!!!Volkswehr, Deutschösterreichische

Volkswehr, Deutschoesterreichische, 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 
"Soldatenraete" (soldiers' councils). Many had a radical 
approach, especially the communist-oriented "Rote Garde". 
The Deutschoesterreichische 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.  
 The Deutschoesterreichische 
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 Deutschoesterreichische 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, 1918 to 
June 6, 1920. The Deutschoesterreichische 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 Deutschoesterreichische Volkswehr is 
characteristic of the transition from the army of the Austrian 
monarchy to the  Federal Armed Forces (Bundesheer).

!Literature
L. Jedlicka, Ein Heer im Schatten der Parteien, 1955; W. 
Etschmann, Theorie, Praxis und Probleme der Demobilisierung 1918-21, 
doctoral thesis, Vienna 1979; Karl Glaubauf: Die Volkswehr 1918-1920 und die Gründung der Republik, Wien 1993, E. Weinzierl and K. Skalnik (eds.), 
Oesterreich 1918-1938, vol. 1, 1983.



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