Hi,
my name is Ahmed Pasic and I am doing a research about Bosniaks in the WWI. They served in Austro-Hungarian army and they were present at Isonzo front line, in the eastern front (Galizia, Bukowina, Carpathians, Romania), Balkans (Serbia, Monte Negro, Albania) but I have no information if any bosnian-herzegovian unit has been sent to Western front-line to help Germans as Austro-Hungarian unit.
I just heard from some people there were some units there for short period but have no proof. Thank you in advance.
Ahmed
Full Version: Bosnian-herzegovian units on Western front?
It would seem that the Austro-Hungarians sent four divisions to the Western Front in 1918 and that the Germans thought very little of them and their fighting ability. I can find numerous references to Bosnians fighting in virtually every European theatre apart from the Western Front.
I think that your other best bet for further information (apart from here!) is the Axis History Forum. There are a wealth of areas of interest on there which you might find useful:
http://forum.axishistory.com/
I think that your other best bet for further information (apart from here!) is the Axis History Forum. There are a wealth of areas of interest on there which you might find useful:
http://forum.axishistory.com/
Dober dan, Ahmed!
I know that there were A-H troops on the Western Front in 1918, and in fact my father told me two anecdotes about them based on his actually having seen them. But I have almost no information on what nationalities were represented. One anecdote related to an interaction between a German colonel and an A-H lieutenant, and the story indicates that the lieutenant was an Austrian or Hungarian aristocrat, although of course he could have been an officer in a Bosniak unit. I am interested in your question but have not attempted to research it. I have few materials on the A-H Army.
I do know that Bosniaks had a good fighting reputation, but by 1918 the A-H Army had many problems. The references to nationality-based problems in the A-H Army thaat I have seen refer mostly to Czech units.
I do believe that the Austro-Hungarians also sent some 30.5 cm mortars to the Western Front, and my impression is that these units were mostly or entirely Austrian, although I would be interested if this was not the case.
After an absence of many, many years, I was able to visit Sarajevo about 4 years ago again, unfortunately for a very brief visit.
Bob Lembke
I know that there were A-H troops on the Western Front in 1918, and in fact my father told me two anecdotes about them based on his actually having seen them. But I have almost no information on what nationalities were represented. One anecdote related to an interaction between a German colonel and an A-H lieutenant, and the story indicates that the lieutenant was an Austrian or Hungarian aristocrat, although of course he could have been an officer in a Bosniak unit. I am interested in your question but have not attempted to research it. I have few materials on the A-H Army.
I do know that Bosniaks had a good fighting reputation, but by 1918 the A-H Army had many problems. The references to nationality-based problems in the A-H Army thaat I have seen refer mostly to Czech units.
I do believe that the Austro-Hungarians also sent some 30.5 cm mortars to the Western Front, and my impression is that these units were mostly or entirely Austrian, although I would be interested if this was not the case.
After an absence of many, many years, I was able to visit Sarajevo about 4 years ago again, unfortunately for a very brief visit.
Bob Lembke
QUOTE (bob lembke @ Nov 6 2009, 12:23 PM) 
Dober dan, Ahmed!
I know that there were A-H troops on the Western Front in 1918, and in fact my father told me two anecdotes about them based on his actually having seen them. But I have almost no information on what nationalities were represented. One anecdote related to an interaction between a German colonel and an A-H lieutenant, and the story indicates that the lieutenant was an Austrian or Hungarian aristocrat, although of course he could have been an officer in a Bosniak unit. I am interested in your question but have not attempted to research it. I have few materials on the A-H Army.
I do know that Bosniaks had a good fighting reputation, but by 1918 the A-H Army had many problems. The references to nationality-based problems in the A-H Army thaat I have seen refer mostly to Czech units.
I do believe that the Austro-Hungarians also sent some 30.5 cm mortars to the Western Front, and my impression is that these units were mostly or entirely Austrian, although I would be interested if this was not the case.
After an absence of many, many years, I was able to visit Sarajevo about 4 years ago again, unfortunately for a very brief visit.
Bob Lembke
I know that there were A-H troops on the Western Front in 1918, and in fact my father told me two anecdotes about them based on his actually having seen them. But I have almost no information on what nationalities were represented. One anecdote related to an interaction between a German colonel and an A-H lieutenant, and the story indicates that the lieutenant was an Austrian or Hungarian aristocrat, although of course he could have been an officer in a Bosniak unit. I am interested in your question but have not attempted to research it. I have few materials on the A-H Army.
I do know that Bosniaks had a good fighting reputation, but by 1918 the A-H Army had many problems. The references to nationality-based problems in the A-H Army thaat I have seen refer mostly to Czech units.
I do believe that the Austro-Hungarians also sent some 30.5 cm mortars to the Western Front, and my impression is that these units were mostly or entirely Austrian, although I would be interested if this was not the case.
After an absence of many, many years, I was able to visit Sarajevo about 4 years ago again, unfortunately for a very brief visit.
Bob Lembke
Hi Bob,
how comes you know Slovenian greeting?
))Can we confirm that no Bosnian units were present at Western front?
They had great fighting reputations, especially on Isonzo and Dolomites (they stormed Monte Meletta in July 1916) but we all know that Austro-Hungarian army was in deep trouble in 1918. In one Bosnian diary from those times you can read how happy were Bosniaks when they entered northern Italy after Caporetto because they found a lot of food and good clothes!
When they had to surrender to French units at the end end of 1918, officer in BH3 wrote that he wondered how they fought so well and for so long against well fed and equipped enemy...
Hi Ahmed,
There were two A-H divisions in the Meuse (north and south of Verdun) in the last few months of the war. I think they were the 1st and 33rd Divs, but would need to check. I don't know if they included Bosnians.
Christina
There were two A-H divisions in the Meuse (north and south of Verdun) in the last few months of the war. I think they were the 1st and 33rd Divs, but would need to check. I don't know if they included Bosnians.
Christina
Hello again, Ahmed.
The two A-H units in the Meuse area of France in autumn 1918 were the k.u.k.1 I.D and 106.Lansturm I.D to the north and north-east of Verdun. The 106 was recruited from Austrian contingents, so presumably it isn't relevant to you.
The other one was the k.u.k.35.I.D, who were in position in the north of the St. Mihiel Salient and the Woevre. I don't know what nationalities were involved.
There are apparently Austro-Hungarian graves in 37 German military cemeteries in France and Belgium. Many of them may be Skoda gun teams.
If you read French there is an interesting book called "Le prix d'une Alliance. Les Austro-Hongrois sur le front ouest 1914-1918" by Jean-Claude Laparra, published by Editions Ysec. You'll find it on sale on line at the Memorial de Verdun. Here's the link: http://librairie.memorialdeverdun.fr/bouti...um=22&pag=2.
Hope it helps,
Christina
The two A-H units in the Meuse area of France in autumn 1918 were the k.u.k.1 I.D and 106.Lansturm I.D to the north and north-east of Verdun. The 106 was recruited from Austrian contingents, so presumably it isn't relevant to you.
The other one was the k.u.k.35.I.D, who were in position in the north of the St. Mihiel Salient and the Woevre. I don't know what nationalities were involved.
There are apparently Austro-Hungarian graves in 37 German military cemeteries in France and Belgium. Many of them may be Skoda gun teams.
If you read French there is an interesting book called "Le prix d'une Alliance. Les Austro-Hongrois sur le front ouest 1914-1918" by Jean-Claude Laparra, published by Editions Ysec. You'll find it on sale on line at the Memorial de Verdun. Here's the link: http://librairie.memorialdeverdun.fr/bouti...um=22&pag=2.
Hope it helps,
Christina
QUOTE (Christina Holstein @ Nov 16 2009, 04:51 PM)
Hello again, Ahmed.
The two A-H units in the Meuse area of France in autumn 1918 were the k.u.k.1 I.D and 106.Lansturm I.D to the north and north-east of Verdun. The 106 was recruited from Austrian contingents, so presumably it isn't relevant to you.
The other one was the k.u.k.35.I.D, who were in position in the north of the St. Mihiel Salient and the Woevre. I don't know what nationalities were involved.
There are apparently Austro-Hungarian graves in 37 German military cemeteries in France and Belgium. Many of them may be Skoda gun teams.
If you read French there is an interesting book called "Le prix d'une Alliance. Les Austro-Hongrois sur le front ouest 1914-1918" by Jean-Claude Laparra, published by Editions Ysec. You'll find it on sale on line at the Memorial de Verdun. Here's the link: http://librairie.memorialdeverdun.fr/bouti...um=22&pag=2.
Hope it helps,
Christina
The two A-H units in the Meuse area of France in autumn 1918 were the k.u.k.1 I.D and 106.Lansturm I.D to the north and north-east of Verdun. The 106 was recruited from Austrian contingents, so presumably it isn't relevant to you.
The other one was the k.u.k.35.I.D, who were in position in the north of the St. Mihiel Salient and the Woevre. I don't know what nationalities were involved.
There are apparently Austro-Hungarian graves in 37 German military cemeteries in France and Belgium. Many of them may be Skoda gun teams.
If you read French there is an interesting book called "Le prix d'une Alliance. Les Austro-Hongrois sur le front ouest 1914-1918" by Jean-Claude Laparra, published by Editions Ysec. You'll find it on sale on line at the Memorial de Verdun. Here's the link: http://librairie.memorialdeverdun.fr/bouti...um=22&pag=2.
Hope it helps,
Christina
Hi Christina,
I truly aprecciate your help and information, you made my day, thanks a lot.
Ahmed
It's a pleasure, Ahmed. Do let us know if you find out that Bosniaks were in fact on the Western Front.
Christina
Christina
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