Regimental History

Copyright-protected text adapted from: Raimund Sulz, Hoch- und Deutschmeisterkapelle(n) from 1918 to 1945 – Representation of “old” values in a new era (unpublished diploma thesis, University of Vienna, 2018).

The history of the regiment is particularly remarkable in that it was the only regiment co-founded by a religious knightly order—the Teutonic Order. This order had been established in the Middle Ages to defend Jerusalem and, after being expelled from the Holy Land, first settled in Venice and later in the Baltic region, where it established the State of the Teutonic Order. The Marienburg there still bears witness to the order’s rule. From that time onward, the Teutonic Order was firmly anchored within the Holy Roman Empire and was tasked with missionary work among the Slavic peoples in the East. Its leader held the title of “Hochmeister” (Grand Master). The order was also granted the right to hold conquered territories as fiefs of the Empire.

During the Turkish wars, the order was required to provide troops to support the emperor. However, these forces were only irregularly at the emperor’s disposal.[1] This changed in 1695, when a contract was concluded between Emperor Leopold I and the Grand Master of the order, Franz Ludwig, Count Palatine of Neuburg. It stipulated that a permanent regiment would be maintained in imperial service at the expense of the order. In 1696, this regiment—consisting of 2,000 men—was established in Donauwörth, followed by its first parades. The acting Grand Master of the order served as the regiment’s proprietor until 1918; from 1780 onward, this position was held by members of the Habsburg dynasty.

Initially, the regiment was called “Pfalz-Neuberg-Teutschmeister,” later simply “Deutschmeister,” and in 1814 its name was changed to “Hoch- und Deutschmeister.”

After its establishment, the regiment was deployed to Hungary to fight the Ottomans and proved itself in the Battle of Zenta (September 11, 1697). It remained in Hungary until 1711, fighting against the Hungarian rebel Rákóczi. This was followed by campaigns across various parts of Europe, including the Spanish Netherlands, Hungary, Italy, and territories of the Empire.

During the Seven Years’ War, the regiment distinguished itself at the Battle of Kolín (1757). Shortly afterward, all regiments were assigned numbers, and this regiment received the number 4. On April 6, 1781, Emperor Joseph II designated it as the Vienna House Regiment, with the Viennese suburbs serving as its primary recruitment area.

The regiment subsequently participated in the long coalition wars against France, including the Battle of Deutsch-Wagram (1809). It also distinguished itself at the Battle of Königgrätz (1866), where Archduke Wilhelm (proprietor from 1863 to 1894) personally took part—the only regimental proprietor to do so.

A long period of peace followed, during which the music of the “Viennese noble boys” flourished under bandmasters Ziehrer and Wacek. Under the last regimental proprietor, Archduke Eugen, the foundation stone for the Deutschmeister monument near the Rossauer Barracks in Vienna was laid on September 7, 1896. One year later, the Deutschmeister Rifle Corps was founded as a traditional association, which soon also maintained a traditional band composed of veterans. The monument was unveiled ten years later, on September 29, 1906.

The end of the First World War dissolved the longstanding connection between the Habsburg regimental proprietors and the Teutonic Order. The regiment was officially disbanded on November 10, 1918.

The Teutonic Order was later transformed into a purely religious order. Subsequently, Vienna’s Infantry Regiment No. 4 continued the tradition within the armed forces of the First Republic. In 1938, it was incorporated into the 44th Infantry Division of the German Wehrmacht.[2] This division was destroyed during the Battle of Stalingrad, an event later stylized as a heroic struggle in line with Nazi ideology. A brochure from early summer 1943 concerning the formation of the Reichsgrenadier Division Hoch- und Deutschmeister stated: “May the Reichsgrenadier Division ‘Hoch- und Deutschmeister’ of the former Imperial and Royal Infantry Regiment No. 4 and of the glorious 44th Infantry Division, which proved itself to the utmost at Stalingrad, always be worthy.”

In the Austrian Armed Forces of the Second Republic, the Deutschmeister tradition was preserved by the Landwehr Regiment 21 and the Vienna Jäger Regiment. Today, the tradition is carried on by Jäger Battalion Vienna 1, a militia unit.[4]

 

Deutschmeisterdenkmal bei der Rossauer Kaserne - © Bwag/CC-BY-SA-4.0