Seite - 943 - in THE FIRST WORLD WAR - and the End of the Habsburg Monarchy, 1914 – 1918

Four Million Heroes 943 Troop Body/Branch of Military Reinforcement District Regimental Language(s) Gold Medals for Bravery Imperial and Royal Infantry Regiment 37 Oradea (Großwardein) 49 % Romanian 48 % Hungarian 33 Imperial and Royal Infantry Regiment 34 Košice (Kaschau) 91 % Hungarian 32 Imperial and Royal Infantry Regiment 87 Celje (Cilli) 86 % Slovenian 32 Imperial and Royal Bosnian Herzegovinian Infantry Regiment 4 Mostar 95 % Croatian/ Serbian 32 Imperial and Royal Infantry Regiment 6 Novi Sad (Neusatz) 41 % German, 27 % Croatian/ Serbian 31 Imperial and Royal Infantry Regiment 17 Ljubljana (Laibach) 86 % Slovenian 31 Imperial and Royal Light Infantry Battalion 1 Hradec Králové (Königgrätz) 74 % Czech, 26 % German 31 Imperial-Royal Landwehr Infantry Regiment 2 Linz/Salzburg 98 % German 31 Imperial and Royal Infantry Regiment 69 Székesfehérvár (Stuhlweißenburg) 92 % Hungarian 30 Imperial and Royal Infantry Regiment 76 Sopron (Ödenburg) 54 % German, 39 % Hungarian 30 All other troop bodies counted fewer than thirty recipients of the Gold Medals for Bravery, even the ‘Kaiserjäger’ Imperial Tyrolean Rifle Regiments, which boasted be- tween nine and sixteen Medals for Bravery recipients per regiment. Some regiments, for example the Uhlan Regiment five, several field cannon and field howitzer regiments, ten of the fourteen heavy howitzer divisions, all mounted artillery divisions, ten of the fourteen supply convoy divisions and other troop bodies, did not have a single recipient of the Gold Medal for Bravery in their ranks. Were they therefore less brave ? Were they cowardly ? It is understandable that the aviation companies, the Naval Aviation Corps and the units of the Imperial and Royal Navy could not touch the troop bodies of the field army in numerical terms. Other operational principles and, above all, dimensions were also in play here. Naturally, however, it could not be denied that they had also accomplished outstanding feats, deserved recognition and could claim that they had provided dozens of heroes. The members of the Polish Legion were honoured with thirteen Gold Med- als for Bravery, the Ukrainian Voluntary Battalion with one, just as many as the Rifle Battalion ‘Sandomiercz’. His Majesty’s Head Keeper received a Gold Medal for Brav- ery. Ultimately, he had helped Emperor Karl on the occasion of his accident in the tor- rent of the Isonzo to reach the safety of the shore. This was, however, another category. Several medals were awarded posthumously. In other cases, it was observed that the Medals for Bravery tempted enlisted men and officers alike to be even braver and risk