Above is a photo of Viktoria Savs in Salzburg, Germany, 1933. |
While her father was at home recovering, Viktoria begged him to allow her to enlist in the military. After repeatedly telling her no, he "decided to volunteer for the Austro-Hungarian Landsturm (4), a militia composed of troops who were too young or too old for standard military service" (7). On June 10, 1915, Viktoria enlisted alongside her father and concealed her biological gender by using the name, "Viktor" (7). Only a few superior officers knew of true biological identity. Viktoria and her father were assigned together. Viktoria served one year as an unarmed trainee, and in 1916, requested a transfer onto the Italian front since she was anxious to serve in a combat position. Her request was granted, and she was able to serve on these front lines.
Viktoria and her father serving together. |
On May 27, 1917, Viktoria volunteered to carry a message up a sheer rock face, and was severely injured when a grenade exploded and forced a boulder to crush her leg. While attempting to amputate the limb herself, she passed out, and her sex was discovered when her comrades discovered her body and transported her to a field hospital. After the surgery, she was told that her military career was over because of this. However, she continued to serve by working in the Austrian Red Cross. She attracted attention with her story, and was hailed the "heroine of the Drei Zinnen" (6). After the war, she moved to Berlin where she worked in the news department, and later in a microbiological research laboratory. Viktoria Savs died on December 31, 1979 at the age of 80 in Salzburg, Austria.
"Viktor" Savs, soldier in uniform, 1917. |
Viktoria Savs working for the Red Cross. |
Works Cited
(1) “Austrian Culture.” Cultural Atlas, IES, https://culturalatlas.sbs.com.au/austrian-culture/core-concepts-013bee28-76cc-4a51-8fe6-f4838967654d.
(2) “Austro-Hungarian Bronze Bravery Medal.” New Zealand History, Crown , https://nzhistory.govt.nz/media/photo/bronze-bravery-medal.
(3) “Kaiserjager.” Wikipedia, Wikipedia Foundation Inc., 10 Nov. 2018, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kaiserjäger.
(4) “Landsturm.” Wikipedia, Wikipedia Foundations Inc., 16 Aug. 2019, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Landsturm.
(5) “Medal, Karl Troop Cross, Austria,1916.” Museums Victoria Collections, Museums Victoria, https://collections.museumvictoria.com.au/items/1214529.
(6) Scharf, Michaela. “Viktoria Savs: War Heroine.” The World of the Habsburgs, Schloß Schönbrunn Kultur- Und Betriebsges.m.b.H., Wien, 2019, https://ww1.habsburger.net/en/persons-objects-events/viktoria-savs.
(7) “Viktoria Savs.” Wikipedia, Wikipedia Foundations Inc., 3 July 2019, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Viktoria_Savs.
I found it super interesting that even after she was discovered, she still volunteered for military causes. I agree that she is a great example of the traditional values!
ReplyDeleteYour blog was super interesting! I had no idea who she was, but I think stories like these prove that women are capable to take on these military roles just as much as men are.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed learning about this woman and how she served in the army. This story kind of reminds me of Mulan (the Disney movie) in a couple ways. It's very disappointing that she didn't get the full experience in the army due to her comrades finding out her biological gender. However, I'm happy that she got the chance to live and tell her story, becoming a heroine after all.
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