Family History Page 3

Salamon Paktorovics in his k.u.k. (kaiserlich und königlich = császár és király = Imperial and Royal) army uniform. This is clearly a dress uniform, worn for the photographic portrait (compare the field uniforms in the pictures below). Since he was attached to a medical unit, it's doubtful he ever used the sword (it could even have been a wooden replica provided by the studio); nevertheless, he was a reserve Unteroffizier (UO, equivalent to a non-commissioned officer, or NCO, in the US Army) in the common army of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. I have no idea what he might be holding in his right hand; the object on the chair behind his right knee is most likely his military cap. His appearance here is in distinct contrast to that of the young student in the earlier portrait (Page 2). The three white stars on his collar normally denoted the rank of Zugsführer (roughly equivalent to Sergeant) in the k.u.k. infantry; however, the dark band around the lower and leading edges of the collar signified a slightly different rank, Feldwebel (roughly equivalent to Sergeant Major). Feldwebel was a rank appropriate for an NCO "without a rifle" (see Austro-Hungarian Land Forces 1848-1918, "Badges of Rank" and "Infantry Regiment Organization"; site © Michael Jewison and Jörg C. Steiner).

Members of k.u.k. infantry Construction Company (Baukompagnie) No. 2/66th Regiment, Ungvár Military District (Ergänzungsbezirke). My grandfather is standing on the right. A Hungarian-speaking outfit originating from the area around Ungvár, they were apparently assigned to a field medical unit (sanitätsanstalten).

Igazolvány (certificate or warrant) discharging Salamon Paktorovics from military service in the k.u.k. army, issued two weeks after the order for complete demobilization of the Austro-Hungarian armed forces as specified by the armistice of 3 November 1918 (Villa Giusti, Italy). A few details: (i) "66-os pótzászlóalj" (upper left corner) refers to his unit being an auxiliary, supplemental, or reserve ("pót-") batallion ("zászlóalj") of the k.u.k. 66th infantry regiment, equivalent to the German expression on the franking stamp, "K.u.k. Ersatzbataillon des Infanterieregiment Nr. 66;" (ii) the handwritten message (upper right hand corner) refers to the fact that he did not receive a final paycheck; (iii) it bears the signatures of both his commander ("parancsnok") and of an examining physician ("orvos").

Another photograph of my grandfather's unit, taken in the field somewhere. The occasion is unclear but my grandfather, marked by my mother with an x under his boot, seems to be in good cheer. Possibly the occasion is the commendation he received (I'm still trying to figure out what it was for).

Another photograph of my grandfather (again marked with an x) with some of his unit mates, but as part of a larger group assembled for the occasion. The officer standing front-and-center may be Erzherzog (Archduke) Peter Ferdinand, for whom the 66th Regiment was named (see Austro-Hungarian Land Forces 1848-1918, "Common Army Infantry Regiments" and "Infantry Regiment Organization"; site © Michael Jewison and Jörg C. Steiner).

Two service medals awarded to my Grandfather during World War I (obverse and reverse views). The medal above appears to be a decoration of the Red Cross for meritorious service. It may be the one he is wearing in the group photo above. The decoration on the right doesn't appear in any of the photos, but is an Eisernes Verdienstkreuz, mit der Krone ("EVK. m. d. Kr.", Iron Cross for Merit, with an imperial crown) clearly authenticated by the "Legitimation für Besitzer des EVK" that accompanied the medal in its original box.

The following information about the Eisernes Verdienstkreuz (Iron Cross for Merit) was obtained from a page of the WW I Document Archive entitled "Medals of Austria-Hungary" (Page © 1998 Micheal Shackelford): "Awarded to soldiers or civil servants of lower rank for merit. This decoration was instituted on 1 April 1916 and could be awarded with or without an imperial crown. For service at the front, gilt swords attached to the ribbon were instituted on 13 December 1916. The cross could be suspended on the ribbon of the Bravery Medal in case of war merit or on a plain red ribbon for merit in times of peace. Awards of the latter kind were apparently never made. The obverse has a central medaillion in which the imperial monogram "FJ" (Franz Joseph) is placed within an inner circle bearing the motto "VIRIBUS UNITIS" (by united forces). The reverse bears the year of institution '1916' within a stylised wreath. The larger part of recipients of this decoration can be found among members of the medical corps [my italics], the field railroad corps and the military postal services." (Text by Michael Shackelford and Hendrik Meersschaert.)

Apparently Erzherzog Peter Ferdinand had no command connection with the 66th Infanterieregiment once the war got underway, as he was subsequently promoted several times, taking charge of progressively larger units that did not include the 66th. That would suggest the photograph was taken at the beginning of World War I. I would be interested in any knowledge or opinions about this (a 1915 Oskar Bruch portrait of Peter Ferdinand is available for comparison at the Austro-Hungarian Land Forces 1848-1918 website (site © Michael Jewison and Jörg C. Steiner) from the "Portraits of Senior Commanders" page). If it is Peter Ferdinand, it might help if someone can unambiguously identify his rank here, since that would narrow down the possible dates for this picture based on his record of promotions throughout the conflict (of course it's possible he was just visiting his namesake Regiment, an occasion that could have taken place any time during the war). I would also appreciate hearing from anyone who can make a confirmable identification of any of the other people in these photographs (email to: zalman@theunguardedasylum).

The Hungarian language version of a pair of certificates that may have accompanied the Red Cross award. This certificate is made out for Reserve Feldwebel Salamon Paktorovics (interestingly, with his rank given in German, but his surname given first in the Hungarian manner). The German language version is reproduced below. The certificates are dated 15 April 1916, while the Red Cross medal is dated 1914, which would seem to contradict any association; however, the date on the medal might refer to the date of its institution (suggested by the 50 year range between the two dates, 1864-1914), and perhaps could have been given for service in a subsequent year.

Two prints of a photograph of Salamon Paktorovics taken in Pola (now Pula, Croatia). Located on the Western coast of the Istrian peninsula, 80 miles south of Trieste, Pola was the main naval base of the Austro-Hungarian Empire until the defeat of the Central Powers in World War I. The location is clearly the Arena, a Roman amphitheatre built in the first century during the reign of the Emperor Vespasian, which still stands as a landmark and tourist destination in Pula. The statue in the background is undoubtedly that of Austrian Empress Elizabeth, which stood at that location only from 1904 to 1934. Possibly my Grandfather was on furlough at the time this picture was taken, and he was sightseeing. The obverse of these photographs was designed in the form of a postcard, although they were not mailed as such.

Photograph of a fellow serviceman in my grandfather's unit taken at the same time and location in Pola. Curiously, the back side carries a note written by my mother identifying this as a picture of my Grandfather, but it is certainly not. To me this seems to be the very relaxed looking guy who appears in both of the group photos above (seated front and center in the first, and seated on the far left in the second).