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Austria-Hungary
Austria hungary
Austria-Hungary
Country
Continent: Europe
Capital: Vienna (main) and Budapest
National Language: German and Hungarian
Government: Constitutional dual monarchy
Status in OTL: Defunct

Austria-Hungary (also known as the Austro-Hungarian Empire and the Dual Monarchy) was a state in Central Europe ruled by the House of Hapsburg. The state was created in 1867 with the combination of the crowns of Austria and Hungary. Austria's Hapsburgs agreed to share power with a separate Hungarian government, dividing the territory of the former Austrian Empire between them. This state existed until 1918, when it dissolved following military defeat in World War I. King-Emperor Karl's declaration of "renunciation" on 11 November formalized the dissolution of the Empire, even though his announcement merely stated an already obvious fact. As a consequence, Austria and Hungary became separate independent states, and the victorious Entente split up the Empire's territory into several countries, often combining territories and regions with little or no regard to the wishes of the people within.

Austria-Hungary in Crosstime Traffic[]

Austria-Hungary in Curious Notions[]

In the alternate designated as 3477 by Crosstime Traffic, Austria-Hungary was a close ally of Imperial Germany, which ensured its survival throughout the 20th and 21st Centuries. Paul Gomes read newspaper accounts of the Emperor's activities shortly after his arrival in the alternate.[1]

Austria-Hungary in The Disunited States of America[]

In one alternate visited by Crosstime Traffic, Austria-Hungary still held together into the late 21st century, although it had been a mess for some time. The government treated its minority groups poorly.[2]

When Justin Monroe administered a vaccine for the weaponized measles, Beckie Royer noticed that the hypodermic needle was made in Slovenia, but was too high-tech for such an impoverished Austrian province. This was one more clue that Monroe was more than he seemed.

Austria-Hungary in "Last Flight of the Swan of the East"[]

Like many of the other "great powers" of the world, Austria-Hungary participated in the race to build leviathans while pursuing its own aims for territorial expansion. To that end, Austria-Hungary maintained a close diplomatic relationship with the German Empire. In July 1914, the Austro-Hungarian Archduke Franz Ferdinand and his wife Sophie were assassinated in Sarajevo by a Serbian nationalist. Austria-Hungary issued a series of six ultimata against Serbia relating to the incident. Serbia, supported by its ally, Russia, accepted five demands, but refused to allow Austrian investigators to come to Serbia to help the investigation. In response, Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia. Russia declared war on Austria-Hungary, and Germany declared war on Russia.[3]

Austria-Hungary's gunners attacked and leviathans attacked Belgrade, the capital of Serbia. Serbian cannoneers shot two Austrian leviathans out of the sky.[4]

Austria-Hungary in Southern Victory[]

Austria-Hungary was a founding member of the Central Powers along with the United States and Germany.

In 1914, the Austro-Hungarian Archduke Franz Ferdinand was assassinated in Sarajevo by a Serbian nationalist. Austria-Hungary issued a series of ultimata against Serbia relating to the incident, and Serbia, supported by Russia, refused some of these. Austria-Hungary invoked the Central Powers defensive alliance, Russia (also claiming this was a defensive war though it had not been directly threatened by Vienna) invoked the Entente, and the Great War began.[5]

By 1916, the Central Powers had the strategic upper-hand. Emperor Franz Joseph died, and his grand-nephew Charles I ascended the throne and saw Austria-Hungary on to victory.[6]

In victory, however, Austria-Hungary found itself losing prestige and being eclipsed by Germany in influence. After the incorporation of Serbia into the Dual Monarchy, restive South Slavs and other minorities remained rebellious; only the Austrians and more lukewarm Hungarians supported the Hapsburgs.

In 1929, Austria-Hungary inadvertently triggered a global economic depression by calling due a loan from Russia.[7] Russia was unable to pay the loan, setting off a panic which spread across the globe.[8] The depression in turn was a stepping stone for various reactionary factions in the Entente countries to take power.

When the Second Great War began in 1941, Austria-Hungary under Charles I once again allied itself with the Central Powers. However, it was a very multicultural empire, and many of its ethnic minorities, including the Bosnians, Serbs and Romanians, rose up against the imperial authority, supported by Russia. Some of the violent minority nationalist groups made use of people bombs in an attempt to further their cause.

Austria-Hungary's physicists collaborated with Germany's in an effort to build a superbomb during the Second Great War, which bore fruit in 1944.

Once again on the winning side in the war, Austria-Hungary continued to exist, but was far from robust.

Austria-Hungary in "Zigeuner"[]

Adolf Hitler performed his World War I military service in the eastern provinces of Austria-Hungary. While defending the Empire from the Russian invasion, he first developed his admiration of the Jews and corresponding hatred of the Romani.

Notes[]

For Austria-Hungary in all other works, see Austria and Hungary.

See also[]

References[]

  1. Curious Notions, pg. 43, MMP.
  2. The Disunited States of America, pg. 269
  3. Leviathans: Armored Skies, pgs. 292-299, loc. 4174-4290, ebook.
  4. Ibid., pg. 299, loc. 4290.
  5. See, generally American Front.
  6. Charles is monarch in The Grapple, although his ascension is not explicitly described.
  7. The Center Cannot Hold, pg 226.
  8. Ibid. at 233.
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