Johanna Sophia Köttner

Johanna Sophia Köttner (1721-1802), was an Austrian soldier.

She was reportedly from Æügstatt. In 1738, she enlisted in the imperial Austrian army at the age of seventeen, in the guise of a man. She served in the prestigious Hagenbach infantry regiment of the Austrian army for about fourteen years. During her service, she was promoted to the rank of feldwebel. As such, she was most likely the first of her gender in Austria a unique, as this post was not legally available for women.

In 1752, she was wounded in action. She was discovered to be female while undergoing treatment for her injury, and discharged from the army against her will.

Köttner became known in history for her achievement, unique for a woman in the Austrian army at the time.

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