Mitteleuropa

Mitteleuropa is a German term approximately equal to Central Europe.

Related Topics:
German - Central Europe

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In Germany and Austria, the term usually refers to the territory covered by the states

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• Germany
• Austria
• Switzerland
• Liechtenstein
• Poland
• Czech Republic
• Slovakia

and often includes also region that were part of Austria-Hungary, i.e.

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• Hungary
• (parts of) Romania
• parts of Croatia
• Bosnia-Hercegovina
• (small parts of) Italy

Outside of Germany, the concept of Mitteleuropa may be best known for that policy of the Central Powers during World War I which assumed the creation of several buffer states in Central Europe, conquered from Imperial Russia and commonly viewed as puppet states. One of Germany's war aims in World War I was to create a economic sphere of influence in Mitteleuropa. By their creation, growing dissent in the occupied areas could be answered, and resources to fight the war on the Western Front could be used more efficiently.

Related Topics:
Central Powers - World War I - Buffer state - Central Europe - Imperial Russia - Puppet state - Western Front

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The policy was realized after signing of the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk, in which Russia ceded most of the areas occupied by Germany and Austria-Hungary to the respective countries. Among the states thus created by the Central Powers were:

Related Topics:
Treaty of Brest-Litovsk - Russia - Germany - Austria-Hungary

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• Lithuania
• Belarusian National Republic
• Kingdom of Poland
• Latvia
• Estonia
• Ukrainian People's Republic

Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia and Poland liberated themselves after the collapse of Imperial Germany and Austria-Hungary at the end of World War I. Soon they gained international recognition and participated in signing of the Versailles Treaty as members of the Entente. The other two (Belarus and Ukraine) were taken over by Soviet Russia and became Republics of the Soviet Union.

Related Topics:
Imperial Germany - Austria-Hungary - Versailles Treaty - Entente - Belarus - Ukraine - Soviet Russia - Republics of the Soviet Union

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