The Undermining of Austria-Hungary

1. Front Matter

   Pages i-xvi

   PDF

2. A Theory of Front Propaganda

   • Mark Cornwall

   Pages 1-15

3. Austria-Hungary and the Control of Wartime Morale

   • Mark Cornwall

   Pages 16-39

4. The Experience of Propaganda against Russia

   • Mark Cornwall

   Pages 40-73

5. Austria-Hungary’s Campaign against Italy

   • Mark Cornwall

   Pages 74-111

6. The Seeds of Italy’s Campaign

   • Mark Cornwall

   Pages 112-173

7. Italy’s Campaign against Austria-Hungary

   • Mark Cornwall

   Pages 174-256

8. Austria-Hungary on the Defensive

   • Mark Cornwall

   Pages 257-319

9. The Climax of Italian Psychological Warfare

   • Mark Cornwall

   Pages 320-404

10. Disintegration

    • Mark Cornwall

    Pages 405-432

11. Conclusion

    • Mark Cornwall

    Pages 433-444

12. Back Matter

    Pages 445-485

    PDF

This is a major new contribution to the historiography of the First World War. It examines the lively battle of ideas which helped to destroy Austria-Hungary. It also assesses, for the first time, the weapon of 'front propaganda' as used by and against the Empire on the Italian and Eastern Fronts. Based on material in eight languages, the work challenges accepted views about Britain's primacy in the field of propaganda, while casting fresh light on the creation of Yugoslavia and the viability of the Habsburg Empire in its last years.

• Austria
• Britain
• empire
• historiography
• Hungary
• Russia

'It is a long awaited, very scholarly, authoritative, and intensively researched piece of work that expertly fills a large gap in the historiography of the First World War. It is a major contribution to our understanding of the Austro-Italian front (the most neglected of the major theatres of the war), of the break-up of the Habsburg Monarchy, and of front propaganda (which has previously been studied almost entirely in the context of the Western Front).

Despite the complexity of its material, it is clearly and attractively written. It deals with topics that had been almost wholly neglected by English-language writers and is the product of years of work in an impressive variety of languages and archival sources.' - Professor David Stevenson, The London School of Economics and Political Science

This is the best and most significant book on a topic related to the Austro-Hungarian armed forces...required reading for all scholars and students...' - American Historical Review

'...a long awaited, very scholarly, authoritative, and intensively researched piece of work that expertly fills a large gap in the historiography of the First World War...a major contribution to our understanding of the Austro-Italian front...the break-up of the Habsburg Monarchy, and of front propaganda..Despite the complexity of its material, it is clearly and attractively written...is the product of years of work in an impressive variety of languages and archival sources. It should receive excellent reviews.' - Professor David Stevenson, Department of International History, London School of Economics

'Mark Cornwall presents a rich and wide-ranging account of the propaganda battles fought out on the Eastern and Italian fronts during the First World War. His meticulous study is not only an important contribution to the history of psychological warfare in general, but gives new insight into the causes of Austria-Hungary's demise in 1918.' - Martyn Rady, General Editor, Slavonic and East European Review

'...a highly original work that fills a significant gap in our knowledge of the experience of the war.' - Soloman Wank, Central European History

Mark Cornwall is Professor of Modern European History at the University of Southampton, UK, and a leading expert on the late Habsburg Empire. His publications include The Devil’s Wall: The Nationalist Mission of Heinz Rutha (2012); and, as editor, Sacrifice and Rebirth: The Legacy
of the Last Habsburg War (2016). He is now writing a book about treason and disloyalty in Austria-Hungary.

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