Austria-Hungary

Dissolution of the Empire

After the failure of the Spring Offensive the tide of war turned decisively against the Central Powers. Although the leadership of the national minorities in the Empire had remained loyal to the Habsburgs throughout the war, worsening fortunes forced them to reconsider their options. As it became apparent that the Allies would win, it became politically expedient for nationalists to renounce ties to the old state and to embrace the nationalist ideology of the victorious powers. On top of that, the Empire could no longer provide an incentive for the nationalities to work together. Other groups also lost faith in the Empire. Prosperity had disappeared, disillusioning business interests, socialists became upset by the loss of the liberal policies that had characterised the pre-war Cisleithanian government. Under those conditions radical nationalists found it easy to rally support to their cause, and a rash of declarations of independence followed in September – October 1918. The war officially concluded for Austria-Hungary when it entered an armistice with the Allies on November 3, 1918.

Related Topics:
Spring Offensive - Central Powers - Leadership - Allies - Business - Socialist - November 3 - 1918

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The end of the war marked the end of Austria-Hungary. It became politically expedient for the allied victors to break the conglomeration up into various national components in accordance with Woodrow Wilson's 14 points. The allied powers by no means saw the break-up of the empire as a war aim: they seriously entertained the idea only towards the end of the war. Contrary to expectations at the time, the break-up of the empire did not alleviate national problems in the area, and made the area more politically unstable than under Habsburg rule.

Related Topics:
Woodrow Wilson - 14 points

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

First to formalise the new circumstances, the Czechs and the Slovaks proclaimed independence on October 28 1918. Hungary followed suit on 31 October, although Transylvania's majority joined Romania, taking with them a large Hungarian minority. The South Slavs had formed the State of Slovenes, Croats and Serbs on 29 October, soon united (1 December 1918) with Serbia and Montenegro as the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes.

Related Topics:
October 28 - 31 October - State of Slovenes, Croats and Serbs - 29 October - 1 December - 1918 - Serbia and Montenegro - Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

After the war the victors reorganized the borders in the area, radically changing political alignments. Different treaties affected the area, including the Treaty of Trianon (1920).

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Both Austria and Hungary became republics, exiling the Habsburg family in perpetuity. A pro-monarchist revival in Hungary after the communist revolution and the Romanian intervention of 1919 led to the country's formal reversion to a kingdom (March 1920), but with the throne vacant. Attempts by the last Emperor, Charles I, to regain power in Budapest (March, October 1921) ended in his deportation to Madeira, Portugal, where he died the following year. In the absence of a king, Hungary fell under the control of a regency, headed by the naval hero Miklós Horthy.

Related Topics:
Austria - Hungary - Communist revolution - 1919 - 1920 - Charles I - 1921 - Madeira - Portugal - Regency - Miklós Horthy

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The following new states formed themselves (in part or in full) out of the former Habsburg lands:

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

• Austria
• Hungary
• Czechoslovakia
• State of Slovenes, Croats and Serbs (joined with the Kingdom of Serbia on 1 December 1918 to form the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes, later Yugoslavia)
• Poland

In addition, some Austro-Hungarian territory went to Romania and Italy. Liechtenstein, which had formerly looked to Vienna for protection, formed a customs and defence union with Switzerland, and adopted the Swiss currency instead of the Austrian. In April 1919 Vorarlberg, the westernmost province of Austria, voted by a large majority to join Switzerland; however both the Swiss and the Allies ignored the vote.

Related Topics:
Romania - Italy - Liechtenstein - Switzerland - Vorarlberg

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~