Grenz infantry

Grenz infantry
Country Habsburg Monarchy Habsburg Monarchy
Austrian Empire Austrian Empire
Austria-Hungary Austria-Hungary
Type Infantry
Nickname(s) Grenzers / Krajišnici
Engagements Ottoman–Habsburg wars and the Napoleonic Wars
Commanders
Notable
commanders		 Adam Bajalics von Bajahaza, Ignaz Gyulai, Mathias Rukavina von Boynograd, Josef Philipp Vukassovich

Grenz infantry or Grenzers (from German: Grenzer; Croatian: graničari, krajišnici, Serbian Cyrillic: граничари, крајишници) were light infantry troops who came from the Military Frontier in the Habsburg Monarchy (later the Austrian Empire and Austria-Hungary). This borderland formed a buffer zone between Christian Europe and the Ottoman Empire, and the troops were originally raised to defend Austria against the Ottoman Turks. When there was no danger of war against the Ottomans, the Grenzer regiments were employed by the Habsburgs in other theatres of war, although one battalion of each regiment would always remain guarding the border.

Origin

Grenzers were the successors to the irregular troops of Pandurs, which were also raised as a militia by the Habsburgs in the 18th century to defend the border with the Ottomans and also used as skirmishers in the Seven Years' War.[1] However, by the time of the Napoleonic Wars, troops from the Frontier were now formed into more regular line infantry regiments, but were considered by the Austrian generals as something between light and line infantry. They were given training in marksmanship, skirmishing and the basics of linear tactics. At the start of the war, the 18 Grenz infantry regiments formed about a quarter of the Habsburg army.

Map of the Militärgrenze or Military Frontier (marked with a red outline)

However, the Grenzers were first and foremost skirmishing troops and were thought not to perform as well in the role of line infantry as the regular regiments. As such, many in the Austrian military command did not hold them in much esteem. Following a mutiny in 1800, their numbers were reduced from 57,000 to only 13,000. Despite this, the Grenz infantry performed consistently well in battle, especially at Marengo and Austerlitz, earning them respect from the French. Napoleon held them in high opinion and considered them as the most warlike troops in the entire Austrian army. He had no hesitation in using the Grenz infantry after Austria's defeat in the War of the Fifth Coalition in 1809. The Treaty of Schönbrunn compelled Austria to cede territory in the Military Frontier and the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 10th and 11th Grenz Infantry Regiments went into French service. They fought for Napoleon until his defeat and abdication in 1814.

During the 19th century, the threat from the Ottoman Turks diminished and there was less need for troops to defend the Frontier. Also, with rise of South Slav nationalism and self-determination, the Austrian high command grew suspicious of the Grenz infantry and a possible uprising. With these factors, the number of Grenz infantry were steadily reduced, although they remained in service in the Austrian and later Austro-Hungarian army until the First World War.

Regiments

See also

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Grenz infantry.

References

  1. ↑ Haythornthwaite, Philip. The Austrian Army 1740-80 (3): Specialist Troops. Reed International Books Ltd, 1995. p13.
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