I would like to know where precisely an officer, NCO or private soldier served or saw action during the First World War (1914-1918)

If you already have either “Grundbuchsblatt” or “Qualifikationsliste” of the person concerned it is highly unlikely that you will be able to find out more about the man’s precise whereabouts during the war.

As a rule only fragments of regimental archives have been preserved (“Archive der Truppenkörper“). These may comprise records that chronicle in some detail the regiment’s operations during the war. However, this source material is of little or no value for genealogical research.

Where available, regimental histories (online bibliography) (PDF, 5 MB) published after the war can be very helpful.They often contain short biographical entries on the regiment’s officers and details on the fighting in which the unit took part between 1914 and 1918.

When working in the reading room of the Central Archives 1030 Vienna, you have open-shelf access to our library’s well-nigh complete collection of regimental histories.

Many regimental histories are also available online.

For detailed information on the deployment and operations of Austro-Hungarian troops (from brigade level upwards) “Österreich-Ungarns Letzter Krieg” (available online in German and English), the Austrian army’s official history of the War, is indispensable. It also provides numerous maps, charts, diagrams etc.