This article has multiple issues. Please help improve it or discuss these issues on the talk page. (Learn how and when to remove these messages) This article includes a list of references, related reading, or external links, but its sources remain unclear because it lacks inline citations. Please help improve this article by introducing more precise citations. (February 2024) (Learn how and when to remove this message) You can help expand this article with text translated from the corresponding article in German. (March 2009) Click [show] for important translation instructions. View a machine-translated version of the German article. Machine translation, like DeepL or Google Translate, is a useful starting point for translations, but translators must revise errors as necessary and confirm that the translation is accurate, rather than simply copy-pasting machine-translated text into the English Wikipedia. Do not translate text that appears unreliable or low-quality. If possible, verify the text with references provided in the foreign-language article. You must provide copyright attribution in the edit summary accompanying your translation by providing an interlanguage link to the source of your translation. A model attribution edit summary is Content in this edit is translated from the existing German Wikipedia article at [[:de:Kaiserschützen]]; see its history for attribution. You may also add the template {{Translated|de|Kaiserschützen}} to the talk page. For more guidance, see Wikipedia:Translation. You can help expand this article with text translated from the corresponding article in Italian. (August 2016) Click [show] for important translation instructions. View a machine-translated version of the Italian article. Machine translation, like DeepL or Google Translate, is a useful starting point for translations, but translators must revise errors as necessary and confirm that the translation is accurate, rather than simply copy-pasting machine-translated text into the English Wikipedia. Do not translate text that appears unreliable or low-quality. If possible, verify the text with references provided in the foreign-language article. You must provide copyright attribution in the edit summary accompanying your translation by providing an interlanguage link to the source of your translation. A model attribution edit summary is Content in this edit is translated from the existing Italian Wikipedia article at [[:it:Landesschützen]]; see its history for attribution. You may also add the template {{Translated|it|Landesschützen}} to the talk page. For more guidance, see Wikipedia:Translation. (Learn how and when to remove this message)

The k.k. Landesschützen (in English, "imperial-royal country [or provincial] riflemen") – from 16 January 1917 Kaiserschützen ("imperial riflemen") – were three regiments of Austro-Hungarian mountain infantry during the kaiserliche und königliche Monarchie (the "imperial and royal monarchy"). As a rule, only Tyrolean and Vorarlberg men were enlisted in the Landesschützen.

The Tyrolean Landesschützen ("territorial infantry") were established on 19 December 1870 with ten battalions. Two companies of mounted infantry were added in 1872. In 1906, they were reorganized on the pattern of the Italian Alpini as mountain troops.

Despite being territorial forces, the Kaiserschützen were used in the First World War in many theatres and took heavy losses.

• Galicia: Lemberg, Gródek, Przemyśl, Pilica, Limanowa Lapanow, Gorlice Tarnów, Carpathia
• Serbia
• Tyrol, Carniola: Monte Cristallo, Monte Piano, Falzarego, Tofana, Col di Lana, Marmolada, amongst others

The Kaiserschützen were deployed principally in opposition to the Italian Alpini. By the date of the armistice, 4 November 1918, the second and third regiments were positioned on Zugna Torta, over Monte Corno, up to Monte Spil. The first regiment were in the Adamello-Presanella Alps.

Soldiers of the Kaiserschützen received numerous military decorations:

• 5 awards of the Military Maria Theresa Order
• 4 awards of the Order of the Iron Crown, 2nd Class
• 2 awards of the military merit crosses, 2nd Class
• 29 awards of the Leopold Order
• 166 awards of the Order of the Iron Crown, 3rd Class
• 563 awards of the military merit cross, 3rd Class
• 427 awards of the Signum Laudis in silver
• 1,111 awards of the Signum Laudis in bronze
• 13 awards of the Golden Medal of Honor for officers
• 14 awards of the silver valor medal for officers

• 130 awards of the Golden Medal of Honor
• 2,797 Silver Medal of Valor, 1st Class
• 9,820 awards of the Silver Medal of Valor, 2nd Class
• 13,025 awards of the Bronze Medal of Honor

• Heinz von Lichem: Spielhahnstoß und Edelweiß. Stocker, Graz (1977) (in German) OL 2513490W
• Karl Glückmann: Das Heerwesen der österreichisch-ungarischen Monarchie: für den Unterricht und das Selbststudium Vienna: L.W. Seidel & sohn (1911) (in German) OCLC 805385825
• Georg Bartl: Tiroler Landesschützen/Kaiserschützen – Ein Rückblick Innsbruck (1930) (in German) OCLC 800808736
• Günther Hebert: Das Alpenkorps: Aufbau, Organisation und Einsatz einer Gebirgstruppe im ersten Weltkrieg (in German) OCLC 17863075
• H. Boldt, (1988) ISBN 3-7646-1860-4 (in German) OCLC 572387295 page 144