Imperial and Royal Military Administration in Serbia
The K.u.k. Military Administration in Serbia (German: K.u.k. Militärverwaltung in Serbien) was the Austro-Hungarian military administration in the Kingdom of Serbia from 1915 to 1918 during the Austro-Hungarian occupation of Serbia. It was formed by the Central Powers during World War I.
| Agency overview | |
|---|---|
| Formed | 1915 |
| Dissolved | 1918 |
| Jurisdiction | Kingdom of Serbia |
| Headquarters | Belgrade |
On 28 June 1914 Serbian nationalist Gavrilo Princip assassinated Archduke Franz Ferdinand in Sarajevo. This led to the diplomatic July Crisis between Austria-Hungary and the Kingdom of Serbia which ultimately led to a declaration of war by Austria-Hungary on July 28. The first Austro-Hungarian forays into Serbia began in August. After disappointing results at the Battle of Cer and the Battle of Kolubara, Oskar Potiorek was dismissed as military commander in December.
Serbia was conquered over the course of 1915 and later in the year Austro-Hungarian officials established both military and civilian administrations. The first governor Croat Johan Salis-Seewis took office at the start of 1916.[1]
During the occupation political expression in Serbia was severely limited with prohibition of newspaper publication (except MGG/S's Belgrader Nachrichten), prohibition of public assembly and political parties.[2] Large portion of Serbian political, intellectual and cultural elite left the country already during the Serbian army's retreat through Albania. MGG/S's policies aimed to depoliticize and denationalize population as both political and national agitation were perceived by the army to be the existential danger to the empire.[2] With that objective in mind MGG/S intended to ignore Hungarian objections and integrate Serbia as a part of the empire, but as an area which would remain under direct military rule for decades after the end of the World War I and an area in which political participation will be prohibited.[2]
Administration
System of occupation
Following the occupation of Serbia, the Austro-Hungarian forces established control over its population. This was done in accordance with the documents Directives for the Political Administration in the Areas of the General Military Governorate in Serbia (Direktiven für die politische Verwaltung im Bereiche des Militärgeneralgouvernements in Serbien) and General Principles for the Imperial and Royal Military Administration in the Occupied Territories of Serbia (Allgemeine Grundzüge für die K.u.K Militärverwaltung in den beset-zen Gebieten Serbiens). The Cyrillic alphabet, used previously in Serbia, was banned from schools and public spaces, and the Austro-Hungarian occupiers renamed many streets. Publishing houses and bookshops were closed down and many associations were disbanded. Traditional Serbian clothing was banned from being worn, and 150,000 to 200,000 Serbians were sent to camps in Austria-Hungary.[3]:75-6
Relations with the local population
The civilian population of Serbia under Austro-Hungarian occupation practiced passive resistance in refusing to salute occupiers and spreading rumors. Town officials and citizens were warned to not give or accept bribes. In Kruševac, the local military commander forbid any bribery, corruption, or defamation of "loyal citizens" in 1916. A message from the Austro-Hungarian intelligence service in Serbia concluded in early 1916 that:[3]:76-8
The peasants are obviously happy that they are spared from everything the war means. The intellectuals, in contrast, although currently peaceful because of fear, remain as they were i.e. every Serbian intellectual is half lawyer and half politician. He is a sworn enemy to any compatriot of a different political stamp, but united with all others in hating the winners.[3]:77
Former Prime Minister of Serbia Jovan Avakumović attempted to suggest to Governor General Johann Graf Salis-Seewis to issue a joint proclamation for the restoration of peace and order. Avakumović's suggestion was turned down, and his suggestion that he sign his name next to Salis-Seewis led to his arrest.[3]:78
Administrative division
During the occupation parts of the country under the Austro-Hungarian military rule were divided into thirteen approximately equal provinces (German: Kreise) which were then additionally divided into sixty-four districts (German: Brezirke).[2]
Austro-Hungarian military commanders in Serbia
- Oskar Potiorek (28 August 1914 – 27 December 1914)
- Archduke Eugen Ferdinand (27 December 1914 – 27 May 1915)
- Karl Tersztyánszky von Nádas (27 May 1915 – 27 September 1915)
- Feldmarschal Hermann Kövess von Kövessháza (27 September 1915 – 1 January 1916)
Austro-Hungarian governors in Serbia
- Feldmarschalleutnant Johan Ulrich Graf von Salis-Seewis (1 January 1916 – July 1916)
- Adolf Freiherr von Rhemen zu Barensfeld (July 1916 – October 1918)
- Feldmarschal Hermann Kövess von Kövessháza (October 1918 – 1 November 1918)
See also
- Territory of the Military Commander in Serbia, the Nazi German military administration in the invided Yugoslavia during World War II.
References
- Mitrovic (2007), p. 203.
- Gumz, Jonathan E. (2009). The Resurrection and Collapse of Empire in Habsburg Serbia, 1914−1918. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978-0-521-89627-6.
- Pintar, Olga Manojlović; Dodić, Vera Gudac (2016). “An Ugly Black Night”: Remembering the Austro-Hungarian Occupation of Serbia 1915–1918. Brill Publishers. ISBN 978-90-04-31623-2.
Sources
- DiNardo, Richard L. (2015). Invasion: The Conquest of Serbia, 1915. Santa Barbara: Praeger.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
- Mitrović, Andrej (2007). Serbia's Great War, 1914–1918. Purdue University Press. ISBN 1557534764.
See also
- Former Serb territories conquered by Bulgaria during World War I
- Territory of the Military Commander in Serbia