Introduction

Abstract

In the minds of many historians, students, and the general public, Austria-Hungary’s role in World War I has been relegated to that of a mere ‘corpse/ shackled to its powerful German ally and entirely dependent on it for survival. True, the Great War ended the Dual Monarchy’s existence, but only after more than four years of war, a front line stretching over two-thirds of its borders, and conflict with five of its seven neighbors. Moreover, Austria-Hungary was the second strongest member of the Quadruple Alliance, the vital land link to Germany’s oriental allies Turkey and Bulgaria, and the only reason why Germany did not face the combined might of the three Entente powers entirely alone, against which she would have succumbed much sooner.