101st Infantry Battalion
| 101st Infantry Battalion | |
|---|---|
| Active | July 1942 – June 16, 1943 |
| Allegiance | United States of America |
| Branch | United States Army |
| Type | Separate infantry battalion |
| Decorations | None |
| Commanders | |
| Notable commanders | Lt. Col Edward Conrad |
The 101st Infantry Battalion (Separate) was an independent battalion on the US Army designed to be formed of Austrian-Americans and Austrian Nationals resident in the United States.[1]
History[edit]
In 1942 the United States created several separate infantry battalions composed of Americans of ethnic descent or citizens of certain nations who were not yet American citizens. Amongst them were the 99th Infantry Battalion of Norwegian-Americans, the 100th Infantry Battalion of Japanese-Americans, and the 122nd Infantry Battalion of Greek-Americans.[2] A Polish unit was also proposed but never created.[3]
Zita of Bourbon-Parma, the wife of the last Emperor of Austria supposedly lobbied the American government for such a unit following President Franklin D. Roosevelt's officially declared restoration of an independent Austria to be an American war aim. Three of her sons Carl, Charles, Rudolf and Felix von Habsburg served in the unit that served at Camp Atterbury, Indiana.[4] Werner von Trapp also served in the Battalion.[5]
The battalion was disbanded on June 16, 1943.
Notes[edit]
- ^ p.156 Brook-Shepherd, Gordon Uncrowned Emperor: The Life and Times of Otto von Habsburg Continuum International Publishing Group, 30/12/2003
- ^ p.14 Stanton, Shelby L. Order of Battle, U.S. Army, World War II Presidio, 1984
- ^ "Robert Szymczak | the Battalion That Never Was: Dr. Teofil Starzynski, the OSS, and the Polish American Special Service Unit Project, 1942 | Polish American Studies, 66.2 | the History Cooperative". Archived from the original on 2011-10-03. Retrieved 2012-01-06.
- ^ "Avalanche Press".
- ^ Camp Atterbury - Camp Crier May 14, 1943