Austro-Hungarian Military Research
Commission a focused search for a relative who served in the Austrian or Austro-Hungarian armed forces. We follow the evidence across Polish and Austrian collections, with Czech and Hungarian sources considered when the record trail leads there.
A practical route through records held in several countries
Austro-Hungarian military files were not preserved in one central collection. The most useful evidence may be in Vienna, a Polish regional archive, a digitised casualty list or a collection organised by regiment or recruitment district. We identify the most promising route and use the ten-hour allocation where it is most likely to produce meaningful evidence.
What every package includes
- Review of the information and documents you already hold.
- Identification of likely recruitment districts, regiments and repositories.
- Research in relevant Polish and Austrian sources.
- Czech or Hungarian collections where the evidence makes them relevant.
- Searches of service sheets, conscription material, casualty lists, regimental sources and related military records where available.
- A clear English-language report, source references and digital copies of records found.
- Recommendations for the next stage, if further work could help.
Choose your research package
Every package follows the same method and ends with an English-language report. A larger package gives us time to follow the leads that the first searches uncover.
Focused search
£75010 hours of research
Best for one person and one clear question.
- Review of the information and documents you already hold
- The strongest archival route searched
- English-language report with sources and copies where available
Save £200
Deeper investigation
£1,30020 hours of research
Best when the first records point to further archives or the family story has gaps.
- Everything in the 10-hour package
- Time to follow new leads into additional archives
- Archive enquiries prepared and followed up
- Regimental, conscription and casualty sources followed in more depth
Save £350
Extended research
£1,90030 hours of research
Best for complex cases across several countries or with conflicting evidence.
- Everything in the 20-hour package
- Research across several archives and countries where the evidence leads
- Analysis of conflicting or incomplete records
- Polish, Austrian, Czech or Hungarian collections combined where the evidence leads
Useful starting information
- The soldier’s full name and any spelling variants.
- An approximate date and place of birth or residence.
- Known years of service, rank, regiment or unit.
- Family documents, photographs, medals or service numbers.
- The question you most want the research to answer.
You do not need to know the regiment before contacting us. A place and approximate date are often the more useful starting clues.
What happens after you order
- Order and pay securely. Choose your package, complete the form and pay on Stripe. You see a confirmation straight away.
- We confirm your research question. We review your details and email you to confirm the question and the most promising sources before archival work begins.
- We plan and investigate. We assess the strongest archival route and devote the research hours in your package to the agreed question.
- Receive your report. You receive a written report in English by email, with the searches, findings, source references, copies of the records found and realistic next steps. Most cases take 3 to 6 months.
What you receive
A clear written report in English
- The research question and the sources we checked
- Every record found, with archive and catalogue references
- Digital copies or images of the records, where the archive allows
- An explanation of what the records show and what remains uncertain
- Searches that found nothing, so the same work is not repeated
- Recommendations for the next step, if more could be found
How long it takes: most cases are completed within 3 to 6 months. A simpler case can take about 2 months, and an exceptionally complex one around 7 months, depending on the archives involved. Your report is delivered by email.
Buy with confidence
- More than 10 years of professional researchPolish civil, parish, military and archival records, explained in clear English.
- 14 days to change your mindIf you withdraw within 14 days of your order and before research begins, you receive a full refund. See our terms.
- Secure payment on StripeCard details never reach this website.
- A registered business in PolandFull business details are in our terms and privacy policy.
Begin your enquiry
Order your research package
Provide the best information you have about one ancestor. We will review your submission and contact you to confirm the research question before the archival work begins.
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The fee is paid securely on Stripe at the next step. Additional archive charges, certified copies, extensive translation or travel are not included and will never be incurred without your prior approval.
Frequently asked questions
Does the package guarantee that a service file will be found?
No. Historical military collections are incomplete and some files were destroyed, transferred or never created. The service purchases expert research time and a documented search, not a guaranteed result.
Can you research records in Hungary or the Czech Republic?
Yes, when the ancestor’s unit, place of origin or surviving record trail indicates that Czech or Hungarian collections are relevant. That work remains part of the same ten-hour allocation.
Are archive fees included?
Ordinary online research is included. Charges imposed by archives, certified copies, extensive translation and travel are separate. We ask for approval before incurring them.
What happens if I have very little information?
Send the name, approximate period and place you know. If the starting information is not sufficient to identify a credible research route, we will contact you before beginning the paid research.