![]() On 10 September 1919 Austria signed the Treaty of St. The Treaty of Saint Germain-en-Laye FO 93/11/74 Austro-Hungarian forces were finally defeated at the Battle of Vittorio Veneto in October ( CAB 25/99), with surrender following on 3 November ( CAB 24/69/56). The following month Italy won a decisive victory at the Battle of the Piave River. In a note on 12 May, Chief of the Imperial General Staff Sir Henry Wilson expressed surprise at Delmé-Radcliffe’s assessment noting that, if true, Germany would need to send further support for Austria-Hungary to the Italian front ( WO 106/593). In May 1918, the head of the British mission to Italy, Sir Charles Delmé-Radcliffe, reported a very negative impression of the state of the Austro-Hungarian Army. This was a great success, and pushed the Italians back to the Piave River.ĭespite success at the Battle of Caporetto, the war continued to take its toll on Austria-Hungary. There was little movement on the Italian front until October 1917, when Austro-Hungarian and German forces launched the Battle of Caporetto (or Twelfth Battle of Isonzo) ( WO 369/8/4). Italian forces outnumbered their counterparts, but, occupying the higher ground, Austro-Hungarian defences held firm. The Italians focused on attacking near the Isonzo River as a means of reaching Trieste and eventually threatening Vienna. Italy’s entry into the war on the Entente side in May 1915 put further strain on Austria-Hungary. The resulting Russian Great Retreat ensured that Russia avoided total defeat. They soon gained over 110 miles and inflicted losses totalling 210,000 (including prisoners of war). ![]() Launched on, the Gorlice-Tarnow offensive saw German and Austro-Hungarian forces secure a major victory. In the aftermath of Przemyśl, the Germans felt the need to ensure that Austria-Hungary continued to fight, while also deterring Italy and Romania from joining the Allies. Almost 130,000 men were taken prisoner by the Russians ( WO 106/1122). Relief efforts were unsuccessful, and the Austro-Hungarian surrender came in March 1915. The siege of Przemyśl became the longest of the war. Rather than attack the fort, the Russians decided to simply wait for food and ammunition to run dry. By November, the Russian Army had encircled the strategically important fort at Przemyśl. Despite some initial success at Kraśnik and Komarow, they were eventually defeated at the Battle of Galicia. Austro-Hungarian forces did not take Belgrade again until 9 October 1915.Īustria-Hungary began an offensive against Russia in August 1914. Although Austria-Hungary captured the Serbian capital Belgrade on 1 December 1914, the Serbs were able to retake the city, along with 40,000 Austrian prisoners. ![]() ![]() The terms of Austria-Hungary’s military agreement with Germany required Austro-Hungarian forces to focus on protecting the German forces invading France against attacks from the Russians at the expense of the campaign against Serbia. Preface to translation of an Italian account of the 12th Battle of the Isonzo WO 106/847 This forced the hand of the British Foreign Secretary, Sir Edward Grey, and sent Great Britain, and by extension the British Empire, into the horrors of the First World War ( FO 371/2161). On 3 August Germany declared war on France and on 4 August it invaded neutral Belgium. Treaties, alliances and ententes drew together what would become the two opposing factions in the First World War, the Allied Powers and the Central Powers, and on 1 August both Austria-Hungary and Germany declared war on Russia ( FO 371/ 2160). The terms of the ultimatum amounted to a loss of independent law making and sovereignty ( FO 371/2158) and although Serbia agreed to most of the terms, on 28 July Austria-Hungary declared war on the small Balkan state ( FO 371/2159). A ten point ultimatum was issued by Austria to Serbia on 23 July 1914. Austrian diplomats effectively accused the Serbian government of complicity in the assassination. The assassination set in train a whole set of diplomatic manoeuvres that were to become known as the July Crisis each bringing the prospect of war ever closer. ![]() Franz Ferdinand was the nephew of the ageing Emperor of Austria, Franz Joseph, and likely heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne. On 28 June 1914, Franz Ferdinand, Archduke of Austria, and his wife Sophie, Duchess of Hohenberg, were assassinated in Sarajevo, Bosnia. Report from British Ambassador in Vienna regarding the assassination of Franz Ferdinand, Archduke of Austria on Monday 29 June 1914 FO 371/1899, folio 303 ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |