Austrian Volkswehr

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GuestOneR
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Posts: 4
Joined: 02 Feb 2014, 06:13
Location: Czech Republic

Austrian Volkswehr

#1

Post by GuestOneR » 21 Jun 2014, 23:01

Hello, I am trying to collect some info on state of army of German Austria, Volkswehr, at the time of signing Versaille Peace Treaty (that means before signing of Treaty of Saint-Germain-en-Laye, but after finishing border clashes with newly established Czechoslovakia, Hungary and Kingdom of SCS)... I was looking also for some kind of top army leader like chief of general staff, but only found about Adolf von Boog, which was already relieved during June 1919. So what info I'm looking for is:
1) approximate size of G-A's Volkswehr
2) how many of these forces were "new blood" and what part of it were war veterans with experiences
3) (this one really just optional) who was chief of Volkswehr in June 1919

my German is really bad, so I didn't really find much info in German-language sources, which is actually most of existing ones (in English there is almost nothing about it)...

I will be really glad for any help.

MMTB
Member
Posts: 30
Joined: 16 Apr 2016, 09:11
Location: Australia

Re: Austrian Volkswehr

#2

Post by MMTB » 29 Apr 2016, 14:54

Image

Volkswehr, Deutschösterreichische, a people's guard and volunteer army established after the end of the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy on November 5, 1918 by the provisional state government, organised by J. Deutsch and mainly comprising supporters of the Social Democrats, who held key positions in the elected "Soldatenräte" (soldiers' councils). Many had a radical approach, especially the communist-oriented "Rote Garde". The Deutschösterreichische Volkswehr introduced a new idea, that of raising soldiers to the rank of officers (Volkswehr-Leutnant), who were then incorporated into the army of the 1. Republic. The provisional Law on the Austrian Armed Forces (February 6, 1919) provided for compulsory military service of all male citizens between the age of 19 and 42 and the call-up of max. 24.000 men; the planned transition to a militia system failed due to resistance by the soldiers' councils. The Deutschösterreichische Volkswehr was organised in battalions comprising three companies each, were set up in every political district and commanded by Landesbefehlshabern (Provincial Commanders-in-Chief). In each province an artillery battalion was set up, while other units like cavalry, flying corps and special battalions were never properly established. Some districts had just one company, others had more than one. The number of members of the Deutschösterreichische Volkswehr varied (December 1, 1918: 46,000 men, July 1, 1919: 27,600 men). The Carinthian Volkswehr took part in the Carinthian Resistance Movement from November 7, 1919 to June 6, 1920. The Deutschösterreichische Volkswehr was abolished under the provisions of the Treaty of Saint-Germain, which allowed Austria only a professional army of 30,000 men, and which were met by the Law on the Austrian Armed Forces (March 18, 1920). The Deutschösterreichische Volkswehr is characteristic of the transition from the army of the Austrian monarchy to the Federal Armed Forces (Bundesheer).

http://www.aeiou.at/aeiou.encyclop.v/v8 ... ANGUAGE=en


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