Povijesni prilozi, Vol. 37 No. 55, 2018.
Original scientific paper
https://doi.org/10.22586/pp.v55i0.61
Desertions in 1848/49
Arijana Kolak Bošnjak
Abstract
Desertion is a phenomenon affecting all armies, and the Croatian troops during 1848/49, both the Military Frontier ones and the National Guards, were no exception in this regard. These desertions had various material and emotional reasons, and the legal regulations used to reduce their numbers were different as well. Ban Jelačić issued special provisions for deserters under his command, while deserters from the National Guards and the Military Frontier troops who were not under his command were treated differently. Jelačić was rather quick in resolving the problem of desertion among soldiers, as his provisions were very strictly enforced, which resulted in the absence of mass desertions among his soldiers. On the other hand, the military system in Banal Croatia allowed for lenience in the implementation of provisions concerning deserters from the Military Frontier troops and the National Guards, since there was no proper cooperation between the military commands, the War Department at the Banal Council, and the county administration. This led to constant desertions from the National Guards during the entire period of war, which resulted in a very porous defence system at the Drava border. This again caused numerous problems for the entire military and administrative structure in Banal Croatia during the war against the Hungarians in 1848 and 1849.
Keywords
deserters/desertion; Military Frontier troops; National Guards; war in 1848/49; military provisions
Hrčak ID:
214650
URI
Publication date:
14.12.2018.
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