Leisure in the Austro-Hungarian Army at the Turn of the 19th and 20th Centuries

Abstract

The primary aim of this study is to examine the concept of leisure time within the Austro- Hungarian Army during the period of universal conscription. On the one hand, it seeks to provide a schematic picture of the legal regulations governing leisure time and holidays within the military. On the other hand, it draws upon contemporary sources to explore the opportunities available to soldiers and the ways in which they spent their free time. In doing so, the study also attempts to reinterpret the notion of leisure within a military context.

The approach adopted is necessarily dual in nature, as the experiences of leisure and social time differed markedly between officers and enlisted men – not only due to legal distinctions, but also as a result of the differing sociological characteristics of the two groups. The officer corps’ experience of social time closely resembled that of the middle class, while common soldiers encountered a temporal structure entirely alien to civilian life. The army operated as a total institution: within the closed environment of the barracks, enlisted men lived under constant supervision, adhering to strict routines and rigid schedules that emphasized continuity and the permanence of labor. In such a context, leisure time assumed a particularly vital role in coping with the demands of military life. It is no coincidence that the introduction of free Sundays, numerous public holidays, and even formal leave occurred at a time when such practices were not yet widespread in civilian society. Nevertheless, for many soldiers, the hardships of military life proved unbearable, often leading to desertion or, in the most tragic instances, suicide.

Cover photo: Fortepan / Szerdahelyi Márk