Austro-Hungarian Uniforms of World War 1 I THE GREAT WAR Special

Austria-Hungary fielded probably the most diverse army of World War 1, the troops also had a proud tradition going back decades that influenced their uniform design as much as local customs. During the course of the war, the Habsburg Empire also suffered from a lack of supplies and still needed to modernise their equipment.

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» WHAT ARE YOUR SOURCES?
Videos: British Pathé
Pictures: Mostly Picture Alliance
Literature (excerpt):
Gilbert, Martin. The First World War. A Complete History, Holt Paperbacks, 2004.
Hart, Peter. The Great War. A Combat History of the First World War, Oxford University Press, 2013.
Hart, Peter. The Great War. 1914-1918, Profile Books, 2013.
Stone, Norman. World War One. A Short History, Penguin, 2008.
Keegan, John. The First World War, Vintage, 2000.
Hastings, Max. Catastrophe 1914. Europe Goes To War, Knopf, 2013.
Hirschfeld, Gerhard. Enzyklopädie Erster Weltkrieg, Schöningh Paderborn, 2004
Michalka, Wolfgang. Der Erste Weltkrieg. Wirkung, Wahrnehmung, Analyse, Seehamer Verlag GmbH, 2000
Leonhard, Jörn. Die Büchse der Pandora: Geschichte des Ersten Weltkrieges, C.H. Beck, 2014

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- CREDITS -
Presented by : Indiana Neidell
Written by: Indiana Neidell
Director: Toni Steller & Florian Wittig
Director of Photography: Toni Steller
Sound: Toni Steller
Editing: Steven Roberts
Motion Design: Philipp Appelt
Research by: Indiana Neidell
Fact checking: Markus Linke

A Mediakraft Networks Original Channel
Based on a concept by Spartacus Olsson
Author: Indiana Neidell
Visual Concept: Astrid Deinhard-Olsson & David van Stephold
Executive Producer: Spartacus Olsson
Producer: Toni Steller & Florian Wittig
Social Media Manager: Florian Wittig

Contains licenced Material by British Pathé
All rights reserved - © Mediakraft Networks GmbH, 2017

[TwentythreePER]

I think the Austro-Hungarians were the most interesting nation in the war to me. I love their equipment and rifles especially. I have some of the ammo pouches, bayonet, and a modified rifle of theirs.

[koffieslikkersenior]

Dunno why, but AH in the war always fascinates me.

[jfsmit]

4:43 "And here we see Karl Marx posing as an Austro-Hungarian soldier."

[colestockdale]

There is a 94-year-old lady at my church and her Father was an Austro-Hungarian Naval Officer. He spoke 5 different languages!!! Insane.

[kurtdiexer]

Reminds me of a joke,
two senior AH officers meet after the war:
Officer 1: We had the most beautiful army
Officer 2: Indeed our uniforms were unrivaled in elegance and style, our marching bands the best in the world
Officer 1: And then..
Officer 2: .. these idiots started a war

[fritzorino]

"The infantryman carried a tornister

A field pack

made of leather

on his back"

sick rhymes bro

[mkd]

At least they weren't literally walking rainbows that could be seen from miles away *cough* the French *cough*

[jukahri]

We should un-invent the machine gun and reintroduce these glorious uniforms.

[DominikChlubna]

At 1:58 is a picture of the famous Austrian actor Hans Moser (Johann Julier) who was born 1880 in Vienna and served at the Isonzo frontier, where he diverted his comrades thoughts from war with his jokes.

[pajduscz]

Such a shame that almost nobody care about Austrians although they were very important in most of european conflicts since 30 years' war.

[georgejungle]

My grand-grand father fought for Austro-Hungary and died in 1916 in south Tyrol at the Dolomiten. He was a member of the Jagdkommando and died by a grenade

[hp]

Great series, a masterpiece. You really made a capital dissection of WW1. I enjoy it alot, for the historical accuracy and value. Greetings from Bosnia

[DanielWW]

In summary; every soldier had their own unique uniform. If you where caught copying another man you where shot. :P

[royalradish]

Important question for out of the trenches:
What was Wonder Woman's role during WW1? She led a British charge across No-Mans land, liberated a Belgian village, and even went behind enemy lines and assassinated Erich Ludendorff! Can't believe I haven't heard more about her before, please explain Indy!

[johannesmaximilian]

Thanks for showing these great uniforms! Have been waiting for it a long time. The uniform combined with the Feldkappe looks awesome.
great video.

[gregsochor]

Just a small note: The signs of rank weren't /aren't stars, but symbolized "Edelweiss" a traditional Austrian mountain-flower as can be seen in some of the closeups. Incidentially this is still the case on contemporary Austrian Army uniforms.

[AllCanadiaReject]

You forgot to mention that outstanding change they made in 1915 where they replaced the leather in the boots with cardboard. Simply magical

[podemosurss]

4:46 I never knew that Karl Marx joined the Austro-Hungarian army...

[r.j.]

Always knew my great grandfather had served in WW1, but only just found out today he was in the Austro-Hungarian army as an artillery gunner. It’s a shame his life wasn’t great after the war, but I am proud of his service and have much respect for him.

[bigburd]

last time I was this early, France was still a monarchy