Austro-Hungarian Infanterie Regiment 5
The K.U.K. 1. Infanteriedivision had participated in many battles on the Italian Front before being sent to France. Since 1915, the division had been a highly effective unit throughout the many scenes on the Italian Front At the time of its arrival in France on July 21st, the division numbered approximately 8,400 men, comprised of 3 infantry regiments (IR 5, IR 61, and IR 112) and 3 Feldjäger battalions (FJB 17, FJB 25, and FJB 31).
IR 5 was positioned on the right flank of the Austro-Hunagrian line and awaited the Entente's attack. It came in the American led, Meuse-Argonne Offensive which directly assaulted the Central Power's line. While IR 5 was able to beat back the french attack. The German 1st Strumtruppen to the right of their position retreated and IR 5 had to follow suit or be cut off. American Gas and Artillery attacks hampered their retreat but did not stop them.
A Central Powers counter attack was planned and promptly beaten aback by a mixture of American and French divisions. Only IR5 and IR 112 were able to take their objective, hill 371, on 11th of October 1918. For a day and half the commander of IR5, Oberstleutnant Rudolf Popelka, lead the defense of hill 371, earning him the Pour le Mérite from Kaiser Wilhelm. After rotating out the Austro-Hungarian defenders, the German 1st Strumtruppen lost the position several hours later.
With the K.U.K. 1. Infanteriedivision strength spent and the American attacks unrelenting, the remainder of the campaign was spent in rearguard actions and fighting withdrawls.
IR 5 was positioned on the right flank of the Austro-Hunagrian line and awaited the Entente's attack. It came in the American led, Meuse-Argonne Offensive which directly assaulted the Central Power's line. While IR 5 was able to beat back the french attack. The German 1st Strumtruppen to the right of their position retreated and IR 5 had to follow suit or be cut off. American Gas and Artillery attacks hampered their retreat but did not stop them.
A Central Powers counter attack was planned and promptly beaten aback by a mixture of American and French divisions. Only IR5 and IR 112 were able to take their objective, hill 371, on 11th of October 1918. For a day and half the commander of IR5, Oberstleutnant Rudolf Popelka, lead the defense of hill 371, earning him the Pour le Mérite from Kaiser Wilhelm. After rotating out the Austro-Hungarian defenders, the German 1st Strumtruppen lost the position several hours later.
With the K.U.K. 1. Infanteriedivision strength spent and the American attacks unrelenting, the remainder of the campaign was spent in rearguard actions and fighting withdrawls.