Serbia's Past: Austria-Hungary's Influence And Annexation Attempts

Serbia and Austria-Hungary have had a tumultuous relationship, with Serbia gaining independence from the Ottoman Empire in the 1800s, only to come under political and economic control of Austria-Hungary. Serbia became economically dependent on Austria-Hungary, with Austrian-owned railways crisscrossing Serbian territory and Austrian banks lending heavily to Serbian businesses. This led to a situation where the Serbian king was seen as a puppet ruler, obedient to Vienna, which displeased Serbian intellectuals and nationalists. The two countries also had conflicting interests in the Balkans, with Austria-Hungary annexing Bosnia and Serbia seeking to assert its influence in the region, leading to rising tensions and eventually, the outbreak of World War I.

Serbia was a protectorate of Austria-Hungary from 1881

The convention came about as a result of the division of the Balkans into spheres of influence, with Austria taking the western part (including Serbia) and Russia taking the eastern part (including Bulgaria). Serbia chose to accept Austria as its patron, and under the treaty, Austria-Hungary pledged to support the Obrenović dynasty, recognised the Serbian prince as king, and acknowledged Serbia's southward territorial claims. In return, Serbia agreed to not allow any agitation or military activity that went against Austro-Hungarian interests and pledged that all foreign treaties of Serbia would obtain Vienna's prior approval.

The treaty was met with resentment and opposition from Russophile sections of the political class in Serbia, including opposition from the Prime Minister Milan Piroćanac. This resentment was understandable given the history of the two nations. Serbia had been ruled by the Turkish Ottoman Empire from 1804 to 1878, while Austria-Hungary was a major European power. The Serbs successfully rebelled in 1815 and proclaimed their own constitution in 1835. However, Austria-Hungary, a dynastic empire comprising many different races, feared the 'panslavism', or the nationalism of the Slav races of the Balkans, who aspired to set up their own nation-states.

Serbia's alignment with Austria also led to economic dependence by the 1880s, with Austrian-owned railways crisscrossing Serbian territory and Austrian banks lending heavily to Serbian businesses. This situation displeased Serbian intellectuals, many of whom were sympathetic to Russia and fearful of the consequences of Austrian expansionism. Indeed, Serbia later attempted to reduce its dependence on Austria-Hungary by building trade links with France and Bulgaria, leading to the so-called 'Pig War' of 1906.

Tensions between the two nations continued to escalate in the early 20th century, with Serbia modernising and liberalising under King Peter I, who took the throne in 1903. King Peter moved to realign Serbia’s foreign policy, steering his country away from Austrian influence and brokering good relations and trade deals with France, Russia, and Bulgaria. This angered Austrian ministers, who initiated trade sanctions, including banning future purchases of Serbian pork, one of its main exports.

The final straw came in 1912-13, when Serbia, Greece, and Bulgaria (calling themselves the Balkan League) attacked Turkey and drove the Turks almost completely out of Europe. Serbia emerged as the leading Slavic power in the Balkans, and its prime minister, Pasic, declared: 'the first round is won. Now for the second round - against Austria.' Indeed, in 1913, the Austrians informed the Italian government that they were going to invade Serbia, and in 1914, they sent an ultimatum to the Serbs on the grounds that it had not kept its promise of 1909 to suppress the Black Hand, an anti-Austrian terrorist group. The ultimatum was extreme, and the Austrians hoped that the Serbs would reject it, giving them an excuse to invade.

And indeed, on 28 July 1914, Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia, marking the beginning of World War I.

Austria-Hungary and Serbia had a history of mutual hatred

Geopolitically, Austria-Hungary, a major European power, feared the rise of Serbian nationalism and its potential to disrupt the multi-ethnic balance within the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Serbia's successful rebellion against the Turkish Ottoman Empire in the 19th century and its subsequent proclamation of independence in 1878 were seen as threats to Austria-Hungary's dominance in the Balkans. Additionally, Serbia's conquest of Bosnia in 1876, a region with a significant Serb population, further fuelled tensions.

Economically, Serbia sought to reduce its dependence on Austria-Hungary, which dominated the Balkan markets. Serbia began building trade links with France and Bulgaria, prompting Austria-Hungary to retaliate with the "Pig War," banning imports of Serbian pork. Serbia responded by selling its pork to France through Bosnia and the Adriatic, bypassing Austria-Hungary.

Nationalist sentiments also played a significant role in the mutual hatred between the two nations. Serbia's aspirations for a Greater Serbia, which included territories within the Austro-Hungarian Empire, clashed with Austria-Hungary's desire to maintain its multi-ethnic empire. Serbian nationalism, coupled with Pan-Slavism, threatened to destabilize Austria-Hungary's rule over its South Slavic population.

The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand, the heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne, by Bosnian Serb nationalist Gavrilo Princip in 1914, served as a flashpoint for the escalating tensions. Austria-Hungary sought to punish Serbia and quash its independence, viewing it as a threat to the unity of its empire. This ultimately led to Austria-Hungary's declaration of war against Serbia in July 1914, marking the beginning of World War I.

The hatred between Austria-Hungary and Serbia was deep-rooted and complex, involving geopolitical power struggles, economic rivalries, and conflicting nationalist aspirations. These factors contributed to a volatile relationship that ultimately erupted into a global conflict.

Austria-Hungary was fearful of Serbian nationalism

Historical Tensions:

The roots of Austria-Hungary's fear of Serbian nationalism can be traced back to the 19th century. Serbia gained independence from the Ottoman Empire in 1878, but it was a long and tumultuous road marked by foreign influence and internal struggles. Serbia's first king, Milan Obrenovic, was pro-Austrian, and as a result, Serbia became economically dependent on Austria. This dynamic created resentment among Serbian intellectuals, who viewed themselves as puppets of Vienna and gravitated toward Russia as a potential counterweight. This set the stage for future tensions as Serbia sought to assert its independence and national identity.

Economic Competition:

In the early 20th century, Serbia began to diversify its economic relationships, seeking trade links with France, Russia, and Bulgaria. This move away from exclusive dependence on Austria-Hungary was a significant blow, as Serbia was a crucial market for Austrian agricultural exports and a hub for Austrian-owned railways and banks. The so-called "Pig War" of 1906, in which Austria-Hungary banned Serbian pork imports, highlighted the economic rivalry between the two nations and Serbia's determination to reduce its economic reliance on its northern neighbour.

Geopolitical Ambitions:

Serbia's growing nationalism and pan-Slavism, a movement advocating for the unification of Slavic peoples, alarmed Austro-Hungarian leaders. Serbia's aspirations for a "Greater Serbia" included territories that Austria-Hungary considered within its sphere of influence, such as Bosnia and Herzegovina. Serbian nationalism was seen as a direct threat to the stability of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, which had a significant South Slavic population. The annexation of Bosnia and Herzegovina by Austria-Hungary in 1908 further inflamed tensions, as Serbia viewed this as an expansion of Austrian power and a challenge to its own ambitions in the Balkans.

Rise of Nationalist Groups:

The increasing tensions between Serbia and Austria-Hungary contributed to the emergence of Serbian nationalist groups, such as the People's Defence, the Black Hand, and Young Bosna. These groups aimed to protect the rights of Slavic people in the region and expel Austria-Hungary from the Balkans. Their propaganda, agitation, and violent tactics further heightened fears in Vienna about the potential for Serbian nationalism to destabilise the empire.

Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand:

The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand, heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne, by a Serbian nationalist in June 1914, served as a flashpoint. Austria-Hungary viewed Serbia as responsible for the murder and sought to punish and quash Serbian independence, which it saw as a threat to its empire. This ultimately led to Austria-Hungary's declaration of war on Serbia on July 28, 1914, marking the beginning of World War I.

Serbia was economically dependent on Austria-Hungary

Serbia's first king, Milan Obrenovic, was pro-Austrian and aligned his country with Vienna, encouraging and facilitating Austrian trade and investment. During his reign, Austria became the largest purchaser of Serbian agricultural exports, particularly livestock, wheat and fruit. Serbian territory was also crisscrossed by Austrian-owned railways, while Austrian banks lent heavily to Serbian businesses.

By the 1880s, Serbia had become economically dependent on Austria. Indeed, many considered the Serbian king to be a puppet ruler, obedient to the whims of Vienna. This situation displeased Serbian intellectuals, who were sympathetic to Russia and feared the consequences of Austrian expansionism.

In the early 1900s, Serbia's foreign policy began to shift away from Austrian influence. King Peter I, crowned in 1903, was more Westernised and liberal than his predecessors. He was also more interested in modernising the nation than preserving the monarchy. He transformed Serbia into a constitutional, democratic state and a modern economy.

Serbia's economic diversification and growth during this period reduced its dependence on Austria-Hungary. This, in turn, led to calls for greater political independence, intensifying Serbian nationalism and pan-Slavism.

Austria-Hungary invaded Serbia in 1914

Serbia was not part of Austria-Hungary. In fact, the two nations hated each other. Serbia was a small but strategically important Balkan nation, sandwiched between Austria-Hungary and other states previously controlled by the Ottoman Empire. Serbia's proximity to both Europe and Asia had made it a target for invaders for centuries.

In 1876, Serbia went to war with Turkey and conquered Bosnia, an area of the Balkans where many Serbs lived. However, two years later, at the Congress of Berlin, Austria-Hungary persuaded the great powers to give Bosnia back to Turkey, under Austria's protection. This was a source of great anger for Serbia, which saw it as an expansion of Austrian power and a threat to Slavic independence in the Balkans.

In 1906, Serbia began to build trade links with France and Bulgaria, in an attempt to reduce its economic dependence on Austria-Hungary. Austria-Hungary responded by banning all imports of Serbian pork, in what became known as the 'Pig War'. Serbia responded by selling its pork to France.

In 1908, Austria-Hungary formally annexed Bosnia, violating the Berlin Treaty and upsetting the fragile balance of power in the Balkans. This was another source of tension with Serbia, which had hoped to conquer Bosnia itself. Serbia appealed to Russia for support, but Nicholas would not go to war with Austria, and Serbia was forced to recognise Austria's right to Bosnia.

In 1912, Serbia, Greece and Bulgaria (calling themselves the Balkan League) attacked Turkey and drove the Turks out of Europe. The following year, Bulgaria attacked Serbia but was defeated, leaving Serbia as the leading Slavic power in the Balkans.

In 1913, the Austrians told the Italian government that they were going to invade Serbia. The Italian Prime Minister cited this fact in 1914, claiming that the assassination of the Archduke was the occasion rather than the cause of Austria's ultimatum to Serbia. In fact, the Austrian Chief of Staff, General Hotzendorf, had asked for a surprise war to destroy Serbia more than 25 times in the eight years after 1906.

On 28 June 1914, Archduke Franz Ferdinand, heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne, and his wife were assassinated in Sarajevo by Gavrilo Princip, a Bosnian Serb nationalist. Although he was a Bosnian, feeling in Austria ran high against Serbia, which was deemed responsible for the deed. The assassination was a flashpoint event that set Europe on the road to war.

Austria-Hungary sought to inflict a military blow on Serbia, to demonstrate its own strength and to dampen Serbian support for Yugoslav nationalism, which it saw as a threat to the unity of its multinational empire. However, Vienna was wary of the reaction of Russia, a major supporter of Serbia, and sought a guarantee from its ally, Germany, that Berlin would support Austria in any conflict. Germany guaranteed its support through what became known as the 'blank cheque', but urged Austria-Hungary to attack quickly to localise the war and avoid drawing in Russia.

On 23 July 1914, Austria-Hungary presented Serbia with a rigid ultimatum, demanding, among other things, that all anti-Austrian propaganda within Serbia be suppressed, and that Austria-Hungary be allowed to conduct its own investigation into the archduke’s killing. Though Serbia effectively accepted all of Austria’s demands except for one, the Austrian government broke diplomatic relations with Serbia on 25 July and went ahead with military preparedness measures.

On 28 July 1914, one month to the day after the assassination, Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia, effectively beginning the First World War. That evening, Austro-Hungarian artillery shelled the Serbian capital of Belgrade from the border town of Semlin (modern-day Zemun). On the morning of 12 August 1914, the Austro-Hungarian Fifth Army crossed the Drina River, starting the first invasion of Serbia.

During the first invasion of Serbia, Austro-Hungarian forces occupied parts of the country for thirteen days. Their war aims were 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 a number of war crimes against the Serbian population, especially 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.

On 24 August 1914, after delivering a major defeat to Austria-Hungary's invading forces at the Battle of Cer, the Royal Serbian Army liberated Šabac and reached the frontier banks of the Sava River, bringing the first Austro-Hungarian invasion of Serbia to an end, and securing the first Allied victory of World War I.

On 8 September 1914, the Austro-Hungarians launched a second invasion, engaging all their forces. Despite being outnumbered, the Serbs pushed back the Fifth Army into Bosnia while the Sixth Army's offensive was stopped by a strong Serbian counterattack. Convinced that Serbia was near defeat, Potiorek regrouped and launched a third offensive on 5 November 1914.

On 6 September 1915, Germany and Bulgaria entered into a secret military alliance. Germany promised Bulgaria all of Serbian Macedonia, parts of northeastern Serbia, and a new loan of 200,000,00

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