Jäger were Europe's first special operations forces, and their success on the battlefield was legendary. Yet, until now, no modern account of Austria's elite Jäger troops in the 18
th
and 19
centuries has been available in either English or German.
Written by a historian and a West Pointer with thirty-three years' service in the U.S. Army, including with paratroops, this book
introduces readers to Austrian Jäger arms, equipment, training and tactics, as well as their unique role in the Habsburg Empire's conflicts. Carefully illustrated, with many images never before published,
Jäger
transcends the standard unit history. General readers of military history as well as arms and militaria collectors will find a comprehensive treatment of its subject in rich context, including:
The emergence of the military Jäger from a culture of hunting and rifled arms
The place of Austrian Jäger in the evolution of European light infantry
Jäger in Austria's wars against Frederick the Great, Napoleon, Bismarck's Prussia and in the wars of Italian independence
Jäger firearms and edged weapons
Authoritative information for collectors
With
, a too-long neglected chapter in European military history emerges from relative obscurity, challenging conventional academic wisdom and popular historical fancy about the origins of European elite light infantry.