Austria Hungary gains after WW1?

I find it interesting that even though Austria wins this war, it loses territory still.

The Austrian state was unsustainable, too many nations and not enough states.

Essentially the only way for Austrian Empire to survive was for them to split off certain territory to aligned monarchs (Ukraine, Poland) and give autonomy to the Czechs and Croats. Otherwise it was destined for collapse.
 
I find it interesting that even though Austria wins this war, it loses territory still.
Galicia was very poor, and very hard to defend.

Without Galicia one of the unresolved territories and its troubles is gone, the national finances look better and the Eastern border is now at the Carpathian mountains, where a few forts are enough to defend even against the largest invasions.
 
Essentially the only way for Austrian Empire to survive was for them to split off certain territory to aligned monarchs (Ukraine, Poland) and give autonomy to the Czechs and Croats. Otherwise it was destined for collapse.

"Gesundschrumpfen", as we would say.
 
I find it interesting that even though Austria wins this war, it loses territory still.

And that is what makes the war so frustrating, despite the doomsday sentiments of a CP victory, what really changes? Poland at best gains independence but switches its orientation, at most it simply changes who rules over them as they otherwise pursue essentially an autonomy. Ukraine might be a big winner, gaining independence, gaining the attention of both Germany and Ukraine to further improve its agriculture, industrialize it, etc. But we went to war to set the Ruthenians free and to become a huge trade partner with Germany? Crushing Serbia does little to improve the relationship with the Slavic minorities or improve security, it is either garrisoned forever or abandoned to ruins but festering with hate. In which direction does A-H push? More Italians, more Poles, more Ruthenians, more Serbs, what prizes sit just across those frontiers? A-H likely could have invaded Serbia in the first weeks after the assassination with most nations feeling justice was being done, accuse the Czar's government of fanning the flame of Regicide and maybe they blink, or simply keep up the diplomatic pressure, isolate Serbia, and support a change of government while demanding the guilty be turned over for justice. But to draw it out invited the Russians to meddle and involved the fragile balances. Reasonable minds can see the war was not worth the sacrifices but worst of all victory is anything but a Godsend.
 
How well does Austria-Hungary do in the East? A stronger Austro-Hungarian position might make the Austro-Polish solution (self-governing Kingdom of Poland with Austrian Emperor as King) which was favored by Charles I (though the German will still oppose the idea).
 
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