Review of Austro-Hungarian Empire and Early World War Events

Austro-Hungarian Empire

• Background: The Austro-Hungarian Empire faced severe challenges following defeats by Prussia and Italy, pushing it to the brink of collapse by 1867.
• Austro-Hungarian Compromise (1867): Resulted in the establishment of a dual monarchy, recognizing Hungary's autonomy within the empire.
• Revolution of 1848:
  • Hungarians revolted seeking legislative representation.
  • The revolt was suppressed by Austrian forces; key leaders were imprisoned, exiled, or executed.

Key Leaders and Ideologies

• Franz Joseph: The Emperor during the period, recognized the need to manage nationalistic tendencies.
• Ethnic Nationalism: Nationalist movements pushed for independence and political sovereignty, particularly in the Balkans.
• Pan-Slavism: The idea of uniting Slavic peoples under a single political entity, supported by Russia.

The Young Turks and Ottoman Governance

• Ottoman Empire's Weakness: Lacked strong governance, leading to corruption and inefficacy.
• Young Turks Movement:
  • Aimed to modernize the empire with western ideas including science, democracy, and nationalism.
  • The movement succeeded in overthrowing the Sultan in 1908, establishing a republic.

Serbian Nationalism

• Dragutin Dimitrijevic ("Apis"): Prominent in the pan-Serb movement, believed in the idea of unification of all ethnic Serbs.
• "Ujedinjenje ili Smrt" (Unification or Death): A rallying cry reflecting the desire for Serbian nationalism.
• Discrimination against non-Turks in the Ottoman Empire became evident, particularly against ethnic minorities like Bosniaks and Albanians.

Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand

• Key Events Leading to WWI:
  • June 28, 1914: Assassination of Franz Ferdinand in Sarajevo by Gavrilo Princip, a member of the Black Hand, sparking tensions.
  • Support from Russia: Serbia received backing from Russia, enhancing tensions with Austria-Hungary.
  • Black Hand's Role: The group provided arms and support for Serbian nationalist expansion.

The July Crisis and Outbreak of WWI

• Strategic Miscalculations: Military plans, particularly the Schlieffen Plan, aimed to deal with two-front war scenarios.
• Alliances Forming: Mobilization of alliances and military strategies led to an escalation of conflict across Europe.
• The Role of Propaganda and Media: Propaganda helped mobilize societies for war efforts, rationalizing violence and national objectives.

Warfare Technology and Tactics

• Trench Warfare: Characterized by entrenched positions with devastating losses. New technologies like machine guns drastically increased casualties.
• Chemical Warfare: Use of poison gas emerged, with both sides employing this indiscriminate warfare method.

Total War and Its Consequences

• Economic Devastation: War logic led to total war where all aspects of society and economy were dedicated to the war effort, resulting in severe economic hardship post-war.
• Social Consequences: The war drastically changed social structures, leading to shifts in gender roles and post-war politics.
• Death Toll: Estimated 70% of deaths resulted from artillery, while machine gun deaths accounted for 30% overall.

Armistice and Treaty of Versailles

• End of WWI: The armistice on November 11, 1918, marked a ceasefire leading to the division of empires and reconfiguration of nations in Europe.
• Weimar Republic Formation: Following the war, a new German government was established, facing immediate challenges from political extremism and economic instability.
• Treaty of Versailles: Instituted harsh penalties against Germany, contributing to economic turmoil and eventual rise of extremist political movements.

Global Consequences of WWI

• Emergence of New Nations: Post-war treaties and reconfigurations led to the rise of new nations and ethnic tensions throughout Europe and the Balkans.
• Continued Instability: Economic depression and dissatisfaction with peace treaties planted the seeds for future conflicts, notably WWII.

Summary of Thematic Elements

• Nationalism and Ethnic Identity: The desire for ethnic autonomy influenced various political movements and conflicts.
• Military Alliances: The interlinked agreements among nations tangled the conflict into a global war.
• Government Responses to War: Different responses to calls for participation in the war illustrate the complexities of national sentiment and power dynamics in wartime.