KK Landesschützen July 15 1916 - 15478038

The ''k.k. Landesschützen'' (in English, "imperial-royal country 'or'' provincialrifleman") – from 16 January 1917 ''Kaiserschützen'' ("imperial rifleman") – were three regiments of Austro-Hungarian mountain infantry during the '' kaiserliche und königliche Monarchie'' (the "imperial and royal monarchy"). As a rule, only

Tyrol Tyrol (; historically the Tyrole; de-AT, Tirol ; it, Tirolo) is a historical region in the Alps - in Northern Italy and western Austria. The area was historically the core of the County of Tyrol, part of the Holy Roman Empire, Austrian Emp ...

ean and Vorarlbergen men were enlisted in the Landesschützen.

History

The Tyrolean ''Landesschützen'' ("territorial infantry") were established on 19 December 1870 with ten battalions. Two companies of mounted infantry were added in 1872. In 1906, they were reorganized on the pattern of the Italian ''

Alpini The Alpini are the Italian Army's specialist mountain infantry. Part of the army's infantry corps, the speciality distinguished itself in combat during World War I and World War II. Currently the active Alpini units are organized in two operat ...

'' as mountain troops. Despite being territorial forces, the ''Kaiserschützen'' were used in the First World War in many theatres and took heavy losses.

Deployments 1914–1918

Galicia Galicia may refer to: Geographic regions * Galicia (Spain), a region and autonomous community of northwestern Spain ** Gallaecia, a Roman province ** The post-Roman Kingdom of the Suebi, also called the Kingdom of Gallaecia ** The medieval King ...

: Lemberg, Gródek,

Przemyśl Przemyśl (; yi, פשעמישל, Pshemishl; uk, Перемишль, Peremyshl; german: Premissel) is a city in southeastern Poland with 58,721 inhabitants, as of December 2021. In 1999, it became part of the Subcarpathian Voivodeship; it was p ...

, Pilica, Limanowa Lapanow, Gorlice Tarnów, Carpathia *

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Carniola Carniola ( sl, Kranjska; , german: Krain; it, Carniola; hu, Krajna) is a historical region that comprised parts of present-day Slovenia. Although as a whole it does not exist anymore, Slovenes living within the former borders of the region s ...

: Monte Cristallo, Monte Piano, Falzarego, Tofana,

Col di Lana The Col di Lana is a mountain of the Fanes Group in the Italian Dolomites. The actual peak is called ''Cima Lana'' and situated in the municipality of Livinallongo del Col di Lana (German: ''Buchenstein'') in the Province of Belluno, Veneto r ...

Marmolada Marmolada (Ladin: ''Marmolèda''; German: ''Marmolata'', ) is a mountain in northeastern Italy and the highest mountain of the Dolomites (a section of the Alps). It lies between the borders of Trentino and Veneto. The Marmolada is an ultra- ...

, amongst others The ''Kaiserschützen'' were deployed principally in opposition to the Italian ''Alpini''. By the date of the armistice, 4 November 1918, the second and third regiments were positioned on Zugna Torta, over

Monte Corno Gran Sasso d'Italia (; ) is a massif in the Apennine Mountains of Italy. Its highest peak, Corno Grande (2,912 metres), is the highest mountain in the Apennines, and the second-highest mountain in Italy outside the Alps. The mountain lies ...

, up to

Monte Spil Melette is a mountain massif in the Veneto region in Northern Italy. Its highest peak is 1,824 metres. The main summits of the massif are: * Monte Fior 1824 m * Monte Spil 1808 m * Monte Miela 1782 m * Monte Castelgomberto 177 ...

. The first regiment were in the Adamello-Presanella Alps.

Military awards

Soldiers of the ''Kaiserschützen'' received numerous military decorations:

Awards to Officers

* 5 awards of the Military Maria Theresa Order * 4 awards of the Order of the Iron Crown, 2nd Class * 2 awards of the military merit crosses, 2nd Class * 29 awards of the Leopold Order * 166 awards of the Order of the Iron Crown, 3rd Class * 563 awards of the military merit cross, 3rd Class * 427 awards of the Signum Laudis in silver * 1,111 awards of the Signum Laudis in bronze * 13 awards of the Golden Medal of Honor for officers * 14 awards of the silver valor medal for officers

Awards to Other Ranks

* 130 awards of the Golden Medal of Honor * 2,797 vSilver Medal of Valor, 1st Class * 9,820 awards of the Silver Medal of Valor, 2nd Class * 13,025 awards of the Bronze Medal of Honor

History

Deployments 1914–1918

Military awards

Awards to Officers

Awards to Other Ranks

Further reading