Emperor Franz Joseph in Bosnia and Herzegovina in 1910

Austro-Hungarian Emperor, Franz Joseph, visited Bosnia and Herzegovina in 1910, two years after official annexation.

After he visited Sarajevo, he went to Herzegovina where he stopped at Jablanica and then in Mostar. There was a big preparation for his visit and on these three photos you can see Emperor crossing the Old bridge in Mostar. You can see the bridge is covered by carpets so that the Emperor didn't slip.

On the first photo you can see two Bosniaks, dressed in national dress and fully armed, waiting for Emperor as guards at the bridge. In between you can see two kids, holding bread and salt. This is old Slavic tradition to welcome the winners or rulers.

Third photo is showing Emperor, inspecting BH4, unit of Austro-Hungarian army where Bosniaks from Herzegovina served. Emperor didn't know at that time that these guys will defend western line of his Empire against Italians only five years later. It is also these guys who built a mosque in Slovenian valley, named Log pod Mangartom in 1916.

Dr. Ahmed Pasic

Bosniaks in Budapest in 1914

Bosniaks in Budapest, Hungary in 1914. Man in coat (middle part) is Imam in reserve, Hilmi ef. Duric. Most likely these soldiers belonged to the unit BH3 with headquerters in Tuzla, northern Bosnia.

Dr. Ahmed Pasic

Bosniaks in Vienna before WWI

I am posting a photo from the book "The Emperor's Bosniaks". It is showing Bosniaks on the streets of Vienna in 1911. They were ordered to supress demonstrations. They were known as tough and disciplined soldiers.

People rioted because of inflation, prices were increasing on daily basis. Demonstrations were violent and emperor was afraid things will cause total disorder in the city. That is the reason why they called Bosniaks to pacify situation. Soon after they appeared on Vienna streets, they put situation under control. They were so tough against demonstrators that they earned bad nickname. Instead of BH (Bosnian-Herzegovian) they were now called Bosniak Hunde. In translation, it means "Bosniak dogs".

Just three years later, they were celebrated as elite troops in Austro-Hungarian army.

Dr. Ahmed Pasic

Vienna's Kriegsarchiv

I have received many requests from Bosniaks in recent years, asking about their relatives who served in Austro-Hungarian army during the WWI. They wanted to know which units they served, what happened to them, where are they buried etc.

The only institution that might have information about Bosniaks in Austro-Hungarian army during the WWI, is Vienna's Kriegsarchiv. Please, contact them by phone, fax, mail or email and they can help you. Here are contact details:

Kriegsarchiv
Nottendorfer Gasse 2
A-1030 Vienna
Austria
Phone: +43-1-79540-452
Fax: +43-1-79540-109
Email: kapost@oesta.gv.at

They are very friendly and will definitely let you know if they have required information. For one hour of work / research they will charge you 35 EUR. Please, note this will be charged even in the case they don't find any information.

If you need additional help or advice, let me know.

Dr. Ahmed Pasic