Austria-Hungary's Post-Ww1 Land Loss: Mapping A New Europe

Austria-Hungary lost a significant amount of land after the First World War. The collapse of the empire was formalised in the 1919 Treaty of Saint-Germain-en-Laye with Austria and the 1920 Treaty of Trianon with Hungary. The treaties resulted in territorial losses to Italy, Slovenia, Czechoslovakia and Poland.

Territories lost to Italy, Slovenia, Czechoslovakia and Poland

After World War I, Austria-Hungary lost land to Italy, Slovenia, Czechoslovakia and Poland. The territories lost to these countries included South Tirol, Tarvisio, the Isonzo Valley, Gorizia, Trieste, Istria, western Carniola, and Dalmatia. The Kingdom of Hungary comprised 42% of the population of Austria-Hungary, and the majority of soldiers in the Austro-Hungarian armed forces were conscripted from the Kingdom of Hungary. By the closing Trianon Peace Treaty, Hungary suffered severe territorial losses. In 1914, Austria-Hungary was one of the great powers of Europe, with an area of 676,443 km2 and a population of 52 million, of which Hungary had 325,400 km2 with a population of 21 million.

The Treaty of Saint-Germain-en-Laye

The treaty was signed after the solicited armistice between the Allies and Austria-Hungary, which was signed on 3 November 1918 and became effective on 4 November. Under the armistice, Austria-Hungary was required to evacuate all territory occupied since August 1914, as well as South Tirol, Tarvisio, the Isonzo Valley, Gorizia, Trieste, Istria, western Carniola, and Dalmatia.

Austria-Hungary lost land to Italy, Slovenia, Czechoslovakia and Poland. The Hungarian half of the Habsburg monarchy lost more land than the Austrian half. However, given the largely non-Magyar character of Hungary's losses in territory and population, it is not appropriate for Hungary to continue to raise this as a grievance.

The collapse of the empire also meant that the remaining territories inhabited by divided peoples fell into the composition of existing or newly formed states. Later, additional territories were ceded to other countries.

The Treaty of Trianon

The treaty resulted in severe territorial losses for Hungary. In 1914, Austria-Hungary was one of the great powers of Europe, with an area of 676,443 km2 and a population of 52 million, of which Hungary had 325,400 km2 with a population of 21 million. By the end of the war, Hungary had lost a significant amount of territory and population.

The specific territorial losses for Hungary included South Tirol, Tarvisio, the Isonzo Valley, Gorizia, Trieste, Istria, western Carniola, and Dalmatia. These territories were ceded to other countries, including Italy, Slovenia, Czechoslovakia, and Poland.

The Budapest National Council

The Council was formed as Hungary began to dissociate itself from Austria, in the vain hope of obtaining a separate armistice. On 3 November 1918, an armistice was signed between the Allies and Austria-Hungary, which required the evacuation of all territory occupied since August 1914, as well as South Tirol, Tarvisio, the Isonzo Valley, Gorizia, Trieste, Istria, western Carniola, and Dalmatia. The Council dissolved Parliament on 16 November and proclaimed Hungary an independent republic, with Károlyi as provisional president.

The economic situation in the former Austria-Hungary had deteriorated by 1918, with the majority of the population living in a state of advanced misery. The summer of 1918 saw a drop in food supplies, as well as the onset of the 1918 flu pandemic, which killed at least 20 million worldwide. The collapse of the empire was formalised in the September 1919 Treaty of Saint-Germain-en-Laye with Austria, and the June 1920 Treaty of Trianon with Hungary, which regulated the new borders of the two states.

The Czechoslovak committee in Prague

In 1914, Austria-Hungary was one of the great powers of Europe, with an area of 676,443 km2 and a population of 52 million, of which Hungary had 325,400 km2 with a population of 21 million. However, after World War I, Austria-Hungary suffered severe territorial losses. Austria lost territory to Italy, Slovenia, Czechoslovakia and Poland. The collapse of the empire was formalised in the September 1919 Treaty of Saint-Germain-en-Laye with Austria, and in the June 1920 Treaty of Trianon with Hungary.

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