Austria's Bizarre 1788: Army Infighting And Internal Strife

The Austrian army's attack on itself in 1788, also known as the Battle of Karánsebes, was a result of a series of unfortunate events and misunderstandings. The battle, which took place during the Austro-Turkish War, saw different portions of the Austrian army mistakenly firing on each other, causing significant casualties and ultimately leading to the capture of Karánsebes (now Caransebeș in Romania) by the Ottoman Empire. The incident highlights the challenges of effective communication within a diverse army, as language barriers and cultural differences likely contributed to the tragic outcome.

The Austrian army's composition

The Austrian army of the late 18th century was a diverse force, comprising soldiers from many different ethnic and religious backgrounds. At the time of the Battle of Karánsebes in 1788, the army was fighting in the Austro-Turkish War (1787-1791), and its composition reflected the multinational nature of the conflict. The Austrian army included Austrians, Italians from Lombardy, Slavs from the Balkans, Serbs from the military frontier, Croats, Czechs, Germans, French, and Poles. This diverse makeup led to significant communication issues within the ranks, as many soldiers could not understand each other.

The army was also characterised by its religious diversity. While the officer corps was predominantly Catholic, with 791 out of 1000 officers identifying as such in 1896, there was also a notable presence of Protestants, Jews, Greek Orthodox, and Uniates. The Austrian army was unique among the major European powers of the time in its regular promotion of Jews to positions of command.

In terms of structure, the Austrian army was organised into different units, including the Common Army, the Imperial-Royal Landwehr, and the Royal Hungarian Honvéd. The Common Army was the main land force, responsible for securing the borders of the Monarchy. It consisted of several army corps, including the I. Army Corps based in Kraków, the II. Army Corps in Vienna, the III. Army Corps in Graz, and so on. Each corps was made up of various regiments, battalions, and brigades, with specific roles and areas of specialisation.

The Imperial-Royal Landwehr, on the other hand, was the standing army of Austria and was responsible for the defence of the country. It included infantry regiments, lancer regiments, and field artillery battalions. Similarly, the Royal Hungarian Honvéd served as the standing army of Hungary and consisted of infantry and cavalry divisions, brigades, and regiments.

The Austrian army of this period was also known for its distinctive uniforms. Initially, the infantry wore white uniforms, which were later replaced by dark blue tunics. During World War I, the uniforms evolved again, with the adoption of cadet grey and eventually field grey as the official colours.

In terms of equipment, the Austrian army utilised a range of weapons and artillery. The Common Army, for example, consisted of infantry divisions, cavalry divisions, field artillery regiments, mountain artillery regiments, fortress artillery regiments, and various types of battalions. They were equipped with infantry fighting vehicles, main battle tanks, self-propelled howitzers, and more.

Overall, the Austrian army of the late 18th century was a diverse and complex force, with a multinational composition that presented both advantages and challenges. The Battle of Karánsebes, where the army mistakenly attacked itself, highlights the communication issues that arose from the diverse ethnic and linguistic backgrounds of its soldiers.

Alcohol

On the night of the battle, Austrian cavalry soldiers, known as Hussars, went on a scouting patrol to look for Turkish soldiers. They encountered a group of Romani travelers or Romanian people who offered them alcohol, specifically schnapps, which the weary soldiers gladly accepted. A drinking party ensued, and soon, a group of infantry soldiers crossed the river and demanded to join the festivities. However, the Hussars refused to share their alcohol, leading to an argument and a physical altercation.

The situation escalated when a shot was fired, either by one of the intoxicated soldiers or during the ensuing brawl. The sound of the gunshot spread panic among the sober Austrian soldiers in the town of Karansebes, who were anticipating an attack by Turkish forces the next day. Mistaking the drunken soldiers for the enemy, the sober Austrians opened fire, with some shouting, "Turks! Turks!"

The inebriated soldiers, believing that the town had been overrun by Turkish forces, returned fire, resulting in chaotic crossfire. German officers attempted to restore order by shouting, "Halt! Halt!" but their commands were misunderstood by non-German-speaking soldiers, who thought they were hearing "Allah! Allah!"—the battle cry of the Turkish forces. This further fueled the confusion, and the Austrian army descended into a state of pandemonium, with soldiers firing at fellow Austrians, shadows, and even their own shadows.

The alcohol-fuelled brawl between the Hussars and infantry, combined with the language barrier and darkness, set the stage for the disastrous outcome of the Battle of Karansebes. The exact number of casualties is uncertain, but it is estimated that by the end of the night, thousands of Austrian soldiers lay dead or wounded, with some estimates placing the number as high as 10,000. The real Turkish forces arrived two days later and easily captured the town, taking advantage of the disarray within the Austrian army.

Miscommunication

The Battle of Karánsebes, which took place on the night of 17 September 1788, is a prime example of how miscommunication and language barriers can lead to disastrous consequences. The Austrian army, composed of soldiers from various nationalities, including Austrians, Czechs, Germans, French, Serbs, Croats, and Poles, was fighting the Ottoman Empire for control of the Danube River. The diverse makeup of the army inherently posed communication challenges, with soldiers speaking different languages and struggling to understand each other.

On the night of the battle, a group of Austrian cavalry scouts, or hussars, crossed the Timiș River to search for Ottoman forces. However, they only found a group of Romanian or Gypsy travellers, who offered them schnapps. The weary soldiers accepted the alcohol and started drinking. Soon after, a group of infantry soldiers crossed the river and demanded to join the party. When the hussars refused to share their schnapps, a quarrel broke out, which quickly escalated into a physical altercation.

In the midst of the argument, a shot was fired, either by one of the soldiers or an unknown source. The sound of gunfire spread panic throughout the Austrian camp, with soldiers mistaking their own comrades for Ottoman attackers. The infantry, upon hearing the gunshot, began shouting "Turks! Turks!" in their respective languages, causing further confusion and fear. The hussars, believing that the Ottoman army was approaching, fled the scene, which only added to the chaos.

As the situation unravelled, German officers attempted to restore order by shouting "Halt! Halt!" in an effort to stop the fleeing soldiers. However, due to the language barrier, many non-German-speaking soldiers misheard this as "Allah! Allah!"—a cry they associated with the Ottoman Turks. This miscommunication further fuelled the panic, leading to even more chaos and disorder.

The entire Austrian camp descended into pandemonium, with soldiers firing at anything that moved, mistaking their fellow Austrians for Ottoman forces. The corps commander, mistaking the hussars' retreat for an Ottoman cavalry charge, ordered artillery fire on his own men, exacerbating the friendly fire incident. The Holy Roman Emperor Joseph II, who was present at the battle, was knocked off his horse into a creek amid the chaos.

By the time the Ottoman army arrived two days later, they encountered a scene of devastation, with approximately 10,000 Austrian soldiers dead or wounded. The Ottomans easily captured the town of Karánsebes (now known as Caransebeș in Romania) without facing any resistance.

The Battle of Karánsebes stands as a stark reminder of the critical role of clear communication in military operations and the potentially catastrophic consequences of miscommunication and language barriers.

Friendly fire

The Austrian army, approximately 100,000 strong, was setting up camp near the town of Karánsebes (now Caransebeș in modern-day Romania). The army's vanguard, a contingent of hussars, crossed the Timiș River to scout for the presence of Ottoman Turks. However, instead of finding the enemy, they encountered a group of Romanian gypsies who offered to sell them schnapps. The hussars bought the alcohol and started drinking.

Soon, some infantry crossed the river and demanded to join the party. When the hussars refused to share the schnapps, a heated argument ensued, and the situation escalated into a fistfight. In the midst of the chaos, a shot was fired, and someone mistakenly shouted that the Turks had arrived.

Fearing an imminent attack, the hussars fled the scene, and most of the infantry followed suit. The army consisted of soldiers from various linguistic backgrounds, including Austrians, Italians from Lombardy, Slavs from the Balkans, and other minorities, resulting in communication issues. In the confusion, some soldiers shouted "Turci! Turci!" ("Turks! Turks!") without clarifying that the enemy had not been sighted.

As the cavalry fled through the camps, a corps commander misinterpreted the situation as a cavalry charge by the Ottoman army and ordered artillery fire. The sound of battle awakened the entire camp, and in the panic, the troops began firing at anything that moved, including their fellow Austrian soldiers. The emperor, Joseph II, was knocked off his horse into a small creek.

The friendly fire incident caused significant casualties, with estimates ranging from 150 to 10,000 dead or wounded. Two days later, when the Ottoman army finally arrived, they discovered the carnage and easily captured Karánsebes.

The Battle of Karánsebes stands as a stark reminder of the devastating consequences of friendly fire and the importance of clear communication and coordination in military operations. The multi-lingual nature of the Austrian army, combined with alcohol-fuelled confusion, contributed to the tragic outcome of this battle.

The Ottoman army's arrival

In 1788, the Austrian army found itself in a peculiar and unfortunate situation, where its own troops inadvertently clashed with each other, resulting in casualties and confusion. This incident, often referred to as the "Austrian Army Attacking Itself", was not a result of internal strife or mutiny, but rather a series of unfortunate misunderstandings and poor communication. To fully understand this event, we must also consider the involvement and arrival of the Ottoman army, which played a significant role in the events that unfolded.

The Ottoman Empire, sensing opportunity amidst the chaos within the Austrian ranks, decided to make a move. The Sultan ordered a substantial force to march towards the Austrian borders. The Ottoman army, known for its formidable cavalry and seasoned warriors, posed a significant threat to the already vulnerable Austrian forces. As the Ottoman army advanced, news of their approach spread among the Austrian troops, further adding to the tension and uncertainty.

As the Ottoman army drew closer, the Austrians struggled to regroup and coordinate their defenses. Communication breakdowns and conflicting orders continued to plague their forces. Some Austrian units, mistaking the approaching Ottoman army for friendly reinforcements, failed to prepare adequately for the impending clash. The Ottoman forces, on the other hand, were disciplined and relentless in their advance, taking advantage of the disorganization within the Austrian ranks.

The arrival of the Ottoman army only added to the chaos and confusion of that fateful year. As the two armies clashed, the Austrians, already struggling with internal miscommunication, now had to contend with a formidable external foe. The battle that ensued was marked by bravery and brutality on both sides, with the Austrians desperately trying to rally their forces and push back the Ottoman assault. The outcome of this engagement would have significant repercussions for both empires and shape the course of their future relations.

The involvement of the Ottoman army in this incident highlights the complex dynamics of European power struggles during the late 18th century. It also underscores the importance of effective communication and coordination within military forces, as the lack thereof contributed to the unfortunate events of 1788, where the Austrian army inadvertently found itself in a battle with itself and an unexpected external adversary.

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