Austro-Hungarian War

 

Austro-Hungarian War
Date June 1917 – November 1923 Location Central Europe
Belligerents
Reformists Austria Croatia Transylvania	Opposition Hungary
Commanders and leaders
Franz Ferdinand	István Tisza

The Austro-Hungarian War, also known as the Austro-Hungarian Civil War or the Second Hungarian Revolution, was a military conflict taking place in and around the Austro-Hungarian Empire from 1917 to 1923. It began with Franz Ferdinand's attempt to reform the Dual Monarchy, and ended with the collapse of the Empire.

Background

Austria and Hungary had been in a real union, the Dual Monarchy, since the Compromise of 1867. Despite the best efforts of Franz Joseph, Slavic nationalism threatened to tear the empire apart. Franz Joseph's nephew and heir, Franz Ferdinand, had expressed opposition to the Dual Monarchy as early as 1895. In particular, he viewed the dominance of the Magyars over the Slavs as the primary issue needing to be resolved, and advocated for proposals, such as federalism and trialism, which would grant the Slavs autonomy at the expense of the Kingdom of Hungary. In 1913, Franz Ferdinand stated that "irredentism in our country ... will cease immediately if our Slavs are given a comfortable, fair and good life". Despite his ostensible support for the cause of the South Slavs, the heir apparent was first and foremost concerned with preserving and strengthening the central Habsburg monarchy. He saw the creation of a loyal third state in Croatia as a means to achieve this result by weakening the rival interests of Hungary.

In 1916, Franz Joseph died of pneumonia and Franz Ferdinand took the throne. The emperor avoided traveling to Budapest to be crowned King of Hungary, as in doing so he would have to swear an oath to the Hungarian constitution. Instead, he remained in Vienna, and immediately set about implementing the planned reforms, starting with the introduction of universal male suffrage to Hungary, a move vehemently opposed by the Magyar nobility. He created the office of the Reichskanzler (Imperial Chancellor), a kind of prime minister appointed by the emperor that would have authority in both Cisleithania and Transleithania, superseding the Austrian and Hungarian parliaments. Ernest von Koerber was chosen as the first holder of this office. Finally, fulfilling his promise to the Slavs, Franz Ferdinand issued a separate manifesto to the regions of Croatia, Slavonia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, recommending their reorganization into a third Habsburg state that would not be subject to Hungary.

The Magyar parliament was livid. Under Franz Ferdinand's reforms, Hungary would lose access to the sea and be essentially reduced to an Austrian subject, as it had been before the revolution of 1848. Furthermore, with franchise extended to all males, Hungary would be at the mercy of the Slavic majority. Prime Minister István Tisza resigned in protest in March 1917, but continued to wield significant influence behind the scenes, obstructing the planned rollout of universal suffrage. Clashes erupted on the streets of Budapest and other Hungarian cities as supporters of suffrage and socialists fought with local police forces and pro-Magyar militias. By June, the unrest had reached a boiling point, and Hungary was in open revolt.

Outbreak of war

Franz Ferdinand sent the Austrian Landwehr to quell the riots. In response, the Royal Hungarian Honvéd was mobilized, leading to the first clashes between Austrian and Hungarian forces in over half a century. While initially successful in occupying Budapest, the Austrians were later driven out by Magyar resistance. Hungarian forces also moved into Croatia to prevent it from being made autonomous. Facing steeper opposition than expected, Franz Ferdinand encouraged ethnic minorities to join the fight against Hungary, raising hopes for a potential federalization of the empire. The Slavs of Croatia, Transylvania and Slovakia answered the call, rising in armed rebellion against the Magyars.