Imperial-Royal Mountain Troops

The Imperial-Royal Mountain Troops (Kaiserlich-königliche Gebirgstruppe) were founded in 1906 as part of the Austrian Landwehr, the territorial army of the Cisleithanian half of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. As a result, the abbreviation "k.k." (for kaiserlich österreichisch, königlich böhmisch or "Imperial Austrian, Royal Bohemian") was used and not "k.u.k." ("Imperial and Royal") which would have implied a connexion with the Hungarian half of the Empire.

Proposed in a memorandum by Conrad von Hötzendorf, in February 1906 the War Ministry in Vienna convened a session on Alpine border security. Field Marshal Tunk, agreed with him and put forward a concept, the fundamentals of which were then carried out.

The existing state rifle regiments were to be trained as mountain troops and, together with the Landsturm border patrol companies and gendarmerie departments were to form the backbone of a territorial defence force with local knowledge on the border of Tyrol.

Formation and deployment on 1 Aug 1914
On 1 May 1906 the two state rifle regiments with their HQs stationed in Bozen and Trient (now Bolzano and Trento, both in Italy) and the 4th Landwehr Infantry (Klagenfurt) were nominated as "high mountain troops" (Hochgebirgstruppe) and, in 1909, a third state rifle regiment, with its HQ stationed in Candido, was added. In 1911, the fifth regiment followed: the 27th Imperial-Royal Landwehr Infantry (Laibach).

The area of the Carnic ridge in Carinthia and the Julian Alps was assigned to the 4th Landwehr Infantry (Klagenfurt) and the 27th Landwehr Infantry (Ljubljana). These two, hitherto standard infantry regiments were given the new uniform of the mountain troops. From 11 April 1917 they bore the names 1st and 2nd Mountain Rifles.

1st Imperial-Royal State Rifles (Trient) (k.k. Landesschützenregiment "Trient" Nr. I)
 * Commanding Officer: Colonel Adolf Sloninka von Holodów
 * HQ / I Battalion in Trient
 * II Battalion in Strigno
 * III Battalion in Ala
 * IV Battalion in Rovereto

2nd Imperial-Royal State Rifles (Bozen) (k.k. Landesschützenregiment "Bozen" Nr. II)
 * Commanding Officer: Colonel Karl Josef Stiller
 * HQ / II Battalion in Bozen
 * I Battalion in Meran
 * III Battalion in Riva del Garda

3rd Imperial-Royal State Rifles (Innichen) (k.k. Landesschützenregiment "Innichen" Nr. III)
 * Commanding Officer: Colonel Hugo Schönherr / Colonel Josef Hadaszczok
 * HQ in Innichen
 * I Battalion in Primör
 * II Battalion in Predazzo
 * III Battalion in Ampezzo

Mounted Tyrolean State Rifle Division
 * Commanding Officer: Lieut. Colonel Moritz Srnka
 * Trient
 * 4th Landwehr Infantry (Klagenfurt) (Landwehr Infanterie Regiment "Klagenfurt" Nr. 4)
 * 44th Infantry Brigade - 22nd Infantry Division - III Army Corps
 * Commanding Officer: Colonel Friedrich Eckhardt von Eckhardtsburg
 * Established: 1889
 * HQ / III Baon in Klagenfurt
 * I / II Baon in Hermagor
 * Nationalities: 79% German - 21% Other
 * Recruiting district: Klagenfurt


 * 27th Landwehr Infantry (Laibach) (Landwehr Infanterie Regiment "Laibach" Nr. 27)
 * 44th Infantry Brigade - 22nd Infantry Division - III Army Corps
 * Commanding Officer: Colonel Karl Zahradniczek
 * Established: 1901
 * HQ / I and III Baon in Laibach
 * II Baon in Görz
 * Nationalities: 86% Slovene - 14% Other
 * Recruiting district: Laibach

The regiments began with high alpine training and moved into so-called summer stations in mountain inns, Alpine Club huts and tented camps, where they carried out intense training. The winter stations were naturally located in the valleys, but this did prevent there being a comprehensive programme of winter exercises, alpine skiing course and skiing training in the mountains.

Dress and equipment
In 1907, the gamecock spray of white and black feathers that had been worn on the cap until 1887 by the state rifles was re-introduced. Together with the edelweiss on the collar, it formed the badge of the Imperial-Royal Mountain Troops. Otherwise the uniform was the same as that of the Jäger infantry. What was new was the pike gray mountain dress: mountain boots, mountain socks, britches, heavy jacket, cap, coat, cape. Officers continued to wear their previous Landwehr uniform as individual (i.e. not in squads) on parade. Battalions and companies were given pack animals. The rifle was replaced by the (shorter) 8mm Mannlicher M 95 carbine. They were issued with additional equipment adapted to the requirements of mountain warfare; including skis, ropes, crampons and ice axes. Regiments were reinforced by a mountain machine gun section of four machine guns which, to improve mobility, could be carried by pack animals or in manportable packs at the highest altitudes. The same applied to the take-apart mountain guns. Portable field stoves (Schwarmöfen) and heated tents assisted troops to operate in inhospitable conditions.

When skiing the two-stick approach had replaced the single-stick method. The Bilgeri binding was a touring binding that could be used with the normal hiking boot.


 * Extract from the pamphlet "Mountain Warfare in Winter" (Gebirgskrieg im Winter)
 * Produced by the k.u.k. State Defence Command in Tyrol o.J.


 * Alpine equipment as follows:
 * A. General mountain equipment which is allocated to every soldier in combat units; it comprises:


 * 1 rucksack with 2 breast pockets
 * 1 climbing stick
 * 1 pair of snow shoes (Schneereifen)
 * 1 pair of snow glasses
 * 1 pair of four-toothed crampons


 * B. Equipment of the high Alpine sections: the above equipment and, in addition:


 * 1 pair of ten-toothed crampons with straps
 * 1 complete set of skis (Skizeug)
 * 1 pair of avalanche cords (Lawinenschnüre)
 * 1 pair of shoe covers (Schuhüberzüge)
 * 1 pair of mitten covers
 * 1 windbreaker
 * 1 pair of windproof trousers
 * 1 snow suit (in emergencies also a parka)


 * for every four men:


 * 1 ice pick with pick sling
 * 1 tin of glacier ointment
 * 1 spirit stove and container


 * A complete set of skis comprises:


 * 1 pair of skis and bindings
 * 1 pair of double sticks
 * 1 pair of carrying straps-Fellersatz
 * 1 pair of Harschteisen
 * Ski wax


 * A pair of skis and bindings consists of:


 * 1 pair of ski planks
 * 1 pair of bindings with spanners and affixing screws
 * 1 pair of sole plates
 * 1 set of ski straps

<!-- Bezüglich der Ausrüstung and Monturen musste man sich nach den vorhandenen Möglichkeiten richten. Bereits 1915 wurde die Lawinenschnur vorgeschrieben. Anstelle des Mantels schützte ein imprägnierter Anorak vor Wind and Nässe. Patrouillen (österr. Patrullen) führten noch Höhenmesser, Thermometer, elektr. Taschenlampen, Reserveskispitzen, Reparaturzeug, Spirituskocher, eine transportable Apotheke, Kartenmaterial and Feldstecher with sich. Zur Tarnung wurde der weiße Schneemantel getragen. Die Menage bestand aus Konserven and Trockenkonserven. Bedingt durch die allgemeine Knappheit an Zuschub konnte man allerdings nur die Bergführerabteilungen, Hochgebirgskompanien and alpine Detachements so ausreichend als möglich versorgen. Die Mehrheit der im Gebirge eingesetzten Truppe erhielt nur das, was anderweitig entbehrt werden konnte.

Einsatz im Osten
Im Ersten Weltkrieg wurden die Gebirgs-Infantryregimenter zunächst von ihrer ursprünglichen Aufgabe abgezogen and der russischen Offensive entgegengeworfen, obwohl dies laut Gesetz, zumindest was die Landesschützen betraf, eigentlich nicht zulässig war, da diese nur zur Verteidigung der Grenzen Tirols eingesetzt werden durften. In den Weiten Galiziens, am San, bei Lelechowka, bei Limanowa-Lapanow, in den Karpaten and in Serbien wurde die am besten ausgebildete Truppe der Österreichisch-Ungarischen Armee, das XIV Korps, nahezu vernichtet.

Einsatz in Tirol
Als das Königreich Italien 1915 glaubte, die Gunst der Stunde nutzen zu können, erklärte es am 23rd Mai 1915 an seinen, bis dahin, Verbündeten Österreich-Ungarn den Krieg. Nachdem die eigentlich völlig ungeschützte Grenze gegen Italien with hastig zusammengerafften Landsturm- and Genesendenverbänden, einigen wenigen aktiven Truppenteilen, sowie den Tiroler and Vorarlberger Standschützen, den freiwilligen Schützen Kärntens, Salzburgs and der Steiermark einigermaßen gesichert worden war, begannen im Sommer 1915 die Verlegungen der mittlerweile wieder ergänzten Gebirgstruppen in ihre eigentlichen Aufgabengebiete. Zusammen with den vier Tiroler Jägerregimentern sowie Feldjägerbataillonen (z.B. Nr. 8 and Nr. 9) and verschiedenen normalen Infantryregimentern (z.B. Nr. 59 and Nr. 14) bewerkstelligte man das, was niemand für möglich gehalten hätte, die Verteidigung der Grenze Österreichs gegen eine bis zu achtfache Übermacht.

Verteidigungsabschnitte
Rayon des Landesschützenregiments II

Abschnitt vom Stilfser Joch bis Gardasee
 * I Battalion with companies in Taufers, Trafoi and Sulden
 * Assigned positions in the mountain chain: Monpitschen (Taufers), Urtirola, Taufers/Münster, Ciavaltasch--> <!--, Furkelspitz, Stilfser Joch, Mandatschspitze, Kristallspitze, Thurwieser, Königspitze, Cevedale.


 * II Battalion with companies in Pejo, Pizzano and Fucine (alle Val di Sole)
 * Assigned positions in the mountain chain: Cevedale, Monte Vioz, Punta San Matteo, Corno di tre Signori, Punta Albiolo, Tonale, Cima di Presena


 * III Battalion with companies in Spiazzo, Daone, Sioro and Bezzecca
 * Assigned positions in the mountain chain: Cima di Presena, Monte Mandrone, Dosson di Genova, Monte Rossola, Cima di Seroten, Cima delle Cornelle, Cima di Corsine, Cima del Palu, Gardasee

Rayon des Landesschützenregiments I

Abschnitt vom Gardasee bis zu den Dolomiten
 * III Battalion with companies in Brentonico, Ala, Cheisa, Piazza
 * Assigned positions in the mountain chain: Gardasee, Monte Baldo, Borghetto, Corno di Aquiglio, Monte Tomba, Passo della Lora, Pasubio, Monte Maggio


 * I Battalion with companies in Vielgereuth (Folgaria), Lafraun (Lavarone), Vezzana
 * Assigned positions in the mountain chain: Monte Maggio, Laste alte, Noselari, Cassotto, Cima Mandriolo


 * II Battalion with companies in Pergine, Pieve de Tesino, Grigno, Baricata
 * Assigned positions in the mountain chain: Cima Mandriolo, Cima Dodici, Cima Maora, Frizzone, Cima di Campo, Colle Cocogna, Monte Cappolo

Rayon des Landesschützenregiments III

Abschnitt vom Dolomiten bis zum Karnischen Kamm
 * I Battalion with companies in Canale di San Bovo, Primör (Fiera di Primiero), Predazzo
 * Assigned positions in the mountain chain: Monte Coppolo, Monte Croce, Le Vette, Monte Colsento, Sasso di Muro, Cima di Fradusta, Cimon della Pala


 * II Battalion with companies in Piani di Cason, San Pellegrino, Penia
 * Assigned positions in the mountain chain: Cimon della Pala, Cima Predazza, Cima di Valfredda, Marmolata, Monte Padon


 * III Battalion with companies in Andraz and Cortina d’Ampezzo
 * Assigned positions in the mountain chain: Monte Padon, Caprile, Nuvolau, La Rocchetta, Sorapiss, Monte Cristallo


 * V Battalion with companies in Innichen, Schluderbach, Sexten, Obertilliach
 * Assigned positions in the mountain chain: Monte Cristallo, Monte Piano, Drei Zinnen, Paternkofel, Zwölferkofel, Elferkofel, Kreuzberg, Wildkarleck, Tilliacher Joch, Hochspitz

'''Rayon des Gebirgsschützenregiments Nr. 1'''

Abschnitt Karnischer Kamm


 * I Battalion with companies in Hollbruck, Gentschach, Goderschach
 * Assigned positions in the mountain chain: Hochspitz, Hohe Warte, Plöckenpass, Hoher Trieb


 * II Battalion with companies in Rattendorf, Tröpolach, Hermagor
 * Assigned positions in the mountain chain: Hoher Trieb, Hochwipfel, Trogkofel, Nassfeldpass, Malborghet


 * III Battalion with companies in Dellacher Alm, Tarvis, Riofreddo
 * Assigned positions in the mountain chain: Malborghet, Sella di Sepdogna, Predilsattel

'''Rayon des Gebirgsschützenregiments Nr. 2'''

Abschnitt Julische Alps, vom Predilsattel über die Flitscher Klause and den Krn bis Gradisca

Museale Rezeption
Im Wiener Heeresgeschichtlichen Museum ist eine Alpinausrüstung der k.k. Gebirgstruppen aus dem Jahre 1910 ausgestellt. Sie besteht u. a. aus Skiern, genagelten Bergschuhen, Steigeisen, Eispickel, Bergstöcken, Kletterseilen and Schneereifen. Weiters sind Erinnerungsstücke an Oberleutnant Theodor von Lerch ausgestellt, der 1911 nach Japan eingeladen wurde, um japanischen Soldaten den alpinen Skilauf beizubringen. Daraus entwickelte sich auch in Japan ein Gesellschafts- and Massensport.

Sonstiges
Nach der Kriegserklärung Italiens wurde unverzüglich das Deutsche Alpskorps in die Dolomitenfront kommandiert um die Front zu stützen. Für diese Hilfe verlieh man den Soldaten des Alpskorps das Recht, das Edelweiß der Landesschützen (ab Januar 1917 Kaiserschützen) bzw. der Gebirgsschützen zu tragen. Dieses Edelweiß befindet sich bis heute an der Mütze der Gebirgsjäger der Bundeswehr. -->

Badges of rank
The rank stars and the edelweiss badge of the officers were made of metal thread. The stars of the other ranks were made of celluloid, the edelweiss of metal. From 1914, cadets and Staffsoberjäger wore stars of white silk.

Literature

 * Hubert Fankhauser: Freiwillige an Kärntens Grenzen. Die Regimentsgeschichte der K. K. Kärntner freiwilligen Schützen 1915 bis 1918th Vehling Verlag. ISBN 978-3-85333-150-7