09 Cap Ribbon of 54th Infantry Regiment from Olomouc, 1914

Fotogalerie

At the beginning of World War I, wearing various ribbons on the cap was popular among many soldiers of the Austro-Hungarian Army. These contained motivational and patriotic German slogans. A notable exception is the featured ribbon from the cap of a soldier of Infantry Regiment No. 54 with the Czech slogan Hanáci držte se! (Hanakians, hold on!)Its reverse side reads in German that it was used by a now unknown soldier in the Olomouc regiment during the World War.

The Olomouc Regiment acquired its legendary motto during the war in Italy in 1848, at the Battle of Sommacampagna. It was to be uttered shortly before his death by the then regimental commander, Colonel Sunstenau, to encourage his soldiers. This statement was then embroidered on the battalion’s ribbon and appeared on the commemorative cap badges widely used in the second half of World War I. The traditions of the brave Hanakians were also followed by the 6th Czechoslovak Rifle Regiment of the Czechoslovak Legion in Russia and, after unification in 1920, by the army of the independent Czechoslovakia.