Habsburg Sons describes Jewish participation in the Habsburg Army, 1788-1918, concentrating on World War I. Approximately 300,000-350,000 Jews fought in the Austro-Hungarian Armies on all fronts; of these, 30,000-40,000 died of wounds or illness, and at least 17% were taken prisoner in camps all over Russia and Central Asia. Many soldiers were Orthodox Ostjuden, and over 130 Feldrabbiner (chaplains) served among them. Antisemitism was present but generally not overt. The book uses personal diaries and newspaper articles (most available in English for the first time) to describe their stories, and compares the experiences of Jews in German, Russian, and Italian armies.
Autorentext
Peter Appelbaum, Emeritus Professor of Pathology, spends his retirement writing and translating books about Jewish soldiers in World War I Central Power Armies. Seven books have appeared, notably the first English translation of Bagehinom shel Mata (Hell on Earth), for which he has recently been awarded the TLS-Risa Domb/Porjes Prize.
Inhalt
Table of Contents
Foreword: A History of a Bygone Era, by Manfried Rauchensteiner Jewish Soldiers in Habsburg Austria, by Gerald Lamprecht Introduction Plates
Chapter 1. Setting the Stage Chapter 2. Jews in the Armies of Austro-Hungary before the Great War: A Comparative Framework Chapter 3. The Kaiser Needs You! Initial Reaction to the Declaration of War Chapter 4. Snapshots from the Eastern Front: Diaries, Memoirs, Reports Chapter 5. Snapshots from Other Fronts: The Balkans, Italy, and Palestine Chapter 6. Austro-Hungarian Feldrabbiner: Tallit, Torah, and Tobacco Chapter 7. Captives of the Tsar in European Russia, Siberia, and Central Asia Chapter 8. Epilogue. The Fate of Habsburg Jewish Veterans and Their Influence on Postwar Europe
Bibliography