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Imperial Ball 2020
“The dozen is full!” – Major General iTR Michael Blaha, MSc, euphorically opened the 12th Kaiserball on February 15, 2020 in the historic city hall in Korneuburg. And the organizers – the k.u.k. Dragoons regiment Nikolaus Graf Pejacsevich No 2 and the k.u.k. Infantry Regiment FM Heinrich Freiherr von Hess No 49 – come up with many small and large attentions.
But one after the other. The evening started with a reception in the town hall Korneuburg at the invitation of Mayor Christian Gepp, MSc, where the evening’s guest of honor Archduke Ferdinand von Habsburg was allowed to register in a historical book and even received the chain of honor of the Mayor for this ceremony. Ferdinand von Habsburg, who is currently completing basic training in Korneuburg, followed this invitation in the basic uniform of the Austrian Armed Forces and thus showed his close relationship to the military and military tradition.
Arrived in the ballroom, the ceremonial entry of the guests of honor and the grand opening immediately continued. To the delight of the numerous guests, a few couples from Korneuburg came forward this year to open the ball – in combination with the historically uniformed dancers a really beautiful and elegant performance.
Member of the National Council Andreas Minnich delivered the words of greeting from Governor Johanna Mikl-Leitner before SKKH Ferdinand von Habsburg took the microphone for the official ball opening. As a special surprise, the chef de cuisine, Christian Sehner, handed over a cake in the shape of an Aston Martin racing car before the archduke took the waltz himself – the competitive athlete also met all expectations in this regard.
As a specialty this year, a wine bar with a smoking lounge could be visited in the inner courtyard of the building. There the high-quality wines of the Maximilian von Habsburg winery were served and the wine bar quickly became an insider tip. But the rest of the culinary delights were also enjoyed and those who did not visit the wine bar found their way to the champagne and long drink bar in the gallery.
During a break of the Lower Austria Military Music Dance Orchestra, Elisabeth Jahrmann and Max Buchleitner delighted the auditorium with lively operetta melodies before moving on to the draw ceremony of the tombola. Of course for the 12th Kaiserball there were also 12 main prizes and the 12 winners were impressed by the high-quality prizes. The new day was started in an atmospheric manner with the traditional imperial anthem, sung by all ball guests to candlelight at midnight. With the rapid quadrille you could work out your midnight goulash and recharge your batteries for the rest of the ball night.
In the early hours of the morning, many guests took the opportunity to stop at the Habsburg wine bar before the 12th Kaiserball ended officially. For all guests and contributors one thing was clear – the 13th Kaiserball is a fixed point in the 2021 ball calendar!
Expression of condolences about Major d.Ldw. Helmut Müller
With great dismay and sadness we have the duty to announce that our comrade Major d.Ldw. Helmut Müller fell asleep peacefully with his family on January 13, 2020 and left us.
The President of the Union of the European Historical Military Groups, Major General iTR Michael Blaha, the Board, the Presidium and all comrades of the UEHMG express their deep sympathy to the bereaved for this serious loss.
The UEHMG will honor and commemorate its deceased comrade with gratitude and memory.
By the imperial train with the imperial couple to the imperial city of Bad Ischl
On the occasion of the opening of the Imperial Days for the birthday of SM Emperor Franz Josef I on 18 August, there is a historic special train from Attnang-Puchheim to Bad Ischl.
The arrival in a special train is still an experience and something special. Almost reverently you approach the “Emperor and his Sissi”. The highlight is the arrival in Bad Ischl. There is a cheering crowd, music and an Imperial carriage. The road on the way to the Kurpark is lined with an enthusiastic crowd.
Wreath-laying ceremony in Artstetten
Loyalty and honor – that the 105th anniversary of the death of the last regimental owner of the Dragoon Regiment No. 4 was not forgotten
A delegation of the Confederation of the former Dragoons from Wels, under Kdo Obst TR Manfred Weickinger, laid down solemnly a wreth in memory in the castle Artstetten in Lower Austria (picture) to the sarcophagi of the heir to the throne Franz-Ferdinand and his wife Sophie, who were an assassination victim on June 28, 1914 in Sarajevo.
Article and photo: k.u.k. OG 1867-1918 Wels
Memorial Mass for the Blessed Emperor Karl I in Biedermannsdorf
On the initiative of the Biedermannsdorfer Kapellenverein, the beatification of Emperor Karl I was celebrated on 10.11.2019 as part of a Holy Mass, celebrated by Rev. Dr. Bernhard Mucha and concelebrant Mag. Stanley Zlnay (Chairman of the Emperor Karl Prayer League Slovakia), followed by a wreath-laying ceremony in front of the Emperor Karl chapel.
Among the guests of honor were the Adjutant General of the House of Habsburg-Lorraine Gen.Mjr. i.Tr. Peter Pritz, the knights of the Order of St. George and the military, hospital order of St. Lazarus of Jerusalem.
The welcome speeches were given by Mjr. Peter Fuhrich (community doctor and chairman of the Emperor Karl Kapellenverein) and the vice-commander of the Order of St. George Chief.Insp. Heinrich Stickelberger, who was also allowed to send greetings from your KKH Camilla Habsburg-Lorraine.
As a traditional association, the Deutschmeister Schützenkorps was represented by marksman Alfred Cunat. The FF Biedermannsdorf put down the honorary wreath in front of the chapel again.
After the ceremonial event, the Kapellenverein invited all the persons present to an agape and a cozy, comradely get-together.
Award for the UEHMG with “Sub Auspiciis”
During the public ceremony the UEHMG received a special award at the General Rapport in Sopron: the “Sub Auspiciis” seal of the House of Habsburg in the name of SKKH Karl von Habsburg.
The following are the speeches given by President of UEHMG Major General iTR Michael Blaha, MSc, and Baron Vinzenz Stimpfl-Abele:
Speech of Major General iTR Michael Blaha, MSc:
Dear comrades, dear guests,
for us, the general rapport is not only the annual general meeting of the Union of European Military Historical Groups, but also a time to perform together in public.
This year we have chosen Sopron as the location for our general rapport, because geographically it is almost the center of our union. This union with almost 100 clubs in 15 European countries is a network of tradition and camaraderie across time and borders.
As an umbrella organization, it is our job to maintain this network. Mutual information and internal communication is an essential element. But if we come together as in these days, we also want to show our diversity, especially in the historical uniforms. I am therefore particularly pleased that some Hungarian clubs, which are not yet members of us, have found to us today.
We all face great challenges again and again. Not everywhere we find equal recognition for our commitment, sometimes there are also external disturbances. And sometimes we just struggle with financial problems. We raised these issues in our plenary session yesterday.
I am all the more pleased that our work has been honoured by the highest authorities and that today we can welcome Baron Vinzenz Stimpfl-Abele, procurator of the Order of St. George and in the name of His Imperial Highness Karl von Habsburg. He will then address a few words to us.
I look forward to our time together this afternoon on our visit at Esterhazy Castle and later dinner together. Tradition care also means care of camaraderie and today we have really opportunity to do so.
I wish the Union of European Military Historical Groups further on strong cohesion and I will use all my strength for our common values.
Thank you!
Speech of Baron Vinzenz Stimpfl-Abele in the name of SKKH Karl von Habsburg:
It is an honor to be here present at the General Rapport in the name of SKKH Karl von Habsburg and to hand over the seal “Sub Auspiciis” to the umbrella organization of the Union of the European Military Historical Groups.
Therefore, I am personally very happy to be able to make this high distinction, because I feel to the military historical groups from two perspectives especially connected. On the one hand, because I am myself from an old family that has produced many officers and therefore knows how important the personal past, individual memory and remembering is. On the other hand, there is also the big aspect, namely, that you can only understand history if you know it, and only if you understand it, you can learn from it.
Therefore, what the military historical groups do is extremely valuable and important: you keep the story alive by cultivating the tradition. And you do that in a serious, profound way. George Bernhard Shaw is said to have said: “Tradition is a lantern, the stupid clinging to her, the wise shining the way.” In that sense Union of the European miltary historical groups certainly counts among the wise!
And because of that, I hereby grant you, dear President, the personal seal “Sub Auspiciis” of Archduke Karl. It is awarded for 3 years and can then be extended.
This personal seal of Karl von Habsburg is of course an award for the achievements so far, but also proof of confidence and mission for the future. In this sense: keep it up!
The UEHMG is proud of these seal and will do everything in its power to live up to this vote of confidence!
General Rapport 2019 in Sopron
From 11. – 13. October 2019 this year’s General Rapport was held in Sopron/Hungary. With over 120 participants and accompaniments from our member clubs from all over Europe, the event was well attended.
To kick off, President Major General iTR Michael Blaha, MSc, welcomed the attendees to an aperitif in the beautiful setting of Hotel Pannonia, which was to be the center for all three days.
While the accompaniments had a tourist train ride and a visit to the Fire Tower, delegates worked their way through the plenary’s extensive agenda. The President and all other officials presented the extensive work of the past year in detail and were pleased to accept the approval and discharge of the participants.
With Wachtmeister iTR Roland Ott as Chairman of the Justice board, Major iTR Wolfgang Hess as a member of the Justice board and Rittmeister iTR Martin Keller as Secretary General, several vacant positions have been filled. The first day then found its comradely conclusion with a dinner together with Hungarian buffet and drinks.
Saturday morning was marked by the public ceremony. Under the command of Lieutenant iTR Alfred Cunat more than 100 uniformed men – reinforced by some Hungarian comrades – marched on. In his ceremonial address, Major General iTR Michael Blaha, MSc, talked about the close and necessary cohesion of the UEHMG in public. As a special highlight, Baron Vinzenz Stimpfl-Abele handed over the “Sub Auspiciis” seal of the House of Habsburg to the UEHMG on behalf of SKKH Karl von Habsburg. Also the honoring of some deserving comrades could be accomplished during the ceremony. With a General de Charge and a Defilee the ceremony came to a dignified end and they gathered to the joint photo in front of the monument in the park.
In the afternoon, a visit to the nearby Esterhazy Castle in Fertöd was on the program, which took place in the Deutschmeister Bus. Returning to Sopron, the Hussar Regiment 9 invited to its small, lovely museum, where salami, cheese and wine were waiting for a local refreshment.
In the evening, the gala dinner of the General Rapport took place, with live music and dancing once again offering a highlight. The evening in an amicable and comradely environment lasted until the early hours of the morning, during which good conversations gave birth to some interesting ideas for the future. With the mass in the Dominican Church on Sunday this successful General Rapport 2019 ended, bringing the taste for the 30th anniversary of the UEHMG next year in Varazdin.
