PJEŠAČKE PUKOVNIJE AUSTRO-UGARSKE VOJSKE S PODRUČJA BANSKE HRVATSKE I SLAVONIJE U GALICIJSKOJ BITKI 1914. GODINE
INFANTRY REGIMENTS OF THE AUSTRO-HUNGARIAN ARMY FROM BANAL CROATIA AND SLAVONIA IN THE BATTLE FOR GALICIA IN 1914

Summary/Abstract: This paper analyzes the participation of two infantry regiments of the Imperial and Royal Austro-Hungarian Army from the territory of Banal Croatia and Slavonia in the battle for Galicia in 1914 on the Eastern Front. Galicia was one of the Crownlands in the Austrian part of the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy. Strategic importance of Galicia laid in the fact that, it had an important defensive role against Russia. For that reason, both belligerents, Russia and Austria-Hungary, according to the offensive military doctrine of the time, had the objective of destroying the enemy's armed forces completely in the decisive battle on the territoy of Galicia. Initially, Austro-Hungarian Army deployed 925 000 and Russian Empire 1,2 million soldiers in the field. Out of this, only 9 455 Croatian soldiers from Banal Croatia and Slavonia or just 1% of the entire fighting force of the Dual Monarchy participated in the Battle for Galicia in 1914. They were part of Petrovaradin Infantry Regiment Nr. 70 and Karlovac Infantry Regiment Nr. 96. While Petrovaradin regiment went to Galicia in full strength, one batallion of the Karlovac Regiment remained on the Balkan front. In spite of small numbers, their role in military operations has not been insignificant. Karlovac Regiment arrived in Eastern Galicia on August 29 and fought it's battle the next day. Petrovaradin Regiment arrived in Eastern Galicia on September 9 and like it's Croatian counterpart, been immediately commited to battle. They both participated in the Second battle for Lemberg and retreated with all Austro-Hungarian Armies to the West. In the Battle for Galicia, two Croatian infantry regiments lost 2 676 soldiers in total, out of which 545 were killed, 2 064 wounded and 67 died of diseases and consequnces of wounding. The aftermath of the Galician battle was that it became the most important frontline for the Dual Monarchy while the consequences for entire country were severe. In conclusion, the Croatian soldiers who fought in Galicia in 1914 were the first of the many who were deployed to this theatre. Therefore, the intention of this paper is to give incentive not only to historians but to the descendants of these Croatian soldiers who fought and died in the fields of Galicia to explore this subject and make further research in the future.

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