The Gardebataillon ("Guard Battalion") is a ceremonial unit in the
Austrian Armed Forces
The Austrian Armed Forces (german: Bundesheer, lit=Federal Army) are the combined military forces of the Republic of Austria.
The military consists of 22,050 active-duty personnel and 125,600 reservists. The military budget is 0.74% of nati ...
. The Gardebataillon is one of the most important military units in the
Austrian Armed Forces
The Austrian Armed Forces (german: Bundesheer, lit=Federal Army) are the combined military forces of the Republic of Austria.
The military consists of 22,050 active-duty personnel and 125,600 reservists. The military budget is 0.74% of nati ...
as its main task is to represent Austria at home and abroad. It is stationed exclusively at Maria Theresien Barracks in
Vienna
en, Viennese
, iso_code = AT-9
, registration_plate = W
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, timezone = CET
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, timezone_DST ...
.
History
The battalion was formed on March 1, 1935, as the Vienna Guard Battalion. At that time it was based at the
Hofburg Imperial Palace. It was dissolved in 1938 following the German
Anschluss
The (, or , ), also known as the (, en, Annexation of Austria), was the annexation of the Federal State of Austria into the German Reich on 13 March 1938.
The idea of an (a united Austria and Germany that would form a " Greater Germany ...
.
In 1956, the unit was restored, initially under the name ''Heereswachbataillon'' ("Army guard battalion"). Since that time it has had its headquarters in the Maria Theresa barracks. On 15 May 1957, it reassumed its original name.
Regimental Structure
![2005 Militärparade Wien Okt](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a3/2005_Milit%C3%A4rparade_Wien_Okt.26._172_%284293478120%29.jpg)
* HQ Staff Corps
* Guard Companies
** Active Duty Companies
*** 1st Active Duty Company
*** 2nd Active Duty Company
** Honor Guard Companies
*** 1st Honor Guard Company
*** 2nd Honor Guard Company
*
Gardemusik
Uniform
![Die Ehrengarde steht Spalier](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/4f/Die_Ehrengarde_steht_Spalier.jpg)
Their uniform is very similar to the uniform of the German
Wachbataillon
The Wachbataillon (full name: ''Wachbataillon beim Bundesministerium der Verteidigung'' (WachBtl BMVg) (Guard Battalion at the Federal Ministry of Defence) is the German ''Bundeswehr's'' honour guard. The Wachbataillon number about 1,000 soldie ...
. The soldiers of the Guard are distinguished by their red beret, and their white collar. Apart from the beret, the battalion's uniform also includes a ceremonial helmet, with the
Coat of arms of Austria
The current coat of arms of the Republic of Austria has been in use in its first forms by the First Republic of Austria since 1919. Between 1934 and the German annexation in 1938, the ''Federal State (Bundesstaat Österreich)'' used a different ...
on the front.
Purpose
Its tasks include the protection of federal buildings such as the
Hofburg Imperial Palace and the
Federal Chancellery. The battalion also provides
Guards of Honour
Guard or guards may refer to:
Professional occupations
* Bodyguard, who protects an individual from personal assault
* Crossing guard, who stops traffic so pedestrians can cross the street
* Lifeguard, who rescues people from drowning
* Prison gu ...
to carry out representative duties (such as accreditations of ambassadors, welcoming ceremonies, and parades). Of these, the seniormost task is to provide honours for high ranking high ranking national & foreign dignitaries during events of importance. The deliverable for this task is the battalion's two honor Guard companies. The detached companies perform their respective
public duties
Public duties are performed by military personnel, and usually have a ceremonial or historic significance rather than an overtly operational role.
Armenia
Since September 2018, the Honour Guard Battalion of the Ministry of Defense of Armenia has ...
in
Vienna
en, Viennese
, iso_code = AT-9
, registration_plate = W
, postal_code_type = Postal code
, postal_code =
, timezone = CET
, utc_offset = +1
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, the national capital. It also appears during repatriation ceremonies for fallen soldiers returning from combat.
Gardemusik Wien
![130601 Blasmusikfest 13 (8914911757)](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/4a/130601_Blasmusikfest_13_%288914911757%29.jpg)
The Gardemusik Wien (Guards Band Vienna) is one of the nine
military bands
A military band is a group of personnel that performs musical duties for military functions, usually for the armed forces. A typical military band consists mostly of wind and percussion instruments. The conductor of a band commonly bears the tit ...
in Austria and is the official regimental band of the Gardebataillon. It was formed after the
Austrian State Treaty
The Austrian State Treaty (german: Österreichischer Staatsvertrag ) or Austrian Independence Treaty re-established Austria as a sovereign state. It was signed on 15 May 1955 in Vienna, at the Schloss Belvedere among the Allied occupying p ...
came into effect, the band was formed from the band of the Austria border guard department. It consists of 60 military musicians. It regularly provides musical accompaniment to the rest of the battalion. The unit always composes a new military march during a presidential inauguration in honor of the elected President of Austria (e.g.
Alexander Van der Bellen
Alexander Van der Bellen (; born 18 January 1944) is the current president of Austria. He previously served as a professor of economics at the University of Vienna, and after joining politics, as the spokesman of the Austrian Green Party.
Va ...
in 2017.). The current commander of the Band is .
Photos
Gardebataillon
File:CIMG3656 oesterr bheer gd-k.jpg,
File:GuentherZ 2013-04-09 0219 Staatsbesuch Fuerst Hans-Adam Liechtenstein+UHBP Heinz Fischer.jpg,
Gardemusik
File:Dancer against cancer 2010, Gardemusik (2).jpg,
File:Abmarsch der Garde und des Musikcorps, dahinter das Bundeskanzleramt (cropped 2).jpg,
File:Garde (8125758151).jpg,
File:Gardemusik Wien 1298.JPG,
See also
*
Austrian Armed Forces
The Austrian Armed Forces (german: Bundesheer, lit=Federal Army) are the combined military forces of the Republic of Austria.
The military consists of 22,050 active-duty personnel and 125,600 reservists. The military budget is 0.74% of nati ...
*
Wachbataillon
The Wachbataillon (full name: ''Wachbataillon beim Bundesministerium der Verteidigung'' (WachBtl BMVg) (Guard Battalion at the Federal Ministry of Defence) is the German ''Bundeswehr's'' honour guard. The Wachbataillon number about 1,000 soldie ...
*
Foot guards
*
Guard of honour
References
External links
Website of the Bundesheer - GardebataillonWebsite of the Bundesheer - GardemusikOfficial Youtube ChannelThe Gardebataillon on their 60th anniversary
{{Authority control
Military units and formations of Austria
Military units and formations established in 1935
Guards of honour