Austria-Hungary

What was Austria like in 1914?
Austria-Hungary was the weakest of the Great Powers after Russia, with a large but poorly equipped army.
What was the Austro-Hungarian Empire like before 1914?
Austria-Hungary had a European empire containing many ethnic groups and languages, many of whom wanted independence.
What affected Austro-Hungarian foreign policy before 1914?
There were 2 main influences on Austria-Hungary's foreign policy:
  • Domestic nationalism and racism were powerful forces in Austria-Hungary that created constant tensions with Serbia and Russia over the Balkans.
  • The rise of a newly independent Serbia, supported by Russia, was considered a great threat to the integrity of the Austrian-Hungarian Empire.
What was the foreign policy of Austria before the First World War?
Austria-Hungarian foreign policy had 3 main aims:
  • To limit the power of the newly independent Serbia because it was encouraging the Slavic people of the empire to push for independence.
  • To keep its fragmenting empire together.
  • To increase its influence in the Balkans and therefore, limit Serbian and Russian influence in the region.
What was the Austrian government like in 1914?
The main features of the Austro-Hungarian government were:
  • An autocratic emperor as head of state, with overall control of both states. From 1848 this was Franz Josef I.
  • Two parliaments (one each for Austria and Hungary) that governed their respective parts of the empire.
What was the Emperor of the Austrian government like in 1914?
Franz Josef I was out of touch with the modern world, and obsessed with reasserting Austrian power in the Balkans at all costs.
What was the Austrian economy like in 1914?
The economy relied on agriculture and was industrially weak.
What was the Austrian military like in 1914?
The Austro-Hungarian army was large, but outdated and poorly equipped.
What was the population of Austria-Hungary in 1914?
The empire contained 52 million citizens but its weaknesses meant that it was difficult to control.
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