Original Item. One-of-a-Kind. To most collectors, the thought of American soldiers fighting Austro-Hungarian soldiers only brings up one instance, that being the 332nd Infantry Regiment and support units being sent to Italy following the Battle of Caporetto to fight Austrians at Vittorio-Veneto. But this enlisted belt buckle tells a very interesting story about another instance, taking place on the Western Front.

Contrary to popular belief, there was a single division of Austro-Hungarian soldiers deployed on the Western Front during the final months of the First World War. Originally ordered to Venetia the division was transported to the Western front in September 1918. With an overall strength of around 10,200 rifles the Division was under the command of FML Ludwig Goiginger’s XVIII Corps. The division was positioned in the Orne sector North of Verdun. Pulled out of the line on the 3rd November the division was separated into national groups and transported by rail to their homelands.

American forces engaged the Austrian 35th Division during the St. Mihiel offensive on the 12th of September 1918. Losses were given as 99 officers and 3,268 other ranks, as well as 79 MG's and 18 artillery pieces.

This enlisted Austrian belt and buckle was taken off of a dead Austrian soldier. The attached provenance tag reads:

This belt was taken from
the body of an Austrian
soldier who was killed
fighting against the
American troops on
September 13th, 1918

The date on the tag lines up perfectly for having been taken during the Battle of St. Mihiel, where in very rare instances, American soldiers fought against Austrians. This belt is an exciting relic of a very rare instance for the U.S. Army during its brief stint in France during the First World War. Ready for display.