The Treaty of Brest-Litovsk ended the war in the East. The Battle of Caporetto neutralized the threat from Italy, for the time being. Together, these developments gave Austria-Hungary a military respite.

But this respite obscured the Empire’s domestic political troubles. Food was still scarce and public discontent was reaching critical mass.

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Playlist:

Fanfare

Opening War Theme

“Liebesleid”
Composed in 1910 by Fritz Kreisler. Public domain.
Performed by Emanuel Salvador and used pursuant to a Creative Commons CC BY 3.0 license. Source.

“Igre iz Bele krajine” (“White Carniola Dance”)
Traditional. Public domain.
Public domain recording. Source.

Closing War Theme 

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Except when otherwise indicated, the contents of this podcast are © and ℗ 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 by Mark Painter, all rights reserved. Some music and sound effects used by arrangement with Pond 5.

The Great War offered Czech and Slovak nationalists like Edvard Beneš, Milan Rastislav Štefánik, and especially Tomáš Garrigue Masaryk the opportunity to pursue not only autonomy, but full independence from Austria-Hungary.

In order to achieve this, they would have to win the support of Allied governments. This was a challenge. In the Western Allied nations, few people could even name the minority ethnic groups in Austria-Hungary, let alone understand their national aspirations.

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Playlist:

Fanfare

Opening War Theme

“Hey, Slavs”
Traditional. Public domain.
Performed by the United States Navy Band. Public domain recording. Source.

“Lightning over the Tatras” (the national anthem of Slovakia)
Traditional. Public domain.
Performed by the United States Navy Band. Public domain recording. Source.

Closing War Theme 

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Except when otherwise indicated, the contents of this podcast are © and ℗ 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 by Mark Painter, all rights reserved. Some music and sound effects used by arrangement with Pond 5.

The Bolsheviks were able to delay convening the Constituent Assembly, and eventually force its dissolution, consolidating their control over the Russian government.

Meanwhile, Czech and Slovak soldiers who had been fighting in the Russian Army and did not wish to be repatriated to Austria-Hungary, where they could be executed as deserters, attempt to relocate to the Western Front. They will not make it.

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Playlist:

Fanfare

Opening War Theme

“The Internationale”
Composed in 1888 by Pierre de Geyter. Public domain.
Performed by the Choir and Orchestra of the Bolshoi Theatre. Public domain recording. Source.

Vltava (The Moldau)
Composed in 1882 by Bedřich Smetana. Public domain.
Performed by the Czech National Symphony Orchestra. Public domain recording. Source.

Closing War Theme 

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Except when otherwise indicated, the contents of this podcast are © and ℗ 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 by Mark Painter, all rights reserved. Some music and sound effects used by arrangement with Pond 5.