - 2017186Hörmann - 2017234Kamon - 2017235Koch - 2094750Küchler - 2094751Lichtner - 2094805März - 2094806Moser - 2094807Obor il - 2094850Philippovi - 2094851Probitzer - 2094920Rettich - 2094921Sabe - 2094973Schindler - 2094974Schratt - 2094975Seitz - 1795297Springinklec - 1795298Strempel - 1795314Towin - 1795315Wagner - 1795416Weittenhiller - 1795417Wohlgemuth - 1795554Zimm - Zywny 1795555 it. 1

Lower Austria:(Niederösterreich):Aaron - 1795555 it. 2 - 3Bachner - 1795163Bierleutgeb - 1795164Bruckner - 1795255Dobner - 1795256Eisenbach - 1795625Fischer - 1795626Gaismayer - 1795673Götzlmann - 1795674Gutkas - 1794982

Hasenzagl - 1794983Hirtl - 1794923Hössel - 1794924Kammerhofer - 1795912Klinghofer - 1795913Kraut - 1795966Lechner - 1795967Luef - 1848751Mayer - 1848752Müllner - 1848797Paal - 1848798Pimminger - 1848897Pritz - 2095016Reidlinger - 2095017Rockenbauer - 2095018Schamböck - 2095103Schlögl - 2095104Schönhofer - 2095129Schweiger - 2095130Sperk - 2095218Stift - 2095217Tauber - 2095225Ungar - 2095452Wapplinger - 2095453Westermaier - 1796158Wochner - 1796159Zillner - Zyrin 1796160 it. 1

Upper Austria:(Oberösterreich):Abel - 1796160 it. 2 - 3Aichhorn - 1796161Altenstraße - 1796273Aschauer - 1796274Bachleitner - 1796405Bauernberger - 1796476Berger - 1796477Bixner - 2095611Brandstätter - 2095612Bruckner - 2095732Burghuber - 2095695Dattringer - 2095847Diller - 2095848Dümler - 2095849Eder - 2095824Eidenberger - 2095825Erhardt - 2095904Feichtinger - 2095905Fischer - 2095906Frauscher - 2096010Füchsel - 2096011

Gärber - 2096120Geyer - 2096121Grafeneder - 2096228Grossauer - 2096229Grünner - 2096293Habring - 2096397Haim - 2096398Hartl - 2096414Hausjell - 2096415Herber - 2096486Hinterobermayer - 2096487Hofer - 2096567Höllerer - 2096568Hörmannseder - 2096634Huber - 2096635Hummer - 2096679Jochberger - 2096680Kamerer - 2096766Kaufmann - 2096767Kirchgaßner - 2096818Knieling - 2096819König - 2096833Kreil - 2096834Krottenmüller - 2096911Landerl - 2096912Lederhilger - 2096937Leitner - 2096938Liebenwein - 2097030Loidl - 2097031Mahringer - 2097032Maix - 2097048Mayer - 2097049Meindl - 2097050Mitterhubmer - 2097159Mössl - 2097160Nathschläger - 2097161Niedermair - 2097200Obermair - 2097201Osterberger - 2097202Peham - 2162871Pfundbauer - 2162872Platzer - 2162873Pramendorfer - 2162882Pühringer - 2162883Rakatseder - 2162884Reif - 2162897Reitter - 2162898Rinnerthaler - 2162899Ruefs - 2162911Schachner - 2162912Scheiblehner - 2163069

Table 1: Microfilm numbers for Austria personnel sheets

Personnel sheets for soldiers born within the modern states of Austria. Includes Vienna (Wien), Lower Austria(Niederösterreich), Upper Austria (Oberösterreich), Styria (Steiermark), Carinthia (Kärnten), Salzburg, Tyrol (Tirol), andVorarlberg. The beginning surname is shown for each microfilm. The same surname may appear on the preceding film.


Schinecker - 2163070Schmöller - 2163071Schreder - 2163084Schweighofer - 2163085Simmer - 2163086Springer - 2163156Steinberger - 2163157Stieglmaier - 2163158Stratberger - 2163197Teuschl - 2163196Traxlmayr - 2163247Vogl - 2163248Wakolbinger - 2163327Weich - 2163328Weixelbaumer - 2163329Wiesinger - 2163330Wimplinger - 2163394Woitschky - 2163395Zankl - 2163396Zierler - Zwirtner 2163459 it. 1 - 2

Styria (Steiermark):Abeele - 2163459 it. 3Aler - 2163460Aussenik - 2163461Baumgartner - 2163541Bischof - 2163542Bretterklieber - 2163618Cokan - 2163619Dohr - 2163677Eder - 2163678Ellmaier - 2163679Fauster - 2163756Fischbacher - 2163757Freiinger - 2163758Fuchs - 2163790Ganster - 2163791Glanser - 2163829Gössler - 2163830Greiner - 2163831Gruber - 2163904Guttmann - 2163905Hahl - 2163961Haslauer - 2163962Herbst - 2163963Hirschmann - 2164049Höfler - 2164050Hopf - 2164205Hutter - 2164206Jellinek - 2164207Kaiserberger - 2164233Kazettl - 2164234Klambauer - 2164507Knezevic - 2164508Kohlbach - 2164509Konrad - 2164688Krammer - 2164689

Krispel - 2164774Lackner - 2164775Lautner - 2164862Leitner - 2164863Linhart - 2164960Luttenberger - 2164961Malli - 2164962Maurer - 2140021Mir - 2140207Mösti - 2140208Neubauer - 2140209Oberrainer - 2140172Paierhuber - 2140173Peier - 2140174Pfandlsteiner - 2140250Pieber - 2140251Plischnig - 2140252Posch - 2140388Prelog - 2140389Puffing - 2140390Rampitsch - 2140473Rechberger - 2140474Reiss - 2140520Richter - 2140521Rodler - 2140522Rumpel - 2140537Santner - 2140538Schandl - 2140539Scheucher - 2140614Schlögl - 2140615Schnek - 2140638Schrei - 2140639Schwab - 2140671Schweitzer - 2140742Siebenhofer - 2140743Sommerhuber - 2140744Stadler - 2140809Steiner - 2140810Stinner - 2140914Strobl - 2140915Tafener - 2140916Thaller - 2140954Tösch - 2140955Trummer - 2140956Url - 2097689Vormundl - 2097690Wallner - 2097691Weberegger - 2097740Weitgasser - 2097741Wiesenhofer - 2097742Winkelbauer - 2097866Wolf - 2097867Zangl - 2097891Zimmerman - Zyrry 2097892

Carinthia (Kärnten):Abarschnig - 2097941

Anderwald - 2097942Bachmann - 2097943Berger - 2097995Brandner - 2097996Bucher - 2097997Dermouz - 2139947Dowrounig - 2139948Eder - 2139949Einhauer - 2139980Felcher - 2139981Fischl - 2143052Frühberger - 2143053Gasser - 2143095Glanzer - 2143096Grafenauer - 2143138Groier - 2143139Guss - 2143140Haring - 2143240Herbel - 2143241Hofmaier - 2143272Huber - 2143339Jakolitsch - 2143340Jeronisch - 2143341Kaiser, Franz - 2143422Karnitscher - 2143423Kerschbammer - 2143424Kleinbichler - 2143488Koch, Johann - 2143489Kolbitsch - 2143490Kopeinig - 2143606Kraiger - 2143607Kraule - 2143608Krivitz - 2143639Kumer - 2143640Lager - 2143704Laure - 2143705Lepuschitz - 2143706Lissinger - 2143775Maier, Jakob - 2143776Markon - 2143890Mayer, Joseph - 2143891Messnig - 2143892Mlaker - 2144027Moser, Joseph - 2144028Müller, Adam - 2144029Neukam - 2144082Obermosterer - 2144083Omann - 2144084Pachernig - 2144153Pernusch - 2144154Pfeiffhofer - 2144203Pirker - 2144204Pobeheim - 2144205Posseger - 2144290Prigotnig - 2144291Raab - 2144292Raschel - 2144352


Reblander - 2144353Richwalder - 2144354Rosse - 2144434Sachornig - 2144435Schalleger - 2144493Schgainer - 2144494Schmon - 2144570Schrottenbacher - 2144571Scio - 2144572Skoffitsch - 2144617Spöck - 2144618Steiner - 2144694Stoflin - 2144695Stroitz - 2144820Tabojer - 2144821Thannhauser - 2144822Trampusch - 2144823Truppe - 2144824Tuswalder - 2221022Urs - 2221023Walchensteiner - 2221171Warum - 2221172Weinzerl - 2221173Wetschnig - 2221174Winkler - 2221204Wollte - 2221205Wusch - 2221244Ziermann - Zz 2221245

Salzburg:Abel - 2221286Banhofer - 2221287

Dietzinger - 2221337Elmanthaler - 2221338Fuschlberger - 2221383Gruber - 2221384Herbst - 2221385Huber - 2221386Klappacher - 2221410Lainer - 2221411Löhngruber - 2221427Moser - 2221428Pernerstötter - 2221471Rathgeb - 2221472Russegger - 2221561Schöberl - 2221562Spitzauer - 2221550Trattner - 2221551Wenigweger -Zz 2221676

Tyrol (Tirol):Astner - 2221994Bermoser - 2221995Danler - 2252083Egger - 2252084Farnick - 2252199Fuchs - 2252200Gogl - 2252302Gstrein - 2252303Haselwander - 2252450Hirnsberger - 2252451Horvath - 2252787Juffinger - 2252788Klausner - 2252789

Köll - 2252790Kuen - 2252919Leitner - 2252920Mair - 2252921Mederdorfer - 2252965Nagele - 2252966Oberladstätter - 2141075Peter - 2141076Prandl - 2141077Reinisch - 2141207Salvenmoser - 2141208Schmalz - 2141264Schue - 2141265Spilz - 2141343Stöpp - 2141344Trenker - 2141412Waldhart - 2141413Wilhelm - 2141507Zeiller - Zwölfer 2141508 it. 1 - 2

Vorarlberg:Abbrederis - 2141508 it. 3 - 4Bechter - 2141552Blum - 2141553Dobler - 2141660Fessler -2141661Gächter - 2141797Gstach - 2249034Herburger - 2249035Keckeis - 2249036Künz - 2249023Märk - 2249024

Fig. 10 - Transfer list for Infantry Regiment 1, effective 25 July 1800. Shows name, birthplace, age, personal and familydata, date of enlistment, service and transfer dates


Table 2:Austria-HungarySupplementary Recruiting Locations

AUSTRIA

This table gives infantry regiment numbers which hadpermission to recruit in the districts shown at the timeperiods indicated. Includes some assignments for the Navy(Kriegs-Marine; K-M), and for the Kaiser-Jäger; K-J; andJäger-Regiment; J-R). For other recruiting areas see theLocation Index described above.

The Austria portion of the Austro-Hungarian Empireincluded the states of Bohemia, Bucovina, Carinthia,Carniola, Coastland, Dalmatia, Galicia, Lower Austria,Moravia, Salzburg, Silesia, Styria, Tyrol, Upper Austria andVorarlberg.


Table 2 cont.

HUNGARY


Müller - 2249025Plangg - 2249123Schatzmann - 2249124Siering - 2249165Tsehofen - 2249166Weiss - Zz 2249250 it. 1 - 3

ITALY

BELGIUM

POLAND

GERMANY

The Hungary portion of the Austro-Hungarian Empireincluded Hungarian counties in Banat, Croatia, Hungary,Slavonia, and Transylvania. Given here are infantryregiment numbers that were recruiting at the time periodshown.

Other former recruiting territories were Italy, Belgium,Poland and Germany. Italian areas included provinces inLombardy and Venice.

Table 2 cont.

As part of the remodeling of all floors of the FHL(partly in anticipation of Winter Olympic visitors in February2000), each floor plan has been changed to increase the“open stack” space for books (noticeable on B-1). Also thenumber of “WebView” FHL Catalog computers has beengreatly expanded, with dozens of open work stations forpatrons.

The FHL now updates the WebView catalog(FHLC) every Monday morning, and the old DOS CD-ROMCatalog is “no more,” not having been updated sinceDecember 1998. While this WebView system is sometimesdown for an hour or two during the weekly Monday morningupdate, it is always operating by Monday afternoon. It isgreat improvement over the old DOS system, permittingsubject, author and key word searches in addition to localitysearches.

The FHL CD Catalog continues to be available atthe Joseph Smith Building Distribution office (call 1-800-537-5971 for customer service from out of town). Plans forthis CD include an annual update, but we are still patientlywaiting for the 2001 update (the most recent one is datedMarch 2000). These updates are very valuable for use athome and in preparing for visits to the FHL or FHC. Theycost only about US$5.00 each.

Another major advance at the FHL was theinstallment of a Cannon microform to CD Scanner, as wasreported on the FEEFHS WebSite earlier (type “Cannon”without quotes into the WebSite Index for the article). Thefirst unit was placed on the second floor of the FHL in March2001. Long range plans are said to call for additional unitson each floor of the FHL. While (at most) only about 200frames (pages) and hour can be burned onto the inexpensivegold C-ROM, it is quite helpful and cost-effective to bringimportant microfilm pages back home this way to deal with atyour leisure.

Changes at the Family HistoryLibrary (FHL)

© John Movius