Das K.u.K. Heer 1895

Following in the footsteps of the author's book on the Austrian army during the Biedermeier period, he has chosen to examine the uniforms of another peace-time army, the Imperial and Royal army of 1895. Based on a set of paintings made by a former officer turned struggling painter from photographs, it again shows the Austrian army's frivolous love to create complex and distinct uniforms for minor branches and services. In one case, a distinct uniform existed for a single officer occupying that job,. While the vast majority of infantry are covered in two plates (for German and Hungarian infantry), these two plates do not do justice to the complexity of the Austrian uniform. The different German and Hungarian regiments distinguished show more themselves by two sets of buttons (yellow, white) and no fewer than 28 lapel colors. I love the display of these color combinations in the Viennese Heeresgeschichtliches Museum, showing the doomed absurdity of Kakanien at its finest. The army that went to war in 1914 quickly learned that gaudy colors were no longer appropriate on the battlefield. show less