Austrian Regimental Steins*

by Günter Merk
Translation by Peter Meinlschmidt

Just like soldiers of the Imperial German Army, the reservists of the Austro-Hungarian Army also fostered the tradition of keeping souvenirs of their military service. However, traditions and customs within the Austro-Hungarian monarchy led to reservist pipes being the primary souvenir purchased, with steins being produced on only a very small scale. Trade and small enterprises developed in line with the Austrian requirements, which explains why mainly reservist pipes were purchased. During the period of Austro-Hungarian monarchy, Austria had a considerable tobacco industry and, consequently, a large number of pipe manufacturers. According to manufacturers’ marks, most reservist items were produced by Austrian manufacturers, while steins were for the most part produced by south German manufacturers located in the Munich area.

Examples of Austrian regimental steins, dated from 1901 through 1912

In contrast with German regimental steins, Austrian regimentals were much more simply decorated, most having only one center motif and pointed lids. Steins of the Hapsburg Army are more scarce and should therefore be valued more highly than those of the German Imperial Army. So far, hardly any difference has been detected with respect to frequency or scarcity of any particular service branch and/or garrison town.

Based on the prevailing state of technology and tactics at the time, the Austro-Hungarian Army was organized as follows (status as of 1901, in a simplified format):

102 Infantry Regiments 40 Jäger Regiments Engineer Staff
16 Bohemiam 32 Feldjäger 14 Management Offices
  1 Dalmation   4 Tyrolian Kaiserjäger
16 Galician   4 Bosnian-Hercegovinian Pioneers
  2 Galician-Dalmation 15 Batteries
  1 Carniolan 44 Cavalry Regiments
  3 Lower Austrian 15 Dragoon Railroad and Telegraphs
  1 Silesian 16 Hussar   1 Regiment
  1 Coastal-Carniolan 13 Ulanen
  1 Salzburg-Upper Austrian Medical Service
  4 Croatian Artillery 26 Garrison Hospitals
  6 Moravian Field Artillery
  3 Styrian 14 Corps Artillery Regiments Supply
  1 Upper Austrian 42 Divisional Artillery Regiments   3 Regiments
  2 Slavonian   1 Mountain Battery Division
41 Hungarian Fortress Artillery Navy
  1 Carinthian   6 Fortress Artillery Regiments 153 Ships (mostly torpedo boats)
  1 Bukovinan   3 Fortress Artillery Batteries
  1 Silesian-Moravian Technical Artillery
Various Special Units Plus Diverse Special Units

Below is a listing of the Austro-Hungarian Infantry Regiments as of 1914 (prior to the outbreak of World War I.)


No.

Name
Founding
Year

Piping Color
Button
Color

Garrison Town as of 28 June 1914
1 Kaiser 1715 dark red
yellow
Stab, II., III: Krakau; IV Troppau; I. Mostar
2 Alexander I, Kaizer v. Rußland 1741 emperor yellow
yellow
Stab, II., III., IV.: Kronstadt; I.: Hermanstadt
3 Erzherzog Carl 1915 sky blue
white
Stab, II., III.: Teschen; IV.: Kremsier; I.: Doboj
4 Hoch- u, Deutschmeister 1696 sky blue
yellow
Stab. II., III.: Wien; I.: Wollersdorf; IV.: Konjic
5 Freih. v. Klobucar 1762 rose red
yellow
Stab, I.: Eperies; III.: Szatmar-Nemeti; IV.: Kisszeben; II.: Rogatica
6 Carl I., Konig v. Rumänien 1762 rose red
white
Stab, II., III,: Budapest; IV.; Neusatz; I.: Bileca
7 Gf. v. Khevenhller 1691 dark brown
white
Stab, I., III., IV.: Graz; II.: Klagenfurt
8 Erzh. Carl Stephan 1642 grass green
yellow
Stab, I., II., IV.: Brnn; III.: Trebinje
9 Gf. Clerfait 1725 apple green
yellow
Stab, I., IV.: Przemysl; II.: Stryj; III.: Radymno
10 Gustav V., Knig v. Schweden d. Goten u. Wenden 1715 parrot green
white
Stab, II., III., IV.: Przemysl; I.: Bijeljina
11 Johan Georg, Prinz v. Sachsen 1629 ash gray
yellow
Stab, III., IV.: Prag; I.: Pisek; II.: Prahatitz
12 Parmann 1702 dark brown
yellow
Stab, I., II., Znaim-Klosterbruck; III. Komorn; IV.: Sarajevo
13 Jung-Starhemberg 1814 rose red
yellow
Stab, II., III.: Troppau; I.: Blelitz; IV.: Krakau
14 Ernst Ludwig, Großherzog von Hessen u. b. Rhein 1733 black
yellow
Stab, I., II., III., IV.: Linz
15 Freih v. Georgi 1701 red
yellow
Stab, I., III., IV.: Tarnopol; II.: Lemberg
16 Warasdiner Freih. v. Giesl 1703 sulfur yellow
yellow
Stab, I., II., III.: Wien; IV.: Belovar
17 Ritt. v. Milde 1674 red brown
white
Stab, II., III., IV.: Klagenfurt; I.: Laibach
18 Erzh. Leopold Salvator 1682 dark red
white
Stab, I., III., IV.: Königgrätz; II.: Nevesinje
19 Erzh. Franz Ferdinand 1734 sky blue
white
Stab, II.: Tolmein; I.: Sesana; IV.: Karfreit; III.: Raab
20 Heinrich Prinz v. Preußen 1681 crab red
white
Stab, I., II.: Krakau; III.: Neusandez; IV.: Bijeljina
21 Gf. v. Abensperg und Traun 1733 sea green
yellow
Stab, III., IV.: Kuttenberg; II.: Caslau; I.: Brcko
22 Gf. v. Lacy 1709 emperor yellow
white
Stab, II., III., IV.: Mostar; I.: Sinj
23 Markgraf v. Baden 1814 cherry red
white
Stab, I., II., III.: Budapest; IV.: Zombor
24 Ritt v. Kummer 1662 ash gray
white
Stab, II., III.: Lemberg; I.: Kolomea; IV.: Foca
25 Edl. v. Pokorny 1672 sea green
white
Stab, I., II., III.: Losoncz; IV.: Gorazde
26 Schreiber 1717 black
yellow
Stab, I., II., IV.: Raab; III.: Gran
27 Albert I., König der Belgier 1682 emperor yellow
yellow
Stab, I., II., IV.: Laibach; III.: Graz
28 Viktor Emanuel III., König v. Italien 1698 grass green
white
Stab, III.: Innsbruck; I.: Schlanders; IV.: Malé; II.: Prag
29 Freih. v. Loudon 1709 light blue
white
Stab, II., III., IV.: Wien; I. Nagy Beczkerek
30 Schoedler 1725 pike gray
yellow
Stab, I., II., III.: Lemberg; IV.: Nevesinje
31 Pucherna 1741 emperor yellow
white
Stab, I., II., IV.: Hermannstadt; III.: Spalato
32 Kaiserin u. Königin Maria Theresia 1741 sky blue
yellow
Stab, I., II., IV.: Triest; III.: Budapest
33 Kaiser Leopold II. 1741 ash gray
white
Stab, I., II., III.: Arad; IV.: Cattaro
34 Wilhelm I., Deutscher Kaiser u. König v. Preußen 1733 red
white
Stab, I., III., IV.: Kaschau; II.: Rogatica
35 Freih. v. Sterneck 1683 crab red
yellow
Stab, I., II., IV.: Pilsen; III.: Kalinovik
36 Reichsgraf Browne 1683 pale red
white
Stab, I., III.: Bruneck; II.: Niederdorf; IV.: Jungbunzlau
37 Erzh. Joseph 1741 scarlet red
yellow
Stab, I., III.: Agram; II.: Großwardein; IV.: Bileca
38 Alfons XIII., König v. Spanien 1814 black
white
Stab, I., II.: Peterwardein; IV.: Kecskemét; III.: Bileca
39 Freih. v. Conrad 1756 scarlet red
white
Stab, I., III., IV.: Wien; II.: Debrezin
40 Ritt. v. Pino 1733 light blue
yellow
Stab, I., III.: Rzeszów; II.:Debica; IV.: Nisko
41 Erzh. Eugen 1701 sulfur yellow
white
Stab, I, II., III., IV.: Czernowitz
42 Ernst August, Herzog v. Cumberland, Herzog zu Braunschweig u. Lüneburg 1685 orange-yellow
white
Stab, II., III.: Theresienstadt; I.: Kaaden; IV.: Nevesinje
43 Rupprecht, Kronprinz v. Bayem 1814 cherry red
yellow
Stab, I., III., IV.: Ung. Weißkirchen; II.: Karánsebes
44 Erzh. Albrecht 1744 red
yellow
Stab, I., II.: Wien; III.: Kaposvár; IV.: Bileca
45 Erzh. Joseph Ferdinand 1816 scarlet red
yellow
Stab, I., IV.: Przemysl; III.: Sanok; II.: Travnik
46 ----- 1762 parrot green
yellow
Stab, I., II., IV.: Szegedin; III.: Avtovac
47 Gf. v. Beck-Rzikowsky 1682 steel green
white
Stab, II., IV.: Görz; I. Quiska; III.: Marburg
48 Rohr 1798 steel green
yellow
Stab, III., IV.: Ödenburg; II.: Groß-Kanizsa; I.: Sarajevo
49 Freih. v. Hess 1715 pike gray
white
Stab, I., II.: Brünn; IV.: St. Pölten; III. Sarajevo
50 Friedrich Großherzog v. Baden 1762 parrot green
white
Stab, I., II., III.: Karsburg; IV.: Stolac
51 v. Boroevic 1702 ash gray
yellow
Stab, II., III.: Maros-Vásáhely; IV.: Kolozsvár; I.: Domanovic
52 Erzh. Friedrich 1741 dark red
white
Stab, I., IV.: Brod a. S.; III.: Fünfkirchen; II.: Ragusa
53 Dankl 1741 dark red
white
Stab, I., II., III.: Agram; IV.: Foca
54 Alt-Starhemberg 1661 apple green
white
Stab, I., III., IV." Olmütz; II.: Jägerndorf
55 Nikolaus I., König v. Montenegro 1799 red brown
yellow
Stab, II., IV.: Lemberg; I.: Brzezany; III.: Mostywielkie
56 Gf. Daun 1684 steel green
yellow
Stab, I., II., IV.: Krakau; III.: Wadowice
57 Sachsen-Coburg-Saalfeld 1689 pale red
yellow
Stab, III., IV.: Tarnów; I.: Bochnia; II.:Zenica
58 Erzh. Ludwig Salvator 1763 black
white
Stab, I., III.: Stanislau; II.: Zaleszczyki; IV.: Foca
59 Erzh. Rainer 1682 orange-yellow
yellow
Stab, I.: Bregenz; II.: Innsbruck; III.: Schwaz; IV.: Salzburg
60 Ritt. v. Ziegler 1798 steel green
white
Stab, I., III., IV.: Erlau; II.: Zwornik
61 Ritt. v. Frank 1798 grass green
yellow
Stab, III., IV.: Temesvár; II.: Debrezin; I.: Crkvice
62 Ludwig III., König v. Bayern 1798 grass green
white
Stab, II., III.: Klausenburg; IV.: Maros-Vásárhely; I.: Vlasenica
63 Freih. v. Pitreich 1860 orange-yellow
white
Stab, II., III., IV.: Bistritz; I. Mostar
64 Ritt v. Auffenberg 1860 orange-yellow
yellow
Stab, I., II.: Broos; IV.: Abrudbánya; III.: Trebinje
65 Erzh. Ludwig Viktor 1860 pale red
yellow
Stab, I., III.: Miskoicz; II.: Munkacz; IV.: Beszterczebánya
66 Erzh. Peter Ferdinand 1860 pale red
white
Stab, III., IV.: Ungvár;. I.: Kaschau; II.: Gorazde
67 Freih. Kray 1860 crab red
white
Stab, I., II., III.: Wien; IV.: Eperies
68 Freih. v. Reicher 1860 red brown
yellow
Stab, II., III., IV.: Semlin; I.: Szolnok
69 ----- 1860 pike gray
white
Stab, I., II.: Fünfkirchen; IV.: Stuhlweißenburg; III.: Casteinuovo
70 Edl. v. Appel 1860 sea green
yellow
Stab, I., IV.: Budapest; III.: Peterwardein; IV.: Trebinje
71 Galgótzy 1860 crab red
yellow
Stab, II., III.: Trenczin; I.: Nagy Szombat; IV.: Preßburg
72 Freih v. David 1860 light blue
yellow
Stab, I., III., IV.: Preßburg; II.: Teodo
73 Albrecht, Herzog v. Württemberg 1860 cherry red
yellow
Stab, I., II., III.: Prag; IV.: Eger
74 Freih. v. Schönaich 1860 red
white
Stab, I., II., Reichenberg, IV.: Jiein; III.: Sarajevo
75 ----- 1860 light blue
white
Stab, I., II., IV.: Salzburg; III.: Neuhaus
76 Freih. v. Salis-Soglio 1860 pike gray
yellow
Stab, II., IV.: Gran; I.: Ödenburg; III.: Trebinje
77 Philip, Herzog v. Württemberg 1860 cherry red
white
Stab, II., III.: Przemysl; I.: Sambor; IV.: Tuzla
78 Gerba 1860 red brown
white
Stab, II., III.: Esseg; I.: Brod a. S.; IV.: Petrinja
79 Otocaner Gf. Jellacic 1860 (1873) apple green
white
Stab, I., III., IV.: Fiume; II. Otocac
80 Wilhelm Ernst, Großherzog v. Sachsen-Weimar-Eisenach, Herzog zu Sachsen 1860 scarlet red
white
Stab, I., III.: Lemberg; II.: Zloczów; IV.: Nevesinje
81 Freih. v. Waldstätten 1883 crimson red
white
Stab, I., II., III.: Iglau; IV.: Bileca
82 Freih. v. Schwitzer 1883 crimson red
white
Stab, I., II., IV.: Wien; III.: Székely Udvarhely
83 Freih. v. Schikofsky 1883 dark brown
white
Stab, II., IV.: Komorn; I.: Steinamanger; III.: Köszeg
84 Freih. v. Bolfras 1883 crimson red
yellow
Stab, II., III.: Krems; I.: Wien; IV.: Sarajevo
85 v. Gaudemak 1883 apple green
yellow
Stab, I., IV.: Leutschau; II.: Máramaros Sziget; III.: Rogatica
86 Freih. v. Steininger 1883 amaranthine red
yellow
Stab, I., IV.: Maria Theresiopel; II.: Budapest; III.:Visegrad
87 Freih. v. Succovaty 1883 sea green
white
Stab, II., III.: Pola; I.: Cilli; IV.: Skutari
88 ----- 1883 bordeaux red
white
Stab, II., III.: Budweis; I.: Neuhaus; IV.: Beraun
89 Freih. v. Albori 1883 bordeaux red
yellow
Stab, I., III.: Jaroslau; II.: Rawaruska; IV.: Gródek-Jagiellonski
90 Edl. v. Horsetzky 1883 amaranthine red
yellow
Stab, II., III.: Jaroslau; IV.: Lubaczów; I.: Sarajevo
91 ----- 1883 parrot green
yellow
Stab, II., III.: Prag; IV.: Budweis; I.: Teodo
92 Edl. v. Hortstein 1883 white
white
Stab, III., IV.: Theresienstadt; I.: Komotau; II.: Kalinovik
93 ----- 1883 dark brown
yellow
Stab, III., IV.: Krakau; II.: Mährisch-Schönberg; I.: Bihac
94 Freih. v. Koller 1883 white
yellow
Stab, III., IV.: Reichenberg; I.: Josefstadt; II.:Turnau
95 v. Kövess 1883 amaranthine red
white
Stab, I., IV.: Lemberg; II.: Stanislau; III.: Czortków
96 Ferdinand, Kronprinz v. Rumänien 1883 crimson red
yellow
Stab, I., II., III.: Temesvár; IV.: Carlstadt
97 Freih. v. Waldstätten 1883 rose red
white
Stab, I., II.: Belovar; IV.: Carlstadt; III.: Triest
98 v. rummer 1883 light drab
white
Stab, II., III.: Josephstadt; IV.: Hohenmauth I.: Perzagno
99 ----- 1883 sulfur yellow
yellow
Stab, I., II., IV.: Wien; III.: Znaim
100 v. Steinsberg 1883 light drab
yellow
Stab, I., IV.: Krakau; III.: Teschen; II.: Banjaluka
101 Freih. v. Drathschmidt 1883 sulfur yellow
white
Stab, I., IV.: Großwardein; III.: Békéscsaba; II.: Trebinje
102 Potiorek 1883 sea grass green
yellow
Stab, III., IV.: Prag; II.: Beneschau; I.: Mostar

Note: Translation of colors from German to English is sometimes imprecise because colors in the original listing frequently included unique names that no longer have a precise meaning.

__________

*Reprinted from The Beer Stein Journal, February 1995, by permission from Gary Kirsner Auctions.