Download Veiszlemlein 1 John Veiszlemlein Mr. Dovico APUSH 4 March 2009

Veiszlemlein 1
John Veiszlemlein
Mr. Dovico
APUSH
4 March 2009
Austro-Hungary during World War I was a turbulent country composed of
many various ethnicities. The ethnic group targeted by this poster is the Magyars, or
ethnic Hungarians. The poster depicts St. Steven, the founder of Hungary and likely
its greatest hero. His name would be recognized by even the relatively uneducated,
the target audience of this poster. St. Steven is leading a Huszar—a World War One
Hungarian light cavalry—and two infantrymen. There is an Austro-Hungarian flag at
the top of the poster, as well as the statement, “Follow Saint Steven, defend
Hungarian Honor.” The depiction of Saint Steven would likely strike the nationalist
tone that resounded during the era and evoke a sense of responsibility to Hungary,
regardless of the fact that it only part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire.
Veiszlemlein 2

WWI was sparked by the assassination of the heir to the Austro-Hungarian
throne, Arch-duke Ferdinand, by an ethnic Serb on June 28, 1914. The
Austro-Hungarian government accused Serbia of planning or aiding in the
assassination.

Austro-Hungary declared war on Serbia, and an amazingly wide-spread set of
alliances led Germany, Bulgaria, and the Ottoman Empire to side with AustroHungary and the United Kingdom, Russia, Japan, France, Italy, Greece,
Montenegro, and the United States to ally with Serbia.

The joint forces of Austro-Hungary and Bulgaria conquered Serbia in late
1915/early 1916

The ethnic Magyars (Hungarians) fought mostly on the Russian and Italian
fronts, where not much progress was made by either side through most of
the war.

The Battle of Vittorio Veneto on the Italian front, in which Austro-Hungary
suffered 400,000 casualties, destroyed Austro-Hungary’s capability as a
major fighting force.

Many people thought that extreme ethnic diversity would plight AustriaHungary’s war effort. However, the country remained unified throughout to
war.
Veiszlemlein 3
Works Consulted
“St. Stephen Picture.” Eurotraveling.net. 27 February 2009
<http://www.eurotraveling.net/hungary/szekesfehervar/szekesfehervargallery.htm>.
“When Serbia Darkened the Glory of Ancient Sparta.” De-construct.net. 2008.
De[Construct].net. 27 February 2009 <http://de-construct.net/ezine/?p=2723>.
“Hussar Picture.” Farm4.static.flickr. 25 February 2009
<http://farm4.static.flickr/3196/2914276248/_7f71965b28.jpg?=0>