Comments on: Galician Military Units of the Austrian-Hungarian Empire

By: Tzipora

Tzipora — Sun, 09 Nov 2025 12:55:31 +0000

Thank you for the fascinating and detailed information. My grandfather, who was Jewish, was from Ivan-Frankovisk, specifically from Peczenizyn, near Kolymea. We believe he was conscripted in about 1912 or 1914. One family member said he was in the cavalry because he had a horse. (Not confirmed.) In any case, it seems he was captured as a POW and spent at least six years in Siberia. He returned in 1920, married my grandmother, and immigrated to the U.S. We would like any insight you can provide, such as what regiment he might have belonged to, where in Siberia he might have been imprisoned, or anything else that would shed light on this skimpy history. The Joint Distribution Committee has records of some of the POWs from that period but his information was not among them. Thank you!

By: Ruth Kurzbauer

Ruth Kurzbauer — Thu, 22 Jun 2023 19:52:30 +0000

Greetings and thank you so much Evan for this eye-opening research and guidance. My great grandfather,a career officer (likely NCO) in the K&K was born in Jaroslaw, Galicia in 1861 and in later years lived in Vienna perhaps before and certainly after his retirement from the military (before being deported to Terezin, then murdered in Treblinka in 1942). I searched the Austrian national (staats) archive but could not find his military record. A senior archivist told me that after 1918 records of military service for those who were not citizens of the post-1918 Austria were eventually sent back to the successor states – Poland, Hungary, etc. Might you know something about where such records for a Galician born soldier with service pre-WWI, might be in Poland?

However, regarding Ms. Thomas’s query about her grandmother’s brother who fought in WWI, while I was at the Austrian national archives, the senior archivist brought out boxes and boxes (alphabetically by last name) of the WW I death records of members of the Austro-Hungarian Armies, regardless of place of origin. Perhaps Ms. Thomas could contact the Austrian State Archives for further assistance. I personally saw – and it was sad to see – records of young men from large cities and small villages from all over the Empire, from locations in what is now Poland, Romania, Ukraine, Czech Republic, etc. etc. Hope this helps.

By: Kathryn Osypiuk-Thomas

Kathryn Osypiuk-Thomas — Mon, 22 May 2023 18:51:57 +0000

Hello Evan,
I’m hoping you may be able to point me in the right direction. My grandmother’s brother, Andrew (Andreas/Andrzej) Mamak was born in Zalesie in Western Galicia (Limanowa County) and joined the Austrian Army in WW1. According to my grandmother, he was killed in action in Serbia; the town was called Cip.
I haven’t been able to find this location, any record of his service or a record of his death.
Any help is appreciated.

By: tania finke

tania finke — Mon, 13 Mar 2023 11:50:42 +0000

Dear Evan,
I stumbled across you site searching for information regarding any Ulan regiments that might have been stationed in or near Denbica? My great, great grandfather Artur von Gelan was in an ulan regiment as an oberstleut. Do you have any pointers you would share?
Kind regards
Tania

By: Judy (Baneth) Solomon

Judy (Baneth) Solomon — Mon, 05 Sep 2022 01:26:26 +0000

Hi Evan
My father Bela Baneth was in 101/71 muszos that’s all I know
He was born in Ujpest, Hungary
Can you help me find some information about him during the period
he spent in that Unit, as well as where it was located
Many thanks
Judy

By: Philip Ablethorpe

Philip Ablethorpe — Mon, 18 Oct 2021 18:28:03 +0000

Evan Samborski , my grandad was in the polish army from 1920-1929 and below is his service record during the First World War in the Austrian Army. Where would be the best place to try and find further information on his service.

Kindest regards,

Philip Ablethorpe

Military service before 01/11/1918:
• 01/08/1914 – 01/11/1914 1st Uhlan Regiment –volunteer
• 01/11/1914 – 01/12/1914 3rd Uhlan Regiment – volunteer
• 01/12/1914 – 01/04/1915 cavalry school
• 01/04/1915 – 01/05/1915 course (?)
• 01/05/1915 – 01/08/1915 as a platoon leader
• 01/08/1915 – 01/11/1915 3rd Uhlan Regiment; front; as a platoon leader
• 01/11/1915 – 01/01/1916 patient at the military hospital in Jaroslawiec
• 01/01/1916 – 25/01/1916 3rd Uhlan Regiment; as a platoon leader
• 25/02/1916 – 13/06/1916 3rd Uhlan Regiment; as a platoon leader
• 13/06/1916 – 01/04/1918 in captivity
• 01/04/1918 – 17/03/1920 Legia oficerska- officer legion

By: Evan PC Samborski

Evan PC Samborski — Thu, 05 Aug 2021 15:50:24 +0000

In reply to Nir.

Hello Nir,

I would start by developing a research outline regarding three components in this case since they will tie in. Stanislav is now known as Ivan-Frankovisk.

1. The personal record (birth, marriage, baptism, church, spiritual rite)
2. Military record (unit, division, battallion, platoon, rank)
3. Place and origin (city, town, parish, urban area or commune).

Hopefully this helps!

Create an account on familysearch.org (note your records will be retained by the LDS Organization, use a pseudonym if you wish). But they have LOTS of records and their records often point to archives where other records are stored.

Cheers,

Evan

By: Nir

Nir — Mon, 02 Aug 2021 21:24:55 +0000

Dear Evan Samborski,

My great uncle served with the 20 kaiser-koniglichen Schutzenregiment (20th Imperial-Royal Infantry Regiment) during World War I; My great grandfather was also a World War I combat veteran, and probably served in the same regiment, since they both originated from Stanislau region (Tyśmienica and Kołomyja).

I’m trying to locate their military records and history, and would be most grateful for any guidance to start my online research.

Best regards
Nir

By: Evan Samborski

Evan Samborski — Fri, 09 Jul 2021 21:53:22 +0000

Hi Viviana,

Very nice to hear from you. Regarding Volyn one should remember it fell under Russian state control in 1795 until the end of World War 1. My knowledge of the record system is that these will be held seperately from Warsaw. I can say perhaps records would be in Minsk, Wilno, Moscow. I know there is also the parish of Dederkaly-Velkiy which has quite a large amount of details among these types of families. And there are some loosely associated refords in Zhitomir regarding pre-partition ties as well.

I would suspect he would be in the occupation as an attache or auxillary officer. It is possible Volyn Poles served along Baltic units. But remember the Russians served a crippling defeat at Tannenburg relatively early in the war resulting in I believe to be the largest transfer of captives in the conflict. He may have ended up in Weimer Germany or Polands Western territories if he survived the conflict.

By: Viviana Kusminsky

Viviana Kusminsky — Thu, 08 Jul 2021 16:19:24 +0000

Dear Evan Samborski,

My grandfather was the son of Poles and was born in 1894 in Buddy Ossowskie, Wolyn.
We are certain that he participated in the First World War, but unfortunately we have no record of which regiment he may have served in, could you tell me in which direction I look? In the general archive of the Polish army his data does not appear, but I think he may have been in some Polish Army regiment who stayed abroad or similiar.

I would apreciate any help or advice from your side.

Best Regards,
Viviana