100 – Episode 100 Season of Civil War (2)
I was honestly taken aback by the news that the Five Hung Empire was in ruins. I thought opportunities would open only when the Great Depression broke out, but the time for Austria to explode came quickly.
But that doesn’t mean it was bad.
This is an opportunity to create the Greater Germany of your dreams, so there’s no way you wouldn’t like it.
‘But it doesn’t look good to leave it alone.’
First of all, I had to pretend to help Austria.
I sent a message to Sekt to prepare for the dispatch of the ‘Tchaikovsky Corps’ to Austria.
“I think it will be possible to dispatch about 40,000 troops.”
It was not a large number.
But I also did not want to send enough troops to turn the tide of the war.
This war needed to be dragged out as much as possible.
To the point where the inside of the Five Hung Empire was completely rotten and torn apart.
At lunch, we invited the imperial chancellor to play billiards and listen to stories about the current situation.
“How are the movements of neighboring countries?”
With Oh Heung plunged into civil war, there was no way the surrounding Seungnyang could remain silent.
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“It’s still quiet.”
Ah, we are clever.
German’s eldest brother, Germany, had his eyes wide open, and it was strange that there was someone who dared to tease him.
‘They should also intervene.’
Anyway, I had no interest in Austrian territory except for the German and Bohemian territories.
Whether the rest of the territory was torn up or divided was none of their business.
At this point, there was a calculation that it would be good if the Seungnyangs, who were wearing the title of ‘pseudo-allies’, could also use up national power.
“That’s troublesome. “Send them a signal that we will stand by so they can intervene in Austrian affairs.”
“Yes?”
Holbeck looked shocked.
Is it really that shocking that they would rip off Austria, their most ally?
But it was a natural decision for me.
It was reasonable to disband the old empire, which was not worth its weight and was only draining valuable German resources, and use it as fertilizer for Germany.
At the same time, we are reducing the national power of potential enemies.
How desirable and reasonable is this conclusion?
“Your Majesty. “The Austrian Empire is the Empire’s most important ally.”
You know. I also remember how sh*t that alliance was during the World War.
Of course, even if that were not the case, Germany had to increase its weight class to compete with the United States. Eating colonies only becomes a burden on the nation’s power, so wouldn’t the answer be eating German regions, which give you a buff as soon as you eat them?
“That alliance is just a burden. “I plan to use this opportunity to disband this useless alliance and grant the wishes of the Great Germanists.”
“Are you really planning to annex Austria?”
“Merger. “Use the good word unification.”
Only then did Holbeck understand what I meant.
“But, even if Austria is torn apart, there is no guarantee that it will return to the empire, is there?”
“Of course there is.”
If the export of agricultural products is blocked and strangled behind the scenes, Austria, which has lost its ability to support itself, will naturally raise voices petitioning for German annexation.
Like Austria right after its defeat in World War I. If the Allies had not stopped it then, the Anschluss would have occurred in 1919.
Of course, there would be more of the mainland left than Austria at that time, but they were no different from them in that they did not have the ability to self-sufficient food.
“Have you ever made your Majesty’s plan known to those around you?”
“Only Jim knows this for now. “Now there’s one more person who knows the truth.”
If we keep talking about such dangerous plans around the neighborhood, no one will trust Germany.
I wanted to absorb Austria in a natural way.
“I will definitely keep the secret. However, please allow us to share information with the Ministry of War.”
“Please do so.”
I decided to advance the plan to annex Austria that had been planned during the war.
*
On August 5, 1918, two months after the outbreak of the civil war, the strongest mercenary unit that swept across southern Russia, the ‘Tchaikovsky Corps’, appeared.
“The German army intervened!”
The Tchaikovsky Corps, armed with German helmets, military uniforms, and German weapons, was clearly the German army itself.
The Hungarian army lost its will to fight as soon as it recalled the German army’s terrible achievements during the war. They knew better than anyone else how vicious and vicious the Germans were.
“It is absolutely impossible to fight against the German army. Let’s negotiate instead.”
Voices calling for negotiation began to grow louder in the Hungarian parliament, which had decided on war against Austria. Lawmakers who argued for a hard-line stance also changed their opinions.
The Labor National Party (Liberal Party), which led the grand compromise of 1867, was a representative example.
The Labor People’s Party was so pro-Austrian that it was nicknamed the ‘Imperialist Party’, so when the situation changed, it immediately returned to its original tone.
Sandor Beckerle, the prime minister from the Labor People’s Party, felt embarrassed by this situation.
“No, what should I do if they agree to fight against Austria and then fall for it like this?”
Amidst chaos in Hungary, Michalli Karolyi, a member of the Independence Party, came to the surface.
Karoli, who had been friendly to the Entente before the war, once again proposed extending a friendly hand to the kingdom’s potential enemies.
His argument was that since Austria won the German coin anyway, it was necessary to balance the scales even if it meant bringing in the other side.
“Romania, let’s join hands with Italy. “They are also Germany’s allies, so if they intervene, Berlin will also adjust the level of intervention.”
“No, isn’t that crazy?”
Italy and Romania were potential enemies that could invade Austria-Hungary’s territory.
Italy was very interested in the Austrian territory, but Romania was a different story. It was no secret that they coveted Transylvania, the core of the kingdom.
“I’m saying this because I can’t just sit here and perish.”
“I just need to negotiate.”
While the Congress continued to idle, the Hungarian army continued to suffer consecutive defeats. We attempted to negotiate with Berlin behind closed doors, but the response was hopeless.
“Is this the Tchaikovsky Corps? In any case, those kind young men have nothing to do with our country.”
Kind young men wearing German military uniforms and led by German officers have nothing to do with Germany.
It was a story that made dogs laugh, but it couldn’t be taken seriously.
On August 12, 1918, the Hungarian Army retreated to the outskirts of Budapest, pushing the war situation to a desperate point.
The prime minister gave in to his pride and sent someone to Vienna to attempt negotiations.
However, Vienna’s attitude was more overbearing than before.
“Of course the previous conditions cannot be met. Your privileges will also have to be drastically reduced. “Agree that from now on, the imperial government will be fully responsible for diplomacy and national defense.”
This was tantamount to lowering Hungary’s position to a level similar to that of the Kingdom of Croatia and Slovenia.
“I cannot accept such conditions.”
“Then let’s keep fighting.”
The Austrians had nothing to regret.
Why do we use our mouths to argue about something that will end when we go to Budapest and get a signature for surrender?
The Hungarian government was in despair.
In fact, Hungary had no intention of ending with the imperial government from the beginning. After showing off Hungary’s national power, they planned to get what they wanted and leave.
But it was different over there.
The attitude was that they would use this opportunity to end Hungary.
While the Hungarian government was trembling with fear, anarchists who had been advocating an anti-war movement during the war raised their heads.
“Why do we have to shed blood again in the fight against the imperialists?”
The Galileo Circle, which grew in power in university areas, broke the morale of the Hungarian army by handing out pamphlets on the streets.
“Those friends aren’t wrong either.”
Now, pamphlets of the Galileo Circle could be found even in the military.
At this point, Austria’s victory seemed certain.
But.
“Really, Berlin will tolerate our intervention, right?”
“We will not officially acknowledge it. This is ‘connivance.'”
“That’s right. “Germany doesn’t know about this.”
A hunting dog that was drooling outside the stadium jumped into the fight as soon as it received the race signal. The Hungarian government, which was in a difficult position, accepted the participation of the Romanian volunteer army in exchange for giving up part of its territory.
Anyway, Romania’s intervention alone shocked Austria. Romania sent as many as 80,000 intervention troops. The quality may have been poor, but the numbers did not lie.
“Those bastards dared to target our territory and intervene? Have you tried requesting arbitration in Berlin?”
“Berlin said they would try to put pressure on Bucharest.”
The problem was Germany.
My eldest brother, who reassuringly supported the volunteer army, was acting lukewarmly on this issue. It was also uncharacteristic of Germany to support the Serbian issue and even cause a world war.
“The only thing I can trust is Berlin. “Try to convince me somehow.”
As the situation dragged on, other hunting dogs who were watching outside the ring also smelled it.
“Seeing as Germany is leaving Romania alone, do you think it would be okay to come in?”
Even so, the Soviet Union, which was gnashing its teeth at Germany over the loss of the Caucasus, did not sit still.
“They also intervened in our civil war, so let’s give them back in the same way.”
The Soviet Union proposed sending volunteer troops to Hungary, which it had nothing to do with ideologically. Although there was a motive to seek revenge on the allies, there were other ulterior motives as well.
“Looking closely, I can see that the interior of Hungary is very chaotic. “If done well, I think there will be an opportunity to establish a communist regime.”
Poland also did not just sit back and watch.
“If we help Austria this time, wouldn’t we get a part of Galicia?”
Piusudski planned to use this opportunity to expand Poland’s territory.
Due to the aftereffects of the war, volunteer soldiers began to form even in Italy, which had no regard for war.
It was not a government-level intervention, but an individually gathered nationalist militia.
“When Austria is in chaos, we must restore our homeland! “We will end the victory of the crippled!”
The army led by Gabrielle D’Annunzio landed on Austrian territory.
The Austro-Hungarian Navy maintained its organization, but was unable to prevent this landing as it was unable to function properly due to the aftermath of the civil war.
“Still, the Austrians were annoying, so let’s give Hungary some strength.”
Some of the British rushed to Hungary with weapons and funds.
As each country became involved in the civil war, the war began to take on the aspect of an international war.
Although Austria took the lead, interference from all sides made it difficult to end the war in a short period of time.
The Austrian imperial government was embarrassed by this situation, but there was nothing they could do.
Pandora’s box has already been opened a long time ago.