Here ya go!
Popovici's Austria
View attachment 318659
The Great War was in a good situation for Austria. Germany had managed to keep Belgium and thus, the Brits nutral and reached Paris in early 1915. The Eastern Front was harsh, but the Russian army was retreating further and further into the east. The Great War was a full success and Russia was defeated.
The Treaty of Salzburg, signed on April 12th, 1917, conceded Serbia, Montenegro and Romania in exception of the Danube Delta to Austria. The latter was given to Ally Bulgaria. In another treaty to particion Poland and to settle German's annexations in the east (Congress Poland and Latvia-Estonia), Kaiser Karl managed to regain the Areas Austria gained during the polish partition in 1795, Just as Germany regained her part up to Suwalki.
As glorious as the war was, Austria had still taken damage. The Inabitants of the Empire had become even more Non-German and Non-hungarian, and were calling for self determination.
Austria went the right way: Kaiser Karl decided to reform the state into a "Danubian Federation" which should become similar to Switzerland. Austria distanced itself from Germany, fearing German irredentism striking the Kaiser's power. With the help of Swiss politicians, representatives of the Ethnic groups and other political experts, the Habsburgs under Leadership of Kaiser Karl drafted a concept to federalize Austria in order to prevent its secession.
Following Demands were included into the new Country's constitution:
1st: Cantonization of the Empire into the Ethnic groups
2nd: Autonomous Exclaves for Germans which technically were German Cantons but pro forma belonged to the State of the Major Ethnic Group
3rd: Release of Vienna and Budapest to form seperate City States
4th: Absolute Equality of these States, Exclaves and Cities in the Danubian Federal Parliament
5th: Partial Democratization of the Empire by giving the Monarch a clear position
6th: Every Language is official, while German is used as a Lingua Franca for inter-territorial Understanding and Scientific Advance
7th: Political Distancing from Germany to ensure Austrian Neutrality, while keeping cordial Relations with the Brother Nation.
On February 2nd, 1918 finally, The Danubian Federation was declared. The Germans disapproved of the Idea and waited to let it fail but the Austrian idea of anti-nationalism worked out quite good although some sitations in the early 20s became critical to the Project's safety.
Austria had become a major Cultural and Media hub, regaining much of its prestige, with Vienna feeling the vibes of culture that only other cities such as Paris and New York could feel OTL.
(Short story. Don't expect that much background thoughts)
