Jewish military chaplains in the Austro-Hungarian armed forces during World War I

Bíró, Ákos (2014) Jewish military chaplains in the Austro-Hungarian armed forces during World War I. Acta Ethnographica Hungarica, 59 (2). pp. 397-406. ISSN 1216-9803

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Abstract

Most armed forces of the world do employ military chaplains to increase the willingness of the troops, and to provide the necessary spiritual support on the battlefield or even during the peacetime service. Austria-Hungary acted likewise by setting up its own system, which has been proven to be extremely useful during World War I. It is not commonly known, but a large number of Jewish soldiers were enlisted in the different armed forces of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, and they were supported by field rabbis from the very beginning of the conflict. This institution was unique among the armies of the Central Powers in such an extended form. In my study I would like to provide a resume of this structure and offer an insight into the very important work conducted by military chaplains — rabbis, in this particular case — in state of war.

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