Austria-Hungary's Conquest: Serbian Territory And Its Fate

The question of whether Austria-Hungary conquered Serbian territory is complex and deeply rooted in the tensions between the two nations, which eventually exploded into World War I. On July 28, 1914, Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia, marking the beginning of the First World War. This declaration came just a month after the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria by a Serbian nationalist in Sarajevo. Austria-Hungary, a major European power, viewed Serbia as a threat due to its ambitions in the Balkans and its significant South Slavic population. Despite three unsuccessful Austro-Hungarian offensives between August and December 1914, a combined Austro-Hungarian and German offensive, along with Bulgarian support, ultimately breached Serbian defenses, leading to the occupation of Serbia from late 1915 until the end of World War I. Serbia was divided into occupation zones, with the Austro-Hungarian zone covering the northern three-quarters of the country. The occupation was marked by harsh measures, including deportations, forced labor, and the denial of basic human rights. However, Serbian resistance continued, and in September 1918, Allied forces, including the Serbian Second Army, broke through, leading to the liberation of Serbia and the retreat of Austro-Hungarian troops.

Austria-Hungary's declaration of war against Serbia

On June 28, 1914, Archduke Franz Ferdinand, the heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne, and his wife were assassinated by a Serbian-backed terrorist in Sarajevo. This event ignited a crisis in Europe, with leaders making a series of decisions that escalated a localised conflict in southeast Europe into World War I.

Austria-Hungary, with encouragement from its powerful ally Germany, decided to respond to the assassinations by preparing for a possible military invasion of Serbia. Austria-Hungary was threatened by Serbian ambition in the tumultuous Balkans region and suspected Serbian backing for the assassination. On July 23, 1914, Austria-Hungary presented Serbia with an ultimatum, demanding the suppression of anti-Austrian propaganda in Serbia and the right to conduct its own investigation into the archduke's killing. Serbia accepted all demands except the involvement of Austro-Hungarian officials in the inquiry. On July 25, Austria broke off diplomatic relations with Serbia and continued with military preparations.

Russia, Serbia's supporter in the Balkans, began mobilising its military against Austria-Hungary. The rest of Europe, including Britain and France, watched with trepidation, fearing the outbreak of a Balkans conflict that could escalate into a wider European war. Despite lobbying for an international convention to moderate the conflict, the German government advised Austria-Hungary to proceed with its plans.

On July 28, 1914, one month after the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand, Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia, effectively beginning World War I. Austria-Hungary was determined to take decisive action against Serbia, even though it knew this risked war with Russia, Serbia's ally. The declaration of war was followed by a brief bombardment of Belgrade by Austrian artillery divisions.

Austria-Hungary's invasion of Serbia, however, did not go as planned. Despite having the support of Bulgaria and Germany, Austria-Hungary faced strong resistance from the Serbian forces and was unable to advance into Serbian territory. The Austro-Hungarian army faced challenges due to its small size relative to the country's population, poor funding, and inadequate leadership. Serbia, on the other hand, had a more experienced officer corps and troops who were highly motivated to defend their homeland.

The Austro-Hungarian invasion force

The Austro-Hungarian Fifth Army crossed the Drina River, marking the beginning of the invasion. However, the Austro-Hungarian forces faced a series of setbacks and were unable to make significant headway. Despite their superior numbers, they were repelled by the Serbian and Montenegrin armies in three unsuccessful offensives between August and December 1914. The first invasion of Serbia, dubbed a "punitive expedition" by the Austro-Hungarian leadership, lasted only thirteen days. It was marked by atrocities committed by Austro-Hungarian troops, including massacres, hostage-taking, and the destruction of villages.

In October 1915, a joint offensive was launched with German forces, led by Field Marshal August von Mackensen. This time, the Austro-Hungarian and German armies invaded Serbia from the north and west, while Bulgaria attacked from the east. This coordinated attack proved successful, and by January 1916, all of Serbia was under the occupation of the Central Powers. Serbia was divided into occupation zones, with the Austro-Hungarian zone covering the northern three-quarters of the country.

Overall, the invasion of Serbia by the Austro-Hungarian forces was characterised by a series of initial failures, followed by a successful joint offensive with German and Bulgarian forces, ultimately resulting in the occupation and division of Serbia.

Serbian resistance and victory

The Serbian resistance against Austria-Hungary was strong and well-organised, and they successfully repelled the invaders twice in 1914. The Serbian victory was achieved through a combination of factors, including military strategy, guerrilla warfare, and international alliances.

Military Strategy

Serbia's military strategy played a crucial role in their victory. The Serbian army was well-experienced due to their involvement in multiple conflicts before World War I, including the First and Second Balkan Wars in 1912 and 1913. This gave them a more experienced officer corps and troops. Additionally, the Serbian army was highly motivated as they were defending their homeland. They utilised their knowledge of the terrain, employing guerrilla tactics and taking advantage of the mountainous regions.

Guerrilla Warfare

In addition to conventional military engagements, Serbia also employed guerrilla warfare tactics. Immediately after the withdrawal of the Royal Serbian Army, small groups of insurgents called "Chetniks" emerged across occupied regions. The Chetniks had a long tradition of guerrilla warfare during the Ottoman rule, and they received strong local support. They carried out attacks on occupying forces, sabotaged railways, and disrupted supply trains. Their knowledge of the local terrain made them effective fighters, and they were challenging to track down and defeat.

International Alliances

Serbia also benefited from international alliances and support. Russia, Serbia's mighty supporter in the Balkans, began its military mobilisation against Austria-Hungary. This put pressure on Austria-Hungary and forced them to divide their forces. Additionally, Serbia received aid from both Russia and France before the war broke out. This external support contributed to Serbia's ability to launch counter-offensives and drive out the Austrians.

Serbian Victory

The Serbian victory over Austria-Hungary was a significant achievement. By September 1918, Allied forces, including the Serbian Second Army and the Yugoslav Volunteer Division, broke through the Salonica front, leading to the surrender of Bulgaria. This was followed by the quick liberation of Serbia and the retreat of all remaining Austro-Hungarian troops by the end of October. By November 1918, all of pre-war Serbia had been liberated, marking the end of the Austro-Hungarian occupation.

The Austro-Hungarian occupation of Serbia

On the 28th of July 1914, Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia, marking the beginning of World War I. This declaration came exactly one month after the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand, the heir to the Habsburg throne, by Bosnian Serb student Gavrilo Princip in Sarajevo. Austria-Hungary deemed Serbia responsible for the murder and aimed to quash Serbian independence, which it viewed as a threat to the future of the empire.

The Austro-Hungarian invasion of Serbia began on the 12th of August 1914, with the Fifth Army crossing the Drina River. This first invasion, which the Austro-Hungarian leadership dubbed a "punitive expedition", aimed not only to eliminate Serbia as a threat but also to punish it for fuelling South Slav irredentism in the Monarchy. The occupation turned into a war of annihilation, accompanied by massacres of civilians and the taking of hostages. Austro-Hungarian troops committed numerous war crimes against the Serbian population, particularly in the area of Mačva. During the short occupation between 3,500 and 4,000 Serb civilians were killed in executions and acts of random violence. Mass killings took place in numerous towns in northern Serbia, with women, children, and the elderly being among the victims.

The first invasion was repelled by the Serbian army at the Battle of Cer, and the Austro-Hungarian forces were pushed back into Bosnia. However, the Austro-Hungarians launched two more invasions in September and November 1914, with the well-equipped Habsburg forces outnumbering the Serbs. Despite fierce resistance, the Serbian army was forced to retreat, and Belgrade, the Serbian capital, was captured on the 30th of November.

In early December, the Serbian army launched a counterattack and decisively defeated the Austro-Hungarians at the Battle of Kolubara, recapturing Belgrade and forcing the invaders to retreat. Although Austria-Hungary had failed to defeat Serbia, the campaign had exhausted the Serbian army, which lost 100,000 men and was further decimated by a typhoid epidemic.

In late 1915, Austria-Hungary, together with Germany and Bulgaria, launched a joint invasion of Serbia, marking their fourth attempt to conquer the country. This offensive succeeded, and by January 1916, all of Serbia had been occupied. Serbia was divided into two separate occupation zones: an Austro-Hungarian zone in the north and a Bulgarian zone in the east, both governed under a military administration. The Austro-Hungarian occupation zone was ruled by the Military General Governorate of Serbia (MGG/S), with the goal of denationalising the Serb population and exploiting the country's economic resources.

The Austro-Hungarian occupation regime imposed a harsh military administration, banning all political organisations, forbidding public assembly, and bringing schools under its control. They imposed martial law, practised hostage-taking, burned villages, and responded to uprisings with public hangings and summary executions. Between 150,000 and 200,000 men, women, and children were deported to internment and concentration camps in Austria-Hungary, where many perished.

The occupation lasted until the end of World War I, when Allied forces broke through the Salonica front in September 1918, leading to the surrender of Bulgaria and the liberation of Serbia. By the 1st of November 1918, all of pre-war Serbia had been liberated, bringing an end to the three-year Central Powers occupation.

The liberation of Serbia

Serbia was subjected to a brutal occupation regime, characterised by denationalisation, deportations, forced labour, and economic exploitation. The occupational authorities committed numerous war crimes, including massacres, hostage-taking, and the destruction of villages. Hundreds of thousands of Serbian civilians were deported to internment and concentration camps, where many perished. However, Serbian resistance continued, with guerrilla groups known as Chetniks waging a guerrilla campaign against the occupiers.

In 1918, the military situation shifted in favour of the Allies, who launched a series of successful offensives, including the Vardar Offensive and the Battle of Dobro Pole. The surrender of Bulgaria and the liberation of Serbia marked a significant turning point in the war, as the Central Powers were forced to retreat on multiple fronts. The liberation of Serbia was a pivotal moment in the war, as it demonstrated the strength and determination of the Allied forces and set the stage for the final push towards victory.

Frequently asked questions