K.u.K 116.IR and 135.IR

K.u.K 116.IR and 135.IR

During late 1917 and early 1918 , KuK Regiments were reformed.
New regiments were formed by reducing number of battalions in existing regiments from 4 to 3.
Two new regiments in common army from Croatia-Slavonia were 116. IR and 135.IR, they were formed from battalions of other Croatian Regiments
I was unable to exactly determine when were they formed.
Recruiting area of 116.IR was mostly in Slavonia , while 135.IR recruited around Zagreb and Karlovac.


Feldpost used by Regiments was:

116.IR.(ex III/78, IV/78, IV/16) was with 13.Inf.Brig. later renamed 71.Inf.Brig. - 36.Inf.div - Fp.634

135.IR.(ex III/96, IV/96, IV/53) was with 115.Inf.Brig.(ex 5.Gebirgs.Brig) - 58.ID - Fp.420


Mail from units must be very rare as i haven't seen any yet...

4.1918 card from batallion IV/53 ,Fp.420-58.ID.
IV/54 was never part of 58.ID but it was included in 135.Inf Regiment which was part od 115.Inf brg of 58.ID .  This card is from period of formation of 135.IR , old cancels IV/53 were used with  new Fp.420

K.u.K 96 Infanterie regiment

K.u.K 96 Infanterie regiment

96.Infanterie Reginent Ferdinand Kronprinz von Rumänien   was Croatian unit in common K.u.K army .Regiments recruiting area of 96 .Rgt was around city of  Karlovac, areas of  Kordun and Banovina

During the  war Regiment and its Battalion were part of different units and used different Feldpost, with 96.IR this happened very often.

It fought from the beginning of the war  Russian battlefield (Galicia,Bukowina) until mid 1915 after that is on Italian front.

IV.Battalion was separated from unit early in war  and rejoined unit in mid 1916.

In 1918 battalions III/96 and IV/96  with IV/53 formed 135. Infantry regiment, while battalion  IV/79 joined 96.IR

My list of Fp.numbers used by 96.lR follows

1914. Fp.60(34.ID)
1915. Fp.109(17.ID), Fp.173(Korps FML Benigni) , Fp.62 (1.KD) , Fp.73(28.ID)
1916. Fp.32(6.Inf.Div). Fp.353(Gruppe von Ljubičić),Fp73 (28ID)
1917. Fp.420 (58ID)
1918. Fp.420 (58ID)


Battlion IV/96
1914 Fp.44.(36.ID) ,
1915 Fp.353 (Gruppe von Ljubičić, Kuhn brigade,), Fp32(6.ID),
1916 Fp.75(6.KD) Fp73 (28ID), Fp608/612(59.Gebirgs brigade, Grp.Fella)


Other Feldpost numbers on mail are possible and probable , as constant movement of battalions and companies from from all regiments to other units was common.

For example : in October 1916 batallions were dispersed,:

I/IR 96 - 81.HIBrig :(20.HID Fp.14)
II/IR 96 - 56.IBrig:(28.ID- Fp73/Fp391)
III/IR 96 - 44SchD:(Fp.53)
IV/IR 96 - 55.IBrig:(28.ID- Fp73/Fp391)

Card form XX.Marsch company 96.IR to Zagreb, no date on card.
Absent Feldpost cancel, red cancel Von der Armee im Felde (From army in the field)

2.1917 card from 96.Ersatz company in Karlovac to Lokve, Croatia .
Card issued for 96.IR commemorating victory on 20.05.1916 in south  Tyrol when 96.IR captured fortified hill Costesin together with 18 Italian officers and  750 soldiers, 2 cannons and 12 Machine guns

Front of the card above, view to Costesin and Verena in the background

10.1917 card from 96.IR Fp.420(58.ID) to village  Čuntić near Petrinja, Banovina , Croatia

IV baon(batallion) of 96.IR

6.1915 card from Zagreb to 15.company 4.baon 96 IR Fp.353

6.1915 card from 26.domobran(honved)ersatz baon,in Karlovac,Croatia  to 15.company 4.baon 96 IR Fp.353

6.1915 card from Karlovac to  4.baon 96 IR Fp.353

6.1915 card from  4.baon 96 IR Fp.32(6.ID)  to Karlovac,Croatia.mailed via Hauptfeldpostamt 351/II  serving 7.Army

7.1915 card from 4.baon 96.IR Fp.32(6.ID) to Karlovac, censor cancel.

8.1915 card from Zagreb to 16.komp.4.baon 96 IR Fp.32(6.ID), censor cancel

8.1915 card from 4.baon 96.IR Fp.32(6.ID) to Karlovac.

8.1915 card from 4.baon 96.IR Fp.32(6.ID) to Karlovac

4.1916 card from 16.komp.4.baon 96.IR Fp.612(92.ID) to Zagreb mailed via Fp608(59.Geb.brigade,92.ID) in April 1916 Fp.608 was replaced by Fp 612(92.ID)

11.1916 card from XXV March.baon 96.IR, Fp.360 (XVI korps.Marschformation) to Karlovac

K.u.K 79.Infanterie regiment

                              K.u.K 79.Infanterie regiment

79.Otocaner Infanterie regiment "graf Jellacic"  was Croatian unit in common K.u.K army .Regiment was named after Ban Josip Jelačić who was born in Petrvaradin, but his family was from Lika. It is known that he was proud of his Lika ancestry. Recruting area of 79.Rgt was mostly Lika and Primorje.

During war unit was part of different units and used different Feldpost.

It fought from 8-12.1914 in Serbia, From 1.1915 till 8.1916 on Russian battlefield (Galicia,Bukowina) after that is on Italian front.

My list of Fp.numbers used by 79.lR  follows:

1914. Fp.44. (36.ID.), Fp.111.  (7.ID.)

1915. Fp.111. (7.ID.) 

1916. Fp.111. (7.ID.)  

From 8.1916. I,II battalion 11Gb.brig. Fp.113  / 48.ID Fp.302

8-9.1916. III.battalion 10.Gb.brig Fp.16, 10-12.1916. Fp.287, 46.Sch.div.

1917. Fp.302 ,from 03.1917 Fp.628 (11.Gb.brig. 48.ID.)

1918. Fp.628 (11.Gb.brig reformed in early  into 95.Inf.brig/ 48.ID.)

Other Feldpost numbers on mail are possible and probable , as constant movement of batalions and companies from from all regiments to other units was common.

So far I have seen  mail with Fp. numbers Fp.44, Fp.111, Fp.302 and  Fp.628

9.1915 card from 79.IR.  Fp111 to Toplitz, Sudeten, Czechia text in German

11.1915 Fp.111 card from 1st battalion IR.79 to Rijeka/ Fiume Croatia, text in Croatian

2.1917 card from XXVII Marsch baon(battalion) of IR79.  Fp.406 to Chlumec n/L,  Czechia,
Fp.406 was from 1.1917 Commando Fiume, Croatia
In 1914  79.IR battalions(baons) were stationed in:
Garnison: Stab, I., III., IV. Baon: Fiume – II. Baon: Otocac

3.1917 card from IR79. Fp628 to Czechia text in Czech . Written by hand is Fp.302 , changed by Feld-postman to Fp.628 in blue pencil.
 In March 1917 Feldpost numbers were reassigned, 48.Inf.division changed its number from 302 to 628
. Back of the card beautiful picture , bird of prey holding Coat of arms of count Jelačić. Below is unit nickname in Croatian "Graničari Grofa Jelačića" ,meaning "Frontiersmen of Count Jelačić"

4.1917 card from IR79.  Fp.628 to Zagreb ,Croatia

6.1917 card from IR79. Fp.628 to Fiume/Rijeka Croatia, in German language

. Back of the card beautiful picture , bird of prey holding Coat of arms of count Jelačić. Below is unit nickname in Croatian "Graničari Grofa Jelačića" ,meaning "Frontiersmen of Count Jelačić", above is Count Jelačić motto "Što bog dade i sreća junačka - "By the grace of God and a stroke of luck." (lit. What God gives and luck of heroes.)

K.u.K 78.Infanterie regiment

K.u.K 78.Infanterie regiment

78.Infanterie regiment Gerba was Croatian unit in common K.u.K army . Recruting area was city  Osijek and Slavonia. During entire war unit was part of 13.Inf.Brigade later renamed 71.inf.Brigade. which in turn was the whole war part of 36.Inf.Division.

78.IR war path is very similar to 16.IR and 53.IR as they were in same division. It fought from 8-12.1914 in Serbia, 1.1915-2.1918 Russian battlefield (Galicia,Bukowina), from 2.1918 is on Italian battlefield.

Regiment had 4 battalions in 1914, and during most of the war. This changed in reorganisation in the end of 1917 and early 1918 to 3 batallions. Probably in spring of 1918  78.IR was reformed and made up of  batallions I, II/78.IR, and II/70.IR . Batallions  III and  IV/78.IR  become I and II of 116.IR

My list of Fp.numbers used by 78.lR follows:

1914. Fp.44(36.ID)
1915. Fp.44(36.ID)
1916. Fp.44(36.ID)
1917. Fp.44(36.ID) from 06.02.1917 was replaced by Fp.634(36.ID)
1918. Fp.634(36.ID)

8.1915 card from 6.company 78.IR  Fp.44 to Krapje near Jasenovac, Croatia

12.1915 card from 7.company 78.IR  Fp.44 to Osijek, Croatia

4.1916 card from 1.company 78.IR  Fp.44 to Ljubljana, Slovenia,text in Croatian

4.1917 card from Rgt.Stab 78.IR  Fp.634 to Zagreb

10.1917 card from Rgt.stab  78.IR  Fp.634 to Osijek