Austria's Post-Wwii Land Loss: Understanding The Treaty Of Vienna

The collapse of the Austrian-Hungarian Empire at the end of the First World War led to significant territorial losses for Austria. The Treaty of Saint-Germain-en-Laye, signed in September 1919, formalised the new borders of Austria, reducing it to a small, landlocked state. The treaty ceded land to Italy, Slovenia, Czechoslovakia and Poland, and the loss of these territories had immense political and economic effects.

Austria lost territory to Italy, Slovenia, Czechoslovakia and Poland

Austria 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. The Entente powers ruled in favour of newly-emancipated independent nation-states, enabling them to claim territories containing sizeable German- and Hungarian-speaking populations. The new borders became major economic barriers, stalling the previous rapid economic growth of the imperial territories.

The Treaty of Saint-Germain-en-Laye reduced Austria to a small, landlocked state

Austria lost territory to Italy, Slovenia, Czechoslovakia and Poland. The Entente powers ruled in favour of newly-emancipated independent nation-states, allowing them to claim vast territories containing sizeable German- and Hungarian-speaking populations. This included South Tirol, Tarvisio, the Isonzo Valley, Gorizia, Trieste, Istria, western Carniola, and Dalmatia.

The decisions contained in the treaty had immense political and economic effects. The new borders became major economic barriers, stalling the previously rapid economic growth of the imperial territories. The loss of territory also meant a loss of population, with many people now living in a state of advanced misery.

The Treaty of Trianon had a similar effect on Hungary

Austria lost land to Italy, Slovenia, Czechoslovakia and Poland.

The Allies and Austria-Hungary signed an armistice on November 3, 1918

The armistice was signed at the Villa Giusti, near Padua. Count Mihály Károlyi, chairman of the Budapest National Council, had been appointed prime minister of Hungary by the Austrian emperor Charles on October 31. However, Károlyi promptly began to dissociate his country from Austria, in the hope of obtaining a separate Hungarian armistice.

The economic situation in Austria-Hungary had deteriorated by 1918, with the majority of the population living in a state of advanced misery. Food supplies dropped, and the onset of the 1918 flu pandemic killed at least 20 million people 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. These treaties regulated the new borders of Austria and Hungary, reducing them to small, landlocked states. The decisions contained in the treaties had immense political and economic effects, as the new borders became major economic barriers.

Austria-Hungary was required to evacuate all territory occupied since August 1914

The armistice signed between the Allies and Austria-Hungary on 3 November 1918 required Austria-Hungary to evacuate all territory occupied since August 1914, as well as South Tirol, Tarvisio, the Isonzo Valley, Gorizia, Trieste, Istria, western Carniola, and Dalmatia. This was to become effective on 4 November. The treaty also stipulated that all German forces should be expelled from Austria-Hungary within 15 days or interned, and that the Allies were to have free use of Austria-Hungary's internal communications and to take possession of most of its warships.

The armistice was signed by Count Mihály Károlyi, chairman of the Budapest National Council, who had been appointed prime minister of Hungary by the Austrian emperor Charles on 31 October. Károlyi had promptly started to dissociate his country from Austria, partly in the hope of obtaining a separate Hungarian armistice.

The Treaty of Saint-Germain-en-Laye, signed in September 1919, and the Treaty of Trianon, signed in June 1920, further regulated the new borders of Austria and Hungary, reducing them to small, landlocked states. The treaties had immense political and economic effects, with the new borders becoming major economic barriers. As a result of these treaties, Austria lost territory to Italy, Slovenia, Czechoslovakia, and Poland.

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