The search for deserters in Austria-Hungary during the First World War

During the First World War, the command of the Austro-Hungarian army faced massive desertion. The search for fugitives, which created a threat to public safety, was handled by the field gendarmerie. The statistical material on the number of detained deserters and the use of firearms convincingly shows that the forces of law and order failed to cope well with the mission entrusted to them. The large-scale raids, organized by the military authorities in 1918, yielded insignificant results. The main reason for this, apart from objective obstacles, was the active support of fugitives by the civilian population.