Baják László Ihász István: The Hungarian National Museum History Exhibition Guide 4 - The short century of survival (1900-1990) (Budapest, 2008)

Room 16. From the Belle Epoch to the Collapse of the Monarchy (1900-1919). László Baják

an phenomenon accompanying war and revolution, stood in close spiritual kinship with such organs of middle-class radicalism then being formed as the Galilei Circle or some Masonic lodges. A heightening of international tension significantly contributed to the political restlessness at the beginning of the century. The formation of the situation in the Balkans was of decisive importance for the Monarchy. The ferocious struggle for inheritance of the retreating Turkish Empire partly began among the peninsular peoples and partly between the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy and Russia. The Russians wished to extend their influence to the straits, while the Monarchy would have liked to control the Balkans because it meant for them a constant source of danger. In 1908, when the Monarchy annected Bosnia-Herzegovina, it must have seemed that it was one step ahead. For the Russians however it became transparent that Balkan hegemony could only be achieved by slicing up the Monarchy. Serbia was an ideal base for such an action, as in the Balkan Wars it had strengthened considerably compared with its neighbours and was carrying out an irredentist policy in the interest of obtaining Bosnia-Herzegovina and the territories of the Monarchy populated by Southern Slavs. In the face of threats from Russia, the Monarchy could count upon support from Germany. Yet a German alliance would necessarily bring into play other international conflicts in Europe. When on June 28, 1914 the Serbian nationalists assassinated Franz Ferdinand, heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne, and his wife in Bosnia's capital, the Monarchy's military deemed the time ripe to bring Serbia to heel. Very few considered the possible consequences of such a declaration of war like István Tisza, who to the very last opposed the war. Although Hungarian interests did not always coincide with those of the Empire, Tisza eventually had to give way. The Monarchy, from the leaders right the way down to the man in the street, counted on a short and decisive campaign, but they suddenly found themselves in the middle of a World War for which they were unprepared. The declaration of war set into motion Europe's military alliances: the Triple Entente (Britain, France and Russia) and the other member of the Central Powers, Germany. The war, planned at most for a few months, lasted four years. Serbia displayed greater resistance than had been Porcelain plate with the portraits of the rulers of the Central Powers (William II and Franz Joseph)