The Deutschmeister continued to serve the Habsburgs until the Empire's dernise in 1918, including at Radetzky's triumph at Novara, (1849), Koniggratz, (1866), and in Poland and the Tyrol in WWI. The Regiment continued as the 4th jagerregiment in the Austrian army and has supplied troops for a number of UN operations. Today, the Regiment's name is carried by the 21st Landwehr, (Reserve) battalion, still with its home in Vienna.

In 1906, the Viennese raised the Regimental memorial, which includes figures of the Landshut Grenadier and the True Comrade, together with the inscription, 'From the Viennese to their Deutschmeister'. The regiment itself will mark its 300th anniversary in 1996.

The Deutschmeister in the NA

It is appropriate that this series begins with the DM, which is the NA's oldest continuous unit and celebrates its 20th anniversary in 1993. As the only nonAnglo- French unit, it has fought on both sides according to requirements of numbers - usually with the French in the UK! However, its members have contributed much to the spread of re-enactment across central Europe and have close links with groups in Czechoslovakia, (Grenadiers and Artillery), and Hungary, (Hussars). A full Austrian army is now taking shape with the raising of the Anglo-Austrian 1st Jager and a further line unit in Vienna itself.

It is planned that this army will gather for the first time in May 1994 to mark the 185th anniversary of Aspern as a prelude to many events in the future on the original battlefields. The unit is now travelling to Vienna almost annually and in May 1993 will attend a multi- period event at Castle Falkenstein in Austria. Links are also maintained with Deutschmeister formations in Vienna, (1890s) and Mergentheim, (7YW).

With a well-established kernel of longstanding NA members, dedicated to maintaining the regimental traditions, the Deutschmeister is now actively recruiting. Whilst it would be very helpful, there is no requirement to be able to speak German or East European Languages - "Zwei Biere, bitte" is sufficient!

Sources:

Amon: Geschichte des K.K. Inf. Reg. Aloch- und Deutschmeister' Nr. 4 (1879)
Finkc: K.K. 'Ho(h- und Deutschmeister' (1978)
Wilke: Die Deutschmeister (c. 1920)
Knotel print courtesy of P. Hofschroer

Deutschmeister Infantry and Czech Regiment Nr. 1 "Kaiser" Grenadiers on the Austerlitz monument, 1989.

More 'Hoch und Deutschmeister'

Introduction
The Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars
After the Wars