AHC: Austria-Hungary goads Serbia and Italy into a war with each other over Albania

raharris1973

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Could Austria-Hungary achieve this result and thus weaken both of its irredentist enemies? Or, despite their respective ambitions over Albania, would the Serbs and Italians be careful enough to avoid such a trap?
 
Vienna would probably have feared that Italy and Serbia would agree to divide the prize equitably rather than in squabble. In terms of a trap, I don't think it was that so much that than could Austria come up with a policy towards an Italian Balkans sphere of influence that Rome could buy into, a substitute for claims inside Austrian territory?
 
Could Austria-Hungary achieve this result and thus weaken both of its irredentist enemies? Or, despite their respective ambitions over Albania, would the Serbs and Italians be careful enough to avoid such a trap?
If Austria-Hungary could get Serbia to start the war on Italy prior to 1914, then wouldn't Austria-Hungary have the right to come to Italy's aid via the Triple Alliance? Would that not possibly lead to Austria-Hungary then gaining the legitimate right to attack the Serbs and possibly take more land form them?

If this happens, does Russia join in on Serbia's side? Would there be a reluctance or refusal by Triple Entente allies, France and Great Britain, to join in with Russia much like the Italians did in 1914 in not coming to the aide of Germany and Austria-Hungary?
 
If Austria-Hungary could get Serbia to start the war on Italy prior to 1914, then wouldn't Austria-Hungary have the right to come to Italy's aid via the Triple Alliance? Would that not possibly lead to Austria-Hungary then gaining the legitimate right to attack the Serbs and possibly take more land form them?

Yes, there was the potential in the Balkans for the Austro-Italian alliance to find something that made Pinocchio a real boy. Might be why the Entente backed Austria against Serbia in 1912/1913.
 
Impossible. Even if Austria-Hungary somehow influenced Italy and Serbia to focus more of their attention onto Albania (and this is hard enough - Vienna was not even remotely liked or trusted in either country), the end result would not be war. More likely Italy and Serbia would agree to split Albania between their spheres. And, if push comes to shove, Serbia would not go to war with Italy - not even if it means leaving 90-100% of Albania in Italy's hands.
 
Impossible. Even if Austria-Hungary somehow influenced Italy and Serbia to focus more of their attention onto Albania (and this is hard enough - Vienna was not even remotely liked or trusted in either country), the end result would not be war. More likely Italy and Serbia would agree to split Albania between their spheres. And, if push comes to shove, Serbia would not go to war with Italy - not even if it means leaving 90-100% of Albania in Italy's hands.

I said up stream that Serbia and Italy would agree to a split. Still, when you say "impossible", methinks you underestimate the Italian appetite.
 
methinks you underestimate the Italian appetite.

That is possible...but Italy's appetite doesn't necessarily translate to being led around by Vienna like a puppet on a string. Nor does it mean an inability to make compromises. And even if Italy goes in really hard insists on a disproportionately massive share, this would end with Italy getting more or less what it wants - not with war.
 
It's not a question of Vienna doing anything in terms of manipulating Italy. The moth goes to the flame on its own accord. All Austria does is ramp up the light a bit to increase the temptation, and support Italy in any project - the more reckless the better - that is aimed at territory - any territory - that is elsewhere than Austria-Hungary.
 
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