ABSTRACT
It was Austria-Hungary, the least of the traditional Great Powers in terms of economic and military might, that triggered the third Balkan war and thereby provoked the outbreak of World War I. The militarization of state and society in Austria-Hungary, incomplete yet on the rise, followed a European trend, and to some extent, the same holds true for militarism. Franz Ferdinand was glad when in 1906 younger and more energetic office holders were promoted to leading positions in the foreign policy and military apparatus. Nevertheless, for the moment, neither the General Staff nor the Belvedere could challenge the foreign policy of Aehrenthal. Unfortunately for Austria-Hungary, the second Balkan war strained the Habsburg Monarchy’s relations with Romania, strengthened Serbia, and worst of all, demonstrated Vienna’s isolated stand on most Balkan issues. Austria-Hungary had not seen any increase in the number of recruits—for more than two decades when a new army bill passed the Hungarian Diet in 1912.
