Why did Austria-Hungary do so poorly in World War One (Short Animated Documentary)
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Date: 2026-01-23
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Comments and reviews: 20
history_matters
MAJOR ERRORS. First off the Austrians hated the Hungarians and treated them inferiorly. Still do to this day. The 1848 failed rebellion against Austrian rule was still in the memory of many. The 1867 compromise was nothing more than paper. You seem to think that no one was bilingual in the empire when in fact they were. Romanian lived next to Hungarian. German lived next to Romanian. Croat lived next to Hungarian. Etc. Even today, in many of these communities second languages are taught, and people know at least one additional language. This isn’t the UK where nobody knows anything other than English and then going to Marbella and demanding they speak English to you. Your ethnocentric view is DISTURBING. Where do you get off making videos like these which you have no clue about The real cause of the poor performance lies with the decision-making of Empress Maria Theresia. PROVE ME WRONG, which you can’t. Downvoted.
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MAJOR ERRORS. First off the Austrians hated the Hungarians and treated them inferiorly. Still do to this day. The 1848 failed rebellion against Austrian rule was still in the memory of many. The 1867 compromise was nothing more than paper. You seem to think that no one was bilingual in the empire when in fact they were. Romanian lived next to Hungarian. German lived next to Romanian. Croat lived next to Hungarian. Etc. Even today, in many of these communities second languages are taught, and people know at least one additional language. This isn’t the UK where nobody knows anything other than English and then going to Marbella and demanding they speak English to you. Your ethnocentric view is DISTURBING. Where do you get off making videos like these which you have no clue about The real cause of the poor performance lies with the decision-making of Empress Maria Theresia. PROVE ME WRONG, which you can’t. Downvoted.
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marcuslang6153
The navy of Austria-Hungary was very good and effective, by the way. They beat the Italians quickly.
All things combined, the administration of Austria-Hungary was very good and was the blueprint for all the administrations of the countries that were born out of the collapse, later. In a way, Austria-Hungary was a very early pre-cursor of the EU, but the explosive idea of 'national states' for each ethnic people got in the way. Only after the desaster of ww2 did the states of Europe learn, that there is much more they share, than there is what divides them. None of the east European countries today sees the time in the Austria-Hungary-empire as bad, in retrospect.
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The navy of Austria-Hungary was very good and effective, by the way. They beat the Italians quickly.
All things combined, the administration of Austria-Hungary was very good and was the blueprint for all the administrations of the countries that were born out of the collapse, later. In a way, Austria-Hungary was a very early pre-cursor of the EU, but the explosive idea of 'national states' for each ethnic people got in the way. Only after the desaster of ww2 did the states of Europe learn, that there is much more they share, than there is what divides them. None of the east European countries today sees the time in the Austria-Hungary-empire as bad, in retrospect.
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ryno155
I think that Austria actually did great in the war! 3 fronts (4 if you count the soldiers that were sent to France) disrupted army, very difficult to manage because of the ethnicities (that didn’t hate each other, many of them preferred staying in the empire because it gave them protection and a stable wealth) German high command putting a lot of pressure, harsh terrains, an old (but great) leader. Austria has always been a bit late on modernizing but she never disappointed in any war! Love from the ex Great Austrian port of Trieste
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I think that Austria actually did great in the war! 3 fronts (4 if you count the soldiers that were sent to France) disrupted army, very difficult to manage because of the ethnicities (that didn’t hate each other, many of them preferred staying in the empire because it gave them protection and a stable wealth) German high command putting a lot of pressure, harsh terrains, an old (but great) leader. Austria has always been a bit late on modernizing but she never disappointed in any war! Love from the ex Great Austrian port of Trieste
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danielm6319
I think key word here is Croatia, correctly unitification of Croatia-Slavonia, Rijeka, Istra and Dalmatia. See, in Croatian-majority city Pula, there were Austria Navy HQ meanwhile in Croatian-majority and Hungary-controlled city of Rijeka there were Hungary Navy HQ. Poorly made infrastructure in Dalmatia and fact officers didn't know minority languages (and so soldiers) make impact on Austria-Hungary military performance. If they Austrian and Hungarian officers learn Czech and Croatian situation on the field would be different.
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I think key word here is Croatia, correctly unitification of Croatia-Slavonia, Rijeka, Istra and Dalmatia. See, in Croatian-majority city Pula, there were Austria Navy HQ meanwhile in Croatian-majority and Hungary-controlled city of Rijeka there were Hungary Navy HQ. Poorly made infrastructure in Dalmatia and fact officers didn't know minority languages (and so soldiers) make impact on Austria-Hungary military performance. If they Austrian and Hungarian officers learn Czech and Croatian situation on the field would be different.
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mikeymmike
The starvation was probably the worst thing. As early as 1916 AH was telling the Germans it had food shortages, by 1917 serious food shortages, by 1918 outright starvation especially in Cisleithania. Soldiers’ daily ration was a handful of dried vegetables and they were a priority group - imagine what it was like for civilians. Industries like textiles and clothing had almost completely collapsed. Karl’s government told the Germans in the spring of 1918 that AH would not survive another wartime winter. He was right.
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The starvation was probably the worst thing. As early as 1916 AH was telling the Germans it had food shortages, by 1917 serious food shortages, by 1918 outright starvation especially in Cisleithania. Soldiers’ daily ration was a handful of dried vegetables and they were a priority group - imagine what it was like for civilians. Industries like textiles and clothing had almost completely collapsed. Karl’s government told the Germans in the spring of 1918 that AH would not survive another wartime winter. He was right.
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trixus4768
Fun fact about the Austro Hungarian navy:
They DID actually had Dreadnoughts.
But the main problem was that the only place in the Empire with facilities and skilled workforce to make 305mm naval guns and turrets for them was Bohemia - which was the northern most part of the Empire.
So when the extremely heavy guns and turrets were built, they had to be transported via train all the way to Pula (today's Croatia. Literally, across the Empire. Same thing goes for spare barrels. L O G I S T I C S
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Fun fact about the Austro Hungarian navy:
They DID actually had Dreadnoughts.
But the main problem was that the only place in the Empire with facilities and skilled workforce to make 305mm naval guns and turrets for them was Bohemia - which was the northern most part of the Empire.
So when the extremely heavy guns and turrets were built, they had to be transported via train all the way to Pula (today's Croatia. Literally, across the Empire. Same thing goes for spare barrels. L O G I S T I C S
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history_matters
Like so History Matters sees this:
It’d be awesome to see a video explaining how France went from being broke at the start of and throughout the French Revolution to having enough capital at the end of the Napolenoic Wars to take over Algeria within a decade or two.
France’s economic woes were what started the revolution and plunged europe into over twenty years of war, but everyone overlooks or doesn’t even explain how France recovered economically during all the chaos.
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Like so History Matters sees this:
It’d be awesome to see a video explaining how France went from being broke at the start of and throughout the French Revolution to having enough capital at the end of the Napolenoic Wars to take over Algeria within a decade or two.
France’s economic woes were what started the revolution and plunged europe into over twenty years of war, but everyone overlooks or doesn’t even explain how France recovered economically during all the chaos.
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aleksazunjic9672
Empire actually started the war against Serbia in order to stop or at least postpone inevitable demise and breakup. Serbia was attractive for Southern Slavs (as Piemonte was once for Italians), and Slavs in general in AU, as a new independent country. Austrians together with Hungarians were actually minority in AU but held almost all political power. This of course could not stand, but by crushing the Serbia they did hope it would scare other Slavs into submission.
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Empire actually started the war against Serbia in order to stop or at least postpone inevitable demise and breakup. Serbia was attractive for Southern Slavs (as Piemonte was once for Italians), and Slavs in general in AU, as a new independent country. Austrians together with Hungarians were actually minority in AU but held almost all political power. This of course could not stand, but by crushing the Serbia they did hope it would scare other Slavs into submission.
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rizzochuenringe669
The performance of the Austrian troops against Italy was not poor at all. Given that the whole Italian Army fought against its only enemy and on the other side there were to a high percentage merely Austrian militia troops mostly from Tyrol (incl. Italians from Trentino, Italy performed poorly and made almost no advances. Towards the end of WWI Austria - with substantial help from Germany - even defeated the Italian Army pretty heftly, almost to shattering it.
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The performance of the Austrian troops against Italy was not poor at all. Given that the whole Italian Army fought against its only enemy and on the other side there were to a high percentage merely Austrian militia troops mostly from Tyrol (incl. Italians from Trentino, Italy performed poorly and made almost no advances. Towards the end of WWI Austria - with substantial help from Germany - even defeated the Italian Army pretty heftly, almost to shattering it.
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baronvonjo1929
One thing about conquering and ruling people I never understood historically is when the rulers actively hate, kill, and sabotage different groups of people. Not gonna lie, some groups of people have meh culture or traditions. Im not saying embrace everything. But logically, wouldn't it make more sense to try and integrate these peoples via various means
Showing and acting with outright disdain is a quick way to have an insurrection I would think.
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One thing about conquering and ruling people I never understood historically is when the rulers actively hate, kill, and sabotage different groups of people. Not gonna lie, some groups of people have meh culture or traditions. Im not saying embrace everything. But logically, wouldn't it make more sense to try and integrate these peoples via various means
Showing and acting with outright disdain is a quick way to have an insurrection I would think.
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SimonAshworthWood
Those old monarchs were incompetent as funk. I have merely watched some docos, read some books & played some games (e. g. Crusader Kings) about medieval rulership and even I know that consolidating a realm (one military, one govt, etc) and ensuring a shared language is important for longterm economic & military success & holding realm together when the ruler dies.
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Those old monarchs were incompetent as funk. I have merely watched some docos, read some books & played some games (e. g. Crusader Kings) about medieval rulership and even I know that consolidating a realm (one military, one govt, etc) and ensuring a shared language is important for longterm economic & military success & holding realm together when the ruler dies.
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rizzochuenringe669
My maternal grandfather was NCO on AH battleship Szent Istvan and spoke German, Italian, Slovenian, Croatian and Hungarian. Being proficient in several languages was not an exception, even among low ranking sailors.
Fun Fact: the father of Pope John Paul II was NCO in the Austro-Hungarian Army, and so was the young Tito, Chief of State of Yugoslavia.
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My maternal grandfather was NCO on AH battleship Szent Istvan and spoke German, Italian, Slovenian, Croatian and Hungarian. Being proficient in several languages was not an exception, even among low ranking sailors.
Fun Fact: the father of Pope John Paul II was NCO in the Austro-Hungarian Army, and so was the young Tito, Chief of State of Yugoslavia.
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rafaelyamano2661
It also must be said that the Austro Hungarian army didn't care much about logistics. Neither did the Ottoman Empire. And WW1 was harsh on those that didn't care about logistics. So sending soldiers without coats to fight in snowy mountains, like the Carpathians, resulted in the death of some of the best trained and officers right as the war started.
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It also must be said that the Austro Hungarian army didn't care much about logistics. Neither did the Ottoman Empire. And WW1 was harsh on those that didn't care about logistics. So sending soldiers without coats to fight in snowy mountains, like the Carpathians, resulted in the death of some of the best trained and officers right as the war started.
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DartzinhoV
3: 40 I’m currently reading a collection of Stefan Zweig’s travel articles, and one of them is about his journey to the Galician frontlines in 1915. In it, he mentions tens of trains filled with soldiers coming and going while he waited in a train station. Crazy to think all that movement was because of this
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3: 40 I’m currently reading a collection of Stefan Zweig’s travel articles, and one of them is about his journey to the Galician frontlines in 1915. In it, he mentions tens of trains filled with soldiers coming and going while he waited in a train station. Crazy to think all that movement was because of this
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Harahvaiti
And it was 7 percent of Croatian language spoken in AH monarchy, not Serbian. you either do things properly or don't do it.
Royal Home Guard of Croatia within Royal Home Guard of Hungarian Crown had its own officers corps from corporal to general and even one field-marshal and language used was Croatian.
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And it was 7 percent of Croatian language spoken in AH monarchy, not Serbian. you either do things properly or don't do it.
Royal Home Guard of Croatia within Royal Home Guard of Hungarian Crown had its own officers corps from corporal to general and even one field-marshal and language used was Croatian.
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dtikvxcdgjbv7975
Errors. 1: 50 Croat majority is in south (Dubrovnik.
Hungary did have naval ambitions.
2: 08 there's no Croat-Serbian language, nor Croat-Serbian ethnicity. To make things worse, in spoken text You said Serbian. There were many more Croats than Serbs in Monarchy.
Poorly prepared video.
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Errors. 1: 50 Croat majority is in south (Dubrovnik.
Hungary did have naval ambitions.
2: 08 there's no Croat-Serbian language, nor Croat-Serbian ethnicity. To make things worse, in spoken text You said Serbian. There were many more Croats than Serbs in Monarchy.
Poorly prepared video.
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jmbproductions1838
Diversity killed the Austro-Hungarian Empire. The dominant culture (Austria) was diluted over the previous century and once that happens, every civilization that was once great, has fallen. From the Roman Empire to the Ottoman & Austrian. Too bad people never learn from history, isn't it
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Diversity killed the Austro-Hungarian Empire. The dominant culture (Austria) was diluted over the previous century and once that happens, every civilization that was once great, has fallen. From the Roman Empire to the Ottoman & Austrian. Too bad people never learn from history, isn't it
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history_matters
Simply put guys: AH was a perfect empire filled with diversity, multiculturalism, religions utopia, but, they didn't have enough taxes to fund enough learing centres for their arrogant, fascist pig officers who didn't learn their subordinates multiple languages! Run it back!
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Simply put guys: AH was a perfect empire filled with diversity, multiculturalism, religions utopia, but, they didn't have enough taxes to fund enough learing centres for their arrogant, fascist pig officers who didn't learn their subordinates multiple languages! Run it back!
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VandalStork
If you've ever read of WW1, you'll be well aware of the Pompous, rolling clown car that was Conrad von Hotzendorf. He wasn't the worst general ever, but may have been the worst stratigist the world has ever seen. Prewar his reputation as a theorist was golden.
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If you've ever read of WW1, you'll be well aware of the Pompous, rolling clown car that was Conrad von Hotzendorf. He wasn't the worst general ever, but may have been the worst stratigist the world has ever seen. Prewar his reputation as a theorist was golden.
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gamepower4708
Also to mention is that Austria Hungary once the crisis began only had gone to partial mobilisation of it's army and by the time they fully mobilised the war had begun meaning the military wasn't even in top shape of the already poor state it was in
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Also to mention is that Austria Hungary once the crisis began only had gone to partial mobilisation of it's army and by the time they fully mobilised the war had begun meaning the military wasn't even in top shape of the already poor state it was in
reply
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