Austro-Hungarian uniform / a few questions 27th Landwehr regiment

[JackG]

As far as I understand this unit was originally raised in 1901 with collar tabs of deep yellow. At some point between 1911 and 1914 they came under the control of Mountain units.

Now this is where it is unclear to me about the change in uniform. Did they trade in their high collar tunics for the style of mountain troops, or was it just the collar tabs of grass-green with Edelweiss placed directly behind the rank? There is also mention that they did not adopt the Tyrolean eagle, and instead had a number 27 on the hunting horn on their caps - front or side ?

 

[Dr Bison]

Hi Jack,
This is what I could find:

"k.k. Landwehr Infantry Regiment "Laibaqch" No. 27

44th Landwehr Infantry Brigade - 22nd Landwehr Infantry Troop Division - Landwehr Command in Graz
Established: 1901
Garrison: Ljubljana
Nationalities: 86 % Slovenes - 14 % Others
Landwehr supplementary district: Ljubljana and Trieste
Commander: Colonel Karl Zahradniczek
Staff officers: Lieutenant Colonels Koloman von Wolnovich and Ewald von Loeser. Majors Ludwig Pour and Adolf Mattig

The Landwehr Infantry Regiment No. 27 belonged to the k.k. Mountain Troops. From 11 April 1917 it was called k.k. Mountain Rifle Regiment No. 2.
In deviation from the Landwehr adjustment regulations, it wore the uniform according to the pattern of the Landesschützen with the edelweiss on the collar, but instead of the Tyrolean eagle the number 27 on the hunting horn of the hat."
Source: https://austria-forum.org/af/AustriaWiki/K.k._Landwehr

Hope this helps

Cheers
Karl

 

[JackG]

Good morning Karl, thank you for responding.

Yes that quoted link I have come across. Found this Slovenian wiki entry that has a 1916 group photo of the 4th platoon from nr 27 regiment, but I see no example of the hunting horn on their caps. Maybe it was only used on the bowler type parade hat?



https://sl.wikipedia.org/wiki/27._domobranski_pehotni_polk_%28Avstro-Ogrska%29#

 

[Nap]

Hi Jack

Great question and response by Karl as always ......looking at the picture it's interesting that a couple in the group has 2 badges on their collar flash ?

.....any ideas anyone .......had a look through my books can't find anything at the moment

This project sounds really interesting

Nap

 

[JackG]

Search continues, found this gem of a pdf and again in Slovenian language. Article does appear to be of the regiment in question and confirms the date the unit became a mountain one on March 1, 1911. Nice screen grab confirms the mountain troop style uniform adopted before the war:
https://www.planinskimuzej.si/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/Ob-stoletnici-vojaškega-gorništva.pdf
https://www.planinskimuzej.si/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/Ob-stoletnici-vojaškega-gorništva.pdf

 

[Nap]

Here's a Alpine bust I did with link to VBench ..might be interesting

https://www.planetfigure.com/threads/austro-hungarian-alpine-trooper.531166/

Nap

 

[JackG]

Nap, thank you for your build link. I remember Pokrad sharing his progress on the 3D work of that one, and it pretty much sums up what my project should aim for with some slight conversion of a VICE75 kit. Just not sure the Osprey illustration is correct with a 1916 k.k. Landwehr having the number 4 on the shoulder board as that was not standard until the late stages of the war.

 

[Dr Bison]

Hi Jack,
I just now discovered that I have Verlag Militaria's book "The Austro-Hungarian Army in the First World War" in my stash (the German version), which contains some photos of original Landwehr mountain infantry uniforms. If you're still interested, I can scan the relevant pages for you (none are from the 27th Regiment, though).


If you need more info on the Austrian mountain troops, there's this volume from the same publisher's, but unfortunately I don't have that one anymore... Maybe one of pF's other members?


Cheers
Karl

 

[Nap]

Hi Karl

Your right that's a great book , the 2nd I have that's good as well ...both are well worth acquiring

Will have a look at the Austro Hungarian book for stuff

Nap

 

[Nap]

Nap, thank you for your build link. I remember Pokrad sharing his progress on the 3D work of that one, and it pretty much sums up what my project should aim for with some slight conversion of a VICE75 kit. Just not sure the Osprey illustration is correct with a 1916 k.k. Landwehr having the number 4 on the shoulder board as that was not standard until the late stages of the war.

Can you share any pictures of what your aiming for ?

Nap

 

[JackG]

Those look to be great books and have been looking around. Product price is to be expected to be up there as they are a niche subject, but shipping costs have gone through the roof since covid.



My project is aimed at doing a regiment that contains a good representation of Slovenian members, so that is why I chose IR No 27. As far as photos go, the research is still in progress as I wish to be historically accurate as possible. Ideally a representation of summer Mountain troop uniform on the Italian front, and either just prior to or first few years of the war.





Since the figure I have has the stiff collar this means it is the standard wool uniform made for summer but as I understand Mountain troops already had the more comfortable stand and fall collars on these but were still pike grey until 1915? So that is something that will require correcting on the kit. It also has the marksmanship lanyard and not sure how standard that was on the front lines.

 

[JackG]

Forgot which book review this was from but the soldier on the left is from the unit I am interested in. So probably not that imperative to acquire more images unless there is a diagram out there that illustrates the collar dimensions for the stand and fall type?

 

[Dr Bison]

Hi Jack,

The two pages you're showing are taken from "The Austrian Mountain Troops", and it's good to see that "your" unit is present there.
Interesting to see that the infantryman has a stand-and-fall collar, while the Fähnrich's is of the stand-up type.
According to my "Austro-Hungarian Army..." book, the pike-grey summer Bluse for mountain units was introduced in 1906; in 1915 the colour of all Blusen was changed to field-grey and in 1916 they all were to be issued with a stand-and-fall collar, even though the exact specifications seem to be missing.
As far as I understand from my volume, the only things you would have to change for your bust are
a) changing the pockets to patch pockets (as in the book images you provided) and
b) adding the feather on the cap (and the fabric pouch for them).

Here are two images that illustrate # b):


Cheers
Karl

 

[JackG]

Hello Karl,

Thank you for pointing out the details that require attention, specially the presence of visible pockets underneath the flaps that somehow I completely missed. Also thanks for taking the time to scan and upload those book references. The quoted 1906 date is new for me and had not noticed that in my Osprey set of books. They do mention that the stand-and-fall collar was a privilege of the mountain troops prior to its introduction in 1916. They also state that type of collar was also used in the 1908 design of the linen tunic for summer wear but appears to be worn only in the southern zones and Adriatic coast.

Back to the tunic pockets, Vice75 do have a Mountain troop officer with this detail correct but am not fond of the head sculpt. If I can find a replacement head this could be another option plus the cap already has the feathers in place. Collar style though still needs to be addressed.

 

[JackG]

Some good general information form a video

 

[Nap]

This might be of interest and use

https://www.planetfigure.com/threads/ranks-and-insignia.75053/

http://www.uniformology.com/RUHL-02.html

Nap

 

[JackG]

Thank you Nap for those links they will come in handy.

Will have to assume the colour facings chart at the bottom of the second link does not reflect the year 1914? They still have IR Nr. 27 pegged as Gamboge Yellow when it has already been established this untit adopted the mountain troops uniform with grass green facings three years prior in 1911.

 

[JackG]

Was able to find the full studio portrait of one of the earlier postings. Anyone familiar with the particular style of rifle sling with the four grommets? Did this method for adjusting the strap length forgo the use of the more standard prong and buckle?

 

[Mirofsoft]

Forgot which book review this was from but the soldier on the left is from the unit I am interested in. So probably not that imperative to acquire more images unless there is a diagram out there that illustrates the collar dimensions for the stand and fall type?

Yes and the number of stitches per line

 

[JackG]

Aw man was excited to see a notification in the email and thought it would be some info on the rifle sling. Nah man, given the scale not concerned about stitching but thanks for trying to help???