Austria-Hungary And Germany: Allies Or Enemies?

Germany and Austria-Hungary formed an alliance in 1879, known as the Dual Alliance, which was one of the more surprising alliances of its time. Despite both countries sharing the German language and a similar culture, Austria-Hungary and Germany were often driven apart. However, their common distrust of Russia brought them together. The alliance was formed as a defensive measure, with both powers promising each other support in the case of an attack by Russia. During World War I, Germany and Austria-Hungary were part of the Central Powers, which also included the Ottoman Empire and Bulgaria.

The Dual Alliance of 1879

The alliance was surprising to many, as Germany and Austria-Hungary had often been driven apart, most notably during the Austro-Prussian War. Despite sharing a language and similar cultures, the Habsburg rulers of Austria-Hungary believed that Germany's promotion of nationalism would destroy their multinational empire. However, their common distrust of Russia united the two empires for a common cause.

The German Chancellor, Otto von Bismarck, wanted to portray Germany as a peacemaker and preserver of the European status quo, to gain more power for the German Empire and unify Germany. By forming the Dual Alliance, Bismarck also aimed to prevent the isolation of Germany and preserve peace, as he believed Russia would not wage war against both empires.

The formation of the alliance was influenced by the outcome of the 1878 Congress of Berlin, which was called to address the increasing Russian influence in the Balkans following the Russo-Turkish War. At the Congress, Bismarck played the role of an "honest broker", and the resulting Treaty of Berlin reversed Russia's gains and provided compensation to Austria-Hungary in the form of Bosnia. However, Russo-German relations deteriorated, and the Three Emperors' League was discontinued, freeing Germany and Austria-Hungary to ally against Russia.

The Dual Alliance had significant implications for the relationship between the two empires and the broader European politics. It persisted throughout World War I as part of the Central Powers and ended with their defeat in 1918.

The Austro-Prussian War

The war was sparked by a dispute between Prussia and Austria over the administration of Schleswig-Holstein, which they had conquered from Denmark and agreed to jointly occupy at the end of the Second Schleswig War in 1864. The crisis began on January 26, 1866, when Prussia protested against Austria's decision to allow the estates of the duchies to call up a united assembly, claiming it breached their joint sovereignty. Austria responded, asserting that its decision did not infringe on Prussia's rights. Tensions escalated, and both sides began reinforcing their troops along their shared frontier. Prussia formed an alliance with Italy, bringing Italy into the conflict and linking it to the Third Independence War of Italian unification.

Prussia, led by Minister President Otto von Bismarck, sought to challenge Austria's leadership of the German Confederation and establish its own dominance. Bismarck's diplomatic manoeuvring and Prussia's military advantages played a key role in the conflict. Prussia's army reforms, including universal conscription, created a larger and better-trained force. Additionally, Prussia's locally based army structure and more extensive railway system enabled faster mobilisation and concentration of troops compared to Austria.

The main campaign of the war occurred in Bohemia. The Prussian army, led by Chief of General Staff Helmuth von Moltke, rapidly advanced across the border into Saxony and Bohemia, where the Austrian army was concentrating for an invasion of Silesia. The two sides met at the Battle of Königgrätz (Hradec Králové) on July 3, 1866, resulting in a decisive Prussian victory. Despite Austrian numerical superiority, Prussian organisation and elan proved decisive, with Austrian battle deaths nearly seven times higher.

The war concluded with an armistice between Prussia and Austria on July 22, followed by a preliminary peace agreement on July 26. The Treaty of Prague, signed on August 23, formalised the terms, which included the dissolution of the German Confederation, the Prussian annexation of several German states, and the exclusion of Austria from German affairs. Prussia's victory paved the way for the formation of the North German Confederation in 1867, solidifying its dominance in Germany and creating a geo-political reality in Europe that lasted until World War I.

The Habsburg Monarchy

The Habsburg realms were unified in 1804 with the formation of the Austrian Empire, and later split into two with the Austro-Hungarian Compromise of 1867. The monarchy began to fracture during the final years of World War I and ultimately disbanded with the proclamation of the Republic of German-Austria and the First Hungarian Republic in late 1918.

The Habsburg rulers held numerous titles, including Holy Roman Emperors, Kings of Bohemia, Hungary, Croatia, Spain, and many others. The dynasty was also known for its frequent intermarriages between different branches to maintain close relations.

During World War I, the exhausted Habsburg Monarchy became heavily dependent on the German Empire, leading to a loss of independence in military and foreign policy. Despite a public emphasis on loyalty, the Austrian Chief of General Staff, Conrad von Hötzendorf, referred to Germany as "our secret enemy".

The Central Powers

Origins

World War I

At the start of World War I, the Central Powers consisted of the German Empire and the Austro-Hungarian Empire. The alliance was formed in response to the assassination of Austro-Hungarian Archduke Franz Ferdinand, which Austria-Hungary believed had been orchestrated with Serbian assistance. The country viewed the assassination as a dangerous precedent that encouraged its South Slav population to rebel and threaten to tear apart the multinational country.

In early July 1914, Kaiser Wilhelm II and the German government informed the Austro-Hungarian government that Germany would uphold its alliance and defend it from possible Russian intervention if war broke out between Austria-Hungary and Serbia. When Russia enacted a general mobilisation, Germany viewed it as an act of aggression and responded by mobilising for war. On August 3, Germany declared war on France, an ally of Russia.

Members

• German Empire
• Austria-Hungary
• Ottoman Empire (joined in November 1914)
• Bulgaria (joined in October 1915)
• Italy (joined the opposing side in 1915)

The First World War

The origins of the Central Powers lay in the unification of Germany in 1871, which disrupted the 'balance of power' in Europe. This led to the formation of a series of defensive alliances, including the Dual Alliance between Germany and Austria-Hungary in 1879. This alliance was formed in the wake of the Austro-Prussian War, despite the two powers often being driven apart due to differing interests, and was intended to prevent or limit war. The two powers promised to support each other in the case of an attack by Russia and to remain neutral if the other was attacked by another European power, most likely France.

The alliance was surprising to many, given that Austria-Hungary and Germany were often driven apart, most notably during the Austro-Prussian War. Additionally, the Habsburg rulers believed that the promotion of nationalism, which was favoured by Germany, would destroy their multinational empire. However, their common distrust of Russia united the two empires.

The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand, the heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne, in June 1914, set off a chain of events that led to the outbreak of the First World War. Austria-Hungary, believing that the assassination was orchestrated with Serbian assistance, sent an ultimatum to Serbia demanding a

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