The Adaptation of the Habsburg Army Oath for Jewish Soldiers: The Precedent of the Prague Infantry Volunteer David Koschler (1789)
The Adaptation of the Habsburg Army Oath for Jewish Soldiers: The Precedent of the Prague Infantry Volunteer David Koschler (1789)

Summary/Abstract: In February 1788, Emperor Joseph II ordered his Jewish subjects to be conscripted into the army. This novelty was forced not only upon the Jewish communities, but also the Habsburg military establishment, as the Aulic War Council (Hofkriegsrat) was adamantly opposed to Jews in the army. As a nod to existing stereotypes, which did not consider Jews as fighters, it was initially assumed that Jewish recruits would all serve in the Military Transport Corps – a non-combat branch, which also fitted well with the supposed Jewish acumen for logistics. However, in his final Edict of Toleration for Galicia, the Emperor now declared that Jewish conscripts could also request to serve under arms (Feuergewehrstand). In June 1789, the 21year old David Koschler from Prague became the first Jewish recruit to volunteer for combat service. David’s new unit, the 11th Line Infantry Regiment “Michael Wallis”, wrote to Vienna requesting instructions how its first Jewish recruit was to be sworn into service. This was a matter of great procedural importance, as the oath was a prerequisite for joining the military estate. Furthermore, the taking of the oath was one of the most important regimental ceremonies, which held immense emotional value for the army. New recruits were sworn in while standing before the regimental banners, which from now they were bound to defend with their lives. The question was referred to a committee of senior military officials, whose recommendation was then forwarded directly to Joseph II. Although only a small fraction of the Hofkriegsrat’s original correspondence survives, direct imperial involvement ensured that the paperwork relating to the military oath for Jewish soldiers has been fully preserved. This article follows the deliberations between the Bohemian General Command, the military councillors in Vienna, and the Emperor, who resolved the matter personally. The article then traces the subsequent military career of David Koschler and concludes by providing further evidence for other Jewish soldiers from Bohemia, who served in combat roles during the last Habsburg Ottoman War.

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