Uniformen#

Uniforms: Uniforms in the modern sense of the term were not worn by soldiers of the Imperial army before the end of the 17th century. The uniforms in the Prince Eugène era were mainly made of pearl-grey cloth, which was the most inexpensive and durable in those days. As national cavalry troops were integrated into the Imperial army, e.g. the hussars coming from the lands of the Hungarian Saint Stephen's Crown during the time of the Seven Years' War and the uhlans from the territories which had been acquired in the course of the first partition of Poland in 1772, foreign stylistic elements were adopted. The uniforms of the Austrian army were radically changed in the course of the Napoleonic Wars. For example, the leather helmets for infantry and heavy cavalry introduced in 1798 were made after a French model. In 1808 soldiers of the infantry were fitted out with shakos replacing the uncomfortable helmets. One of the most striking changes in service clothes in the history of the Austrian army was made in 1849, when the "Frack" (tail-coat) was generally replaced by the "Waffenrock" (service coat). The year 1868 was a turning point in the development of Austrian uniforms, as the traditionally white service coat of the infantry was abolished and replaced by a dark blue one, which from then on was to be worn mainly in parades. All branches of service had to wear service blouses with 4 pockets as part of their regulation field uniforms. The "colourful" uniforms of the Imperial army were generally in use until World War I. In 1908 pike-grey uniforms were introduced for general official use, which were replaced by field-grey ones in 1916.

The federal armed forces of the 1st Republic wore uniforms very similar to those of the German Reichswehr until 1933, which were afterwards replaced by uniforms tailored after traditional Austrian models. Today the Federal Armed Forces are equipped with uniforms adopted to modern service conditions, which show only few traditional Austrian elements.

The uniforms of Austrian police forces, officers, guards, etc. ( Police, Gendarmerie, Customs Guard, Judicial Guard) were largely modelled after military uniforms until 1918; after 1918 they adopted a more individual style.