Second map in my CP victory series
The Fate of Austria-Hungary
In the aftermath of the Great War the Hapsburg Empire found itself in a precarious situation facing problems both from without and from within. To the East the Soviets rose victarious in the Russian civil war, to the west the Italian Socialists overthrew the Italian monarchy establishing their own communist republic. The Habsburgs also found their allies to not be much help. To the north the victorious German empire was itself in dire straights with inflation and food shortages running rampant, and to the south the expansionist Bulgarian Empire eyes Albania and the Slavic lands hungrily.
From within the victory of the wars temporarily quelled serious calls for dissolution of the empire, at least in the short-term, but calls for recognition and federalization remain in the background. Even among the Germans talk of Anschluss began.
Early Post-War and The Treaty of The Crown of Zvonimir
In the early post-war Vienna found itself facing its first challenge of compromise. Any talk of federalization was outright dead on arrival due to Hungarian protests. In early 1919 Croatian, Austrian, Slovenian, Montenegran and Hungarian diplomats met in the Conference of Zagreb. Bosnians and Serbs were excluded entirely from the discussions. Eventually from this conference the Triarchy would emerge, establishing The Kingdom of Croatia. This treaty was palatable to the Hungarians and Croatians, but left both of them bitter over the lands they didn't get.
Galician Unrest
In Galicia the Poles and Ruthenians found themselves outside of the country of their own people after the formation of The Kingdom of The Ukraine and The Congress of Poland. The Poles called for annexation of the Congress of Poland to the Empire and their own elevation to become the fourth crown of the empire, while the Ruthenians wished to secede to join the newly formed Ukraine.
Formation of the Hungarian Nationalist Alliance and the Transleithanian Communist Party
In Hungary returning soldiers demanded representation and voting rights. Calls for enfranchisement would lead to protests and near civil war with the
Honvéd being deployed to maintain order. In this chaos two major reactionary political movements would emerge. The ultra-right would be dominated by the Hungarian Nationalist Alliance and the far left Transleithanian Communist Party. While on paper these two groups were divided on ideological grounds, the reality was that like much of Austro-Hungarian politics they became divided on ethnic grounds instead, with the communists most popular among ethnic minorities while the Nationalists were most popular among the ethnic hungarians, as the Nationalist Alliance drew in much of the Independence Party and other conservative voters.
On the verge of civil war, and reluctance of the Hungarian diet on compromise Emperor Charles the I was forced to step in, giving voting rights to all males of the empire over the age of 24 in the Voting Rights Act of 1922. The Diet of Hungary agreed to pass the voting rights act albeit narrowly after threats that Charles would dissolve the diet. In the elections of 1924 the Transleithanian Communist Party (TCP) gained 17% of seats while the Hungarian Nationalist Alliance gained 30% of seats. The new government would be formed between the TCP and the Liberal Party. Driving the kingdom further to the left and further from the desires of conservative Hungarians.
Hungarian Coup of 1926
On September 16th General Vilmos Nagy de Nagybaczon, minister of defense launches a coup in Budapest, with around 20,000 Hunved supporters and financial backing of the Hungarian Magnates. The coup is partially successful, but most of the Hungarian diet escapes. A new nationalist government is formed with Nagybaczon as prime minister. From the west Emperor Charles orders the dissolution of the new government in Hungary, the remains of the old Hungarian Diet flees to Vienna.
A general uprising begins shortly after with many leftist paramilitary groups forming and taking up arms.
Hungarian Civil War (1926-1929)
The Nationalist government quickly began efforts to consolidate power, banning the communist and leftist parties. Harsh crackdowns as on November 1st 1926 Bela Kun declares himself president of the Republic of Hungary and establishes a communist government in the city of Nagybanya, thus beginning the Hungarian civil war.
On March 3rd 1927, Emperor Charles launches an invasion of Hungary. While they face initial success pushing to the outskirts of Budapest the front begins to grind down with renewed trench warfare. Many thousands of Austrian soldiers desert, particularly among the non-German elements.
Thousands of volunteer soviet fighters flood into Hungary.
Yugoslavian Declaration of Independence 1927
On May 13th 1927 the Congress of the Kingdom of Croatia declares independence from the Habsburg crown. They are quickly able to gain support from the military in the region as they quickly gain control of most of the country.
Austrian Civil War (1927-1931)
On July 31st 1927 the Czech republic declares independence from the Habsburg empire. Austrian forces quickly move to occupy Prague.
Just 6 days later, The Kingdom of Ruthenia is announced as a new government is formed,
Polish uprisings begin as they seek help from The Kingdom of Poland, and the German Empire.
The German Empire begins sending aid to the Habsburg cause.
German citizens in Austria begin calling for the abdication of Charles the 1st.
By 1929 the Austrian treasury is near empty as the government begins to collapse.
German Intervention
German forces occupy Galicia and Bohemia. Germany begins sending support to the Hungarian nationalists in order to prevent a communist takeover of Hungary. Eventually the nationalists are victorious in the war, but are exhausted from the fighting. With German pressure Hungarians agree to sign the Treaty of Bratislava brokered by Germany in which the Hungarians agree to grant independence to Slovakia and return Transylvania to Romania.
Germany occupies Austria to restore order. In the Treaty of Vienna, Germany annexes Austria but gives it special autonomous privileges and allows Charles the 1st remain King of German Austria.
