sarvar_preus
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The first world war was a battle of epic proportions, 70 million men took up arms and 10 million were killed, 20 million wounded in mind and body. it was a war that helped shape the modern world from conflagrations in the Carpathians to the mud of the western front to the epic gun battles at Gallipoli. yet so little is often discussed about one of the largest countries that fought the war, The Austro-Hungarian empire.
Austria-Hungary in Europe circa 1912 A.D
As a short summary for those that didn't know, The first world war started after the heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne was murdered, by a Serbian ultra-nationalist/terrorist by the name Gavrilo Princip. The Serbian government was mostly complicit in funding the terrorist organizations involved in the killing (young Bosnia and the black hand) and after refusing to comply with Austrian demands, Austria-Hungary declared war and invaded Serbia. Serbia's ally, Russia invaded Austria-Hungary and their ally Germany. and after a few more declarations the whole of Europe and many other parts of the world were at war with each other. skipping the rest let's get into the main topic.
The armed forces of Austria-Hungary were divided into multiple branches, notably, Austria-Hungary actually had three different land armies: The solely Austrian (and territories belonging to Austria such as Czechia and Slovenia) Landwehr, the Royal Hungarian Honvéd and a Jointly-financed common army (which had men from every part of the empire). The three different armies were a result of the compromise of 1867 that created the empire. In addition, the Austro-Hungarian empire possessed a joint navy and air force.
Austrian Landwehr reservists having their picture taken.
Royal Hungarian Honvéd soldier
Although many berate the Austro-Hungarians as military incompetents, this is a false narrative that has taken place. Many point to the "poor performance of the Austro-Hungarians" during the opening days of the eastern front of World War 1. This is incorrect for one, very large reason. The Austro-Hungarian battle plans for the invasion of Serbia and the defense of the Carpathians were in the hands of both the Russians and Serbians, thanks to a traitor by the name of Alfred Redl (https://www.britannica.com/biography/Alfred-Redl) with the Austro-Hungarian battle plans in hand Austria-Hungary was doomed to suffer shortcomings during the opening days of the campaign. this, however, detracts from Austria-Hungary's critical contribution to the war effort of the Central Powers. Austria-Hungary during the beginning of World War 1 had a total of
During the first few months of the war, the Austro-Hungarian army invaded Serbia, successfully taking Belgrade until the defeat at Cer and the retreat from Serbia. the Serbs boasted of their Russian-aided, battle plan enabled victory, but this was not the end of the campaign.
Austro-Hungarian card, Translation: Serbia, we will smash you to pieces!
In 1915, after one year of success against the Russians in the east, the Central powers once again set their sights on punishing the Serbians. Austria-Hungary along with her allies Germany, Bulgaria and the Ottoman Empire launched a joint offensive against the Serbs in the Balkans. Crushing the Serbians and their allies decisively at Kosovo, Morava, and Montenegro. with this Austria-Hungary and Bulgaria jointly occupied Serbia, avenging the death of Archduke Franz Ferdinand.
Austro-Hungarian river monitor destroys Belgrade, shortly before the 1915 offensive.
An Austro-Hungarian poster stating the end of Serbia, 1915.
On the Eastern front, Austria-Hungary would contribute on an equal level to Germany. Austro-Hungarian troops repelled the Russians alone during the battles of Rokitna (Polish legions), Rafajlowa, Jastków and aided the Germans in countless offensives to push the Russians back. Although suffering massive losses during the Russian "brusliov offensive" the soldiers of the K.U.K did not capitulate and managed to inflict more casualties on the Russians than they suffered. In the end, Austria-Hungary, like Germany emerged victorious against the Russians after the Russians signed the treaty of Brest-Litovsk. however, the defeat of the Central Powers by the UK, France and United States negated the previous gains.
(depiction of Austro-Hungarian troops fighting the Russians on the Eastern front)
When Romania and Italy both declared war on Austria-Hungary and its allies. it opened up two new fronts, in which, the Austro-Hungarians contributed the bulk of men to.
Romania declared war on the Central Powers in 1916, hoping to snatch Transylvania from the Hungarian part of the Empire. the war last for a year with Romania before Austrian troops (with a small amount of aid from their allies from Germany, Bulgaria, and the Ottoman empire) captured most of Romania aside from a small enclave in Berberessa (now Moldova). After their surrender, the Romanians later re-entered the war in November 1918 to gain allied concessions.
Italy declared war on Austria-Hungary in 1915. starting a 3-year war in the high alpine mountains that saw some of the worse human sufferings of the First World War. nearly 650,000 Italians and 400,000 Austro-Hungarians died. along with many others from the German and allied armies assisting their respective sides. after 11 battles of Isonzo (and an initial Italian advance into Slovenia), the Austro-Hungarians had success at the battle of Caporetto in 1916, pushing the Italians back to the Piave river (close to Venice). after the battle of the Piave river, however, Austria-Hungary suffered a defeat it was unable to recover from, one final battle at Vittorio Veneto was the end of the Austro-Hungarian armed forces. after nearly 4 years of constant warfare. ending the nearly 800-year-old Habsburg monarchy in Central Europe, and reshaping the continents map forever.
On the seafront, Austria-Hungary had 104 Naval vessels ready for action. in spite of the Italian, British and French navies all in the Adriatic sea. the Austro-Hungarian navy managed to keep its coast defended, bombard Montenegrin and Italian port cities, and sink a mass of allied shipping via U-boat warfare.
SMS Tegenhoff before bombarding the Coastal city of Ancona.
SMS Szent Istvan before being destroyed by Italian torpedo boats.
In short, the Austro-Hungarian forces of World War 1 are one of the greatest, and sadly overlooked forces of Early Modern history.
Austria-Hungary in Europe circa 1912 A.D
As a short summary for those that didn't know, The first world war started after the heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne was murdered, by a Serbian ultra-nationalist/terrorist by the name Gavrilo Princip. The Serbian government was mostly complicit in funding the terrorist organizations involved in the killing (young Bosnia and the black hand) and after refusing to comply with Austrian demands, Austria-Hungary declared war and invaded Serbia. Serbia's ally, Russia invaded Austria-Hungary and their ally Germany. and after a few more declarations the whole of Europe and many other parts of the world were at war with each other. skipping the rest let's get into the main topic.
The armed forces of Austria-Hungary were divided into multiple branches, notably, Austria-Hungary actually had three different land armies: The solely Austrian (and territories belonging to Austria such as Czechia and Slovenia) Landwehr, the Royal Hungarian Honvéd and a Jointly-financed common army (which had men from every part of the empire). The three different armies were a result of the compromise of 1867 that created the empire. In addition, the Austro-Hungarian empire possessed a joint navy and air force.
Austrian Landwehr reservists having their picture taken.
Royal Hungarian Honvéd soldier
Although many berate the Austro-Hungarians as military incompetents, this is a false narrative that has taken place. Many point to the "poor performance of the Austro-Hungarians" during the opening days of the eastern front of World War 1. This is incorrect for one, very large reason. The Austro-Hungarian battle plans for the invasion of Serbia and the defense of the Carpathians were in the hands of both the Russians and Serbians, thanks to a traitor by the name of Alfred Redl (https://www.britannica.com/biography/Alfred-Redl) with the Austro-Hungarian battle plans in hand Austria-Hungary was doomed to suffer shortcomings during the opening days of the campaign. this, however, detracts from Austria-Hungary's critical contribution to the war effort of the Central Powers. Austria-Hungary during the beginning of World War 1 had a total of
- 36,000 Officers
- 414,000 NCOs and troops
- 87,000 horses
- 1,200 artillery pieces
- 147 aeroplanes
- 104 naval vessels
During the first few months of the war, the Austro-Hungarian army invaded Serbia, successfully taking Belgrade until the defeat at Cer and the retreat from Serbia. the Serbs boasted of their Russian-aided, battle plan enabled victory, but this was not the end of the campaign.
Austro-Hungarian card, Translation: Serbia, we will smash you to pieces!
In 1915, after one year of success against the Russians in the east, the Central powers once again set their sights on punishing the Serbians. Austria-Hungary along with her allies Germany, Bulgaria and the Ottoman Empire launched a joint offensive against the Serbs in the Balkans. Crushing the Serbians and their allies decisively at Kosovo, Morava, and Montenegro. with this Austria-Hungary and Bulgaria jointly occupied Serbia, avenging the death of Archduke Franz Ferdinand.
Austro-Hungarian river monitor destroys Belgrade, shortly before the 1915 offensive.
An Austro-Hungarian poster stating the end of Serbia, 1915.
On the Eastern front, Austria-Hungary would contribute on an equal level to Germany. Austro-Hungarian troops repelled the Russians alone during the battles of Rokitna (Polish legions), Rafajlowa, Jastków and aided the Germans in countless offensives to push the Russians back. Although suffering massive losses during the Russian "brusliov offensive" the soldiers of the K.U.K did not capitulate and managed to inflict more casualties on the Russians than they suffered. In the end, Austria-Hungary, like Germany emerged victorious against the Russians after the Russians signed the treaty of Brest-Litovsk. however, the defeat of the Central Powers by the UK, France and United States negated the previous gains.
(depiction of Austro-Hungarian troops fighting the Russians on the Eastern front)
When Romania and Italy both declared war on Austria-Hungary and its allies. it opened up two new fronts, in which, the Austro-Hungarians contributed the bulk of men to.
Romania declared war on the Central Powers in 1916, hoping to snatch Transylvania from the Hungarian part of the Empire. the war last for a year with Romania before Austrian troops (with a small amount of aid from their allies from Germany, Bulgaria, and the Ottoman empire) captured most of Romania aside from a small enclave in Berberessa (now Moldova). After their surrender, the Romanians later re-entered the war in November 1918 to gain allied concessions.
Italy declared war on Austria-Hungary in 1915. starting a 3-year war in the high alpine mountains that saw some of the worse human sufferings of the First World War. nearly 650,000 Italians and 400,000 Austro-Hungarians died. along with many others from the German and allied armies assisting their respective sides. after 11 battles of Isonzo (and an initial Italian advance into Slovenia), the Austro-Hungarians had success at the battle of Caporetto in 1916, pushing the Italians back to the Piave river (close to Venice). after the battle of the Piave river, however, Austria-Hungary suffered a defeat it was unable to recover from, one final battle at Vittorio Veneto was the end of the Austro-Hungarian armed forces. after nearly 4 years of constant warfare. ending the nearly 800-year-old Habsburg monarchy in Central Europe, and reshaping the continents map forever.
On the seafront, Austria-Hungary had 104 Naval vessels ready for action. in spite of the Italian, British and French navies all in the Adriatic sea. the Austro-Hungarian navy managed to keep its coast defended, bombard Montenegrin and Italian port cities, and sink a mass of allied shipping via U-boat warfare.
SMS Tegenhoff before bombarding the Coastal city of Ancona.
SMS Szent Istvan before being destroyed by Italian torpedo boats.
In short, the Austro-Hungarian forces of World War 1 are one of the greatest, and sadly overlooked forces of Early Modern history.
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