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Influence, Power, and the Policy Process: The Case of Franz Ferdinand, 1906–1914 *

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  11 February 2009

Samuel R. Williamson Jr.
Samuel R. Williamson Jr.
Affiliation:
The University of North Carlina, Chapel Hill
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Extract

The death of Franz Ferdinand at Sarajevo galvanized the Habsburg monarchy into its most fateful decision: the initiation of local war against Serbia. His demise, among other things, ensured Berlin's fidelity to its alliance commitment, convinced (mistakenly) the decision-makers in Vienna that monarchical solidarity would keep Russia in check, and allowed the Hungarians to breathe more easily. But the heir apparent's death may also have had an importance generally overlooked in analyzing the crisis of July 1914.1 Put simply, his disappearance suddenly altered the decision-making processes of the Habsburg monarchy. The elaborate consultative procedures involving the archduke, his military chancellery, and advisers were abruptly terminated. No longer did the joint ministers, the national ministers, the military hierarchy or the emperor's court officials have to consider the archduke and his strong, often peaceful, views on foreign policy. Even Franz Joseph was now spared the irritation of having to explain a decision to his insistent nephew. Sarajevo thus not only supplied the occasion for Vienna's decision for war, it helped, by drastically revising the political process, to accelerate that decision.

Type
Articles
Information
The Historical Journal , Volume 17 , Issue 2 , June 1974 , pp. 417 - 434
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1974

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References

1 Joachim Remak's recent article - ‘1914 - The Third Balkan War: Origins Reconsidered’, Journal of Modern History, 43 (09. 1971), pp. 353–66 - properly re-emphasizes the part played by Vienna, but without commenting on the areas where new research is needed and possible.Google Scholar

2 Kiszling, Rudolf, Erzherzog Franz Ferdinand (Graz, 1953);Google ScholarChlumecky, Leopold von, Erzherzog Franz Ferdinands Wirfen und Wollen (Berlin, 1929);Google ScholarAllmayer-Beck, J. C., Ministerpräsident Baron Beck (Munich, 1956);Google ScholarDedijer, Vladimir, The Road to Sarajevo (New York, 1966);Google Scholar and Kann, R. A., ‘Erzherzog Franz Ferdinand und Graf Berchtold als Aussenminister, 1912–1914’, Mitteilungen des österreichischen Staatsarchivs, 22 (1969), pp. 246–78.Google Scholar

3 For a recent example, see Halpern, Paul, The Mediterranean Naval Situation, 1908–1914 (Cambridge, Mass., 1971), ch. 6, passim.Google Scholar

4 Quoted in Muret, Maurice, L'archiduc François-Ferdinand (Paris, 1932), p. 172;Google Scholar also see Chlumecky, , Franz Ferdinand, p. 362.Google Scholar

6 Allison, Graham's The Essence of Decision (Boston, 1971) is the best example of the new work; it contains an excellent summary of current organizational theory, pp. 67–100.Google Scholar

6 The records of the Militärkanzlei des Generalinspektors der gesamten bewaffneten Macht (Franz Ferdinand) [hereafter cited MKFF] and the Militärkanzlei Seiner Majestät des Kaisers (Franz Joseph) [MKSM] are in the Kriegsarchiv, Vienna. The Czernin letters are in the MKFF.

Some of Berchtold's papers are in the Archivni Správa, Prague, but there are extensive microfilm copies in the Mikrofilm Archiv, no. 9, Haus-, Hof-, und Staatsarchiv (HHStA), Vienna. Berchtold's letters to the archduke are in the Nachlass Franz Ferdinand (NFF) at the HHStA; the collection is used by permission of Albrecht Fiirst Hohenberg and Franz Herzog Hohenberg. Hantsch's, Hugo ‘Erzherzog Thronfolger Franz Ferdinand und Graf Leopold Berchtold’, Historica (Vienna, 1965), pp. 175–98,Google Scholar and Kann's ‘Franz Ferdinand und Berchtold’ print extracts of their correspondence, though with some important omissions.

7 Mitis, Oskar, Das Leben des Kronprinzen Rudolf (Leipzig, 1928), pp. 59–71, 76–99Google Scholar [Eng. ed., The Life of the Crown Prince Rudolph of Habsburg (London, n.d.), pp. 65–7, 71–110].Google Scholar

8 See, e.g., Franz Joseph to Franz Ferdinand, 11 July 1912, NFF, carton 2; Nikitsch-Boulles, Paul, Vor dem Sturm: Erinnerungen an Erzherzog Thronfolger Franz Ferdinand (Berlin, 1922), pp. 50–6.Google Scholar

9 See, e.g., Franz Ferdinand to Franz Joseph, 18 Dec. 1908, NFF, carton 2; same Co same, 25 Feb. 1913, MKFF, 45 1913; Neck, Rudolf, ‘Der Protest Franz Ferdinands gegen die ungarischen Verfassungsgarantien von 1907’, Mitteilungen des osterreichischen Staatsarchivs, 12 (1959), pp. 433–7;Google ScholarSutter, Berthold, ‘Die Ausgleichsverhandlungen zwischen Österreich und Ungarn, 1867–1918’, Südostdeutsches Archiv, II (1968), pp. 99–105.Google Scholar

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11 See e.g., Redlich, Josef, Emperor Francis Joseph of Austria (New York, 1929), pp. 483–4, 512;Google Scholar also MKSM, 1912.

12 Kiszling, , Franz Ferdinand, pp. 37–8.Google Scholar

13 Neither Chancellery has been studied in any detail, but Martha Sitte's ‘Alexander von Brosch, der Flügeladjutant und Vorstand der Militärkanzlei des Thronfolgers Franz Ferdinand’ (Vienna, diss. 1961) is helpful.

14 Kiszling, , Franz Ferdinand, pp. 261–2.Google Scholar

15 Ibid. pp. 97–118; Allmayer-Beck, , Ministerpräsident Beck, pp. 170–90.Google Scholar

16 In ‘Alexander von Brosch’ Sitte gives a full account of his career, based on the Brosch letters in the NFF (cartons 10, 11), the Nachlass Brosch at the Kriegsarchiv (currently closed) and the files of the MKFF.

17 On Bardolff's activity, see his Soldat im alten Österreich (Jena, 1938), pp. 108–83, Passim; the Nachlass Bardolff, Kriegsarchiv, has some helpful letters.Google Scholar

18 See, e.g., Bardolff's series of reports’ Über die Lage am Balkans’ in MKFF, carton 193.

19 For a more complete list, see Bardolff, , Soldat, pp. 121–3;Google Scholar also Spitzmüller-Harmersbach, Alexander, “… und hat auch Ursach, es zu lieben’ (Vienna, 1955), pp. 93 ff.Google Scholar

20 The best analysis of the reform plans is Franz's, GeorgErzherzog Franz Ferdinand und die Pläne zur Reform der Habsburger-Monarchie (Brünn, 1943).Google Scholar Also see, Kann, R. A., The Multinational Empire (2 vols., New York, 1950), II, 180–227Google Scholar [revised ed., Die Nationalitätenproblem der Habsburgermonarchie (2 vols., Graz, 1964), II, 191–209];Google ScholarDedijer, , Road to Sarajevo, pp. 118–41.Google Scholar

21 On the Hungarian issue, see, e.g., the letters to Franz Joseph, 24 Nov., 18 Dec. 1908, and 5 Jan. 1909, NFF, carton 2; and that of 25 Feb. 1913, MKFF, 1913.

22 Allmayer-Beck, , Ministerpräsident Beck, pp. 202–46;Google ScholarKiszling, , Franz Ferdinand, pp. 112–8.Google Scholar

23 Bardolff to Czernin, 2 Oct. 1912, MKFF, Po/100, 1912; BardolfPs ‘Untertänigste Meldung’, 10 June, 12 June 1913, MKFF, 45 1913; Franz Ferdinand to Berchtold, 24 July 1913, Mikrofilm Archiv, no. 9.

24 Hantsch, Hugo, Leopold Graf Berchtold (2 vols., Graz, 1963), I, 241–8.Google Scholar

25 The struggle to oust Schönaich was particularly bitter; see Ullreich, Josef, ‘Moritz von Auffenberg-Komarów. Leben und Wirken, 1911–1918’ (Vienna, diss. 1961), pp. 16–34;Google Scholar also Auffenberg-Komarów, Moritz von, Aus Östetreichs Höhe und Niedergang (Munich, 1921), pp. 141–52.Google Scholar

26 Hötzendorf, Conrad von, Aus meiner Dienstzeit, 1906–1918 (5 vols., Vienna, 1921–1925), II, 373–5; Ullreich, ‘Auffenberg’, pp. 99–105.Google Scholar

27 See, e.g., Potiorek to Bardolff, 2 May, 3 May 1912 (telegrams), MKFF, PI. 63, 1912.

28 Kann, , ‘Franz Ferdinand und Berchtold’, pp. 256–7, 265, 268–9.Google Scholar

29 See, e.g., Franz Ferdinand to Baron Hazai (Hungarian National Defense Minister), 22 Sept. 1912, MKFF, MS 52, 1912; Franz Ferdinand to Tisza, 19 June 19131 MKFF, 1913.

30 Stürgkh to Franz Ferdinand, 22 Jan., 20 Feb. 1914, MKFF, 5 9 - n, 1914; Bardolff to Stürgkh, 25 Jan. 1914, ibid. On this see also the entry for 17 Feb. 1914, in Das politische Tagebuch Josef Redlichs, 1908–1919, ed. by Fellner, Fritz (2 vols., Graz, 1953), I, 218–9.Google Scholar

31 Heinold to Bardolff, 21 June 1912, MKFF, Ps 112, 1912.

32 Bardolff to Stürgkh, 2 Nov. 1913, MKFF, 45 1913; Bardolff to Berchtold, 15 Nov. 29 1913, ibid.

33 See, e.g., Bardolff's summary of the interministerial meeting of 10 Dec. 1913, ibid. On Eichoff's role generally, Kiszling, , Franz Ferdinand, pp. 254–7.Google Scholar

34 Potiorek regularly sent the MKFF copies of his ‘Persönliche Vormerkungen’ summarizing the situation in Sarajevo; a complete set is in the Nachlass Potiorek, Kriegsarchiv.

35 Funder ro Bardolff, 26 Aug. 1913, MKFF, 59 1913; Chlumecky to Bardolff, 5 Sept. 6 1912, ibid., Po 42/11, 1913. Also see Chlumecky, , Franz Ferdinand, pp. 85–9, 109–10, 290–3;Google ScholarFunder, Friedrich, Vom Gestern ins Heute (Vienna, 1952), pp. 378–83, 486–504.Google Scholar

36 E.g., Bardolff to Franz Ferdinand, 25 Oct. 1913, MKFF, 33 1913; Krobatin to Franz 24 Ferdinand, 4 June 1913, ibid., 14 1913; same to same, 15 Apr. 1914, ibid., 45–18, 1914.

37 Memorandum by Auffenburg, 12 (?) July 1912, Generalstab: Operations-Bureau, Kriegsarchiv, carton 191.

38 On the 1914 personnel conference, see MKFF, for critical reports on the army's 4–4 Balkan performance, ibid., carton 206/1.

39 Halpern, , Mediterranean Situation, pp. 172–9;Google Scholar see also Gebhard, Louis A. Jr., , ‘Austria-Hungary's Dreadnought Squadron: the Naval Outlay of 1911’, Austrian History Yearbook, 4–5 (1968–1969), 245–58.CrossRefGoogle Scholar

40 Conrad's Aus meiner Dienstzeit chronicles this in detail, especially vols. I and III.

41 See Bardolff's lengthy report of his discussion with General Bolfras (head of the emperor's Military Chancellery) about replacing Conrad, 23 Sept. 1913, MKFF, 20–17, 1913.

42 Conrad, , Aus meiner Dienstzeit, III, 487, 623;Google Scholar Bardolff report, 9 Jan. 1914, MKFF, 42–3 ex. 1914.

43 Bardolff did this in Sept. 1913; for example, see his note to Franz Ferdinand, 9 Sept. 1913, MKFF, carton 203.

44 Kiszling offers a convenient survey in Franz Ferdinand, pp. 126–39, 159–65.

45 See, e.g., Kann, , ‘Franz Ferdinand und Berchtold’, pp. 253–76, passim.Google Scholar

46 On the Albanian issue, see Berchtold to Franz Ferdinand, 26 Mar. 1913 (telegram), Politische Archiv I/493, HHStA; on complaints about the Hungarians, see Bardolff to Berchtold, 19 Sept. 1913, MKFF, 26–24, 1913.

47 The context for these developments can be followed in detail in Helmreich, E. C., The Diplomacy of tie Balkan Wars, 1912–1913 (Cambridge, Mass., 1938);Google ScholarAlbertini, Luigi, The Origins of the War of 1914, trans, and ed. by Massey, Isabella (3 vols., London, 1952–1857), I, 365–578.Google Scholar

48 Berchtold defended his policy in a private letter to the archduke on 16 Oct. 1912; there is no sign the heir disagreed on any point. The original Berchtold letter is in NFF, carton 9; quoted in part in Kann, ‘Franz Ferdinand und Berchtold’, pp. 256–7.

49 MKSM, 1912; also see Helmreich, , Balkan Wars, pp. 187–92, 236–45.Google Scholar

50 Franz Ferdinand to Berchtold, 22 Nov. 1912 (telegram), in Birtner, Ludwig and Uebersberger, Hans (eds.), Österreich-Ungarns Aussenpolitik von der Bosnischen Krise 1908 bis zum Kriegsausbruch 1914 (9 vols., Vienna, 1930), IV, no. 4571;Google Scholar cf. Szögyeny to Berchtold, 22 Nov. 1912 (telegrams), ibid., nos. 4559, 4560. Fischer, Fritz, Krieg der lllusionen: Der deutsche Politic von 1911 bis 1914 (Düsseldorf, 1969), pp. 226–30;Google Scholarcf. Verosta, Stephan, Theorie und Realität von Bündnissen (Vienna, 1971), pp. 401–6.Google Scholar

51 On the military demands for action, see the Kriegsministerium Vortrag, 28 Nov. 1912, no. 82–1 1927, MKSM, 1912, and Potiorek to MKSM, 5 Dec. 1912 (telegram), ibid.

52 Annotation on Bardolff report, 7 Dec. 1912, MKFF, carton 193.

53 Bolfras to Franz Joseph, 7 Dec. 1912, MKSM 1912.

54 Hantsch, , Berchtold, I, 360–4;Google Scholar Conrad to Potiorek, 20 Dec. 1912, in Nachlass Potiorek, A/3: 1914 (323)B; Conrad, , Aus meiner Dienstzeit, II, 412–13.Google Scholar

55 Franz Ferdinand to Berchtold, 12 Jan. 1913, Mikrofilm Archiv, no. 9; Kann, ‘Franz Ferdinand und Berchtold’, pp. 257–8; Berchtold to Franz Ferdinand, 13–14 Jan. 1913, NFF, carton 9; Szápáry to Bardolff, 19 Feb. 1913, Nachlass Bardolff, B/207.

56 Quoted in Kann, ‘Franz Ferdinand und Berchtold’, pp. 259–60.

57 Helmreich, , Balkan Wars, pp. 310–25;Google ScholarKiszling, , Franz Ferdinand, pp. 202–4;Google ScholarConrad, , Aus meiner Dienstzeit, III, 275.Google Scholar

58 These reports are in P.A. I/493.

59 Franz Ferdinand to Berchtold, 4 July 1913, Mikrofilm Archiv, no. 9. There are also letters from the archduke for 6 July, 16 July, 25 July 1913; substantial extracts of these are in Kann, , ‘Franz Ferdinand und Berchtold’, pp. 262–7.Google Scholar

60 See, e.g., Tisza's stance at the 3 Oct. 1913 meeting of the Common Council, ‘Protokoll des … Ministerrates für gemeinsame Angelegenheiten’, Ö.-U.A., vn, no. 8779; Hantsch, , Berchtold, I, 489–509;Google ScholarErényi, Gustav, Graf Stefan Tisza (Vienna, 1935), pp. 225–8.Google Scholar

61 Quoted in Kann, ‘Franz Ferdinand und Berchtold’, p. 720; cf. Conrad, , Aus meiner Dicnstzeit, III, 464.Google Scholar

62 Fischer, , Krieg der Illusionen, pp. 606–12;Google Scholarcf. Albertini, , Origins, I, 533–4.Google Scholar

63 For the German record of the talks, see Treuder to Zimmermann, 15 June 1914, Lepsius, Johannes et al. . (eds.), Die grosse Politic der europäischen Kabinette, 1871–1914 (40 vols., Berlin, 1922–1927), XXXIX, no. 15736;Google ScholarKiszling, , Franz Ferdinand, pp. 277–80.Google Scholar

64 Kann, R. A., Kaiser Franz Joseph und der Ausbruch des Weltkrieges (Vienna, 1971), pp. 45Google Scholar

65 The Redl affair poisoned the archduke's relations with Conrad. The files on the Redl case are 14–24 in MKFF, 1913; also, Conrad Aus meiner Dienstzeit, III, 329–30, 345–6.Google Scholar Among those con-sidered as a replacement was General Karl Tersztyansky von Nadas; on this see Bardolff's note, 23 Sept. 1913, MKFF, 30–17, 1913.

66 For a recent survey, see Silberstein, Gerard E., The Troubled Alliance: German-Austrian Relations, 1914–1917 (Lexington, Ky., 1970), pp. 17–39.Google Scholar

67 On the archduke's strong views on the value of Rumania, see Franz Ferdinand to Berchtold, 6 July 1913, in Kann, , ‘Franz Ferdinand und Berchtold’, pp. 263–4.Google Scholar

68 A number of letters between the two men are excerpted in Kann, R. A., ‘Count Ottokar Czernin and Archduke Francis Ferdinand’, Journal of Central European Affairs, 16 (07 1956), pp. 117–45.Google Scholar But numerous additional Czernin letters, not hitherto utilized by researchers, are in the records of the MKFF. Also see, Czernin, Ottokar, In the World War (London, 1919), pp. 34–46, 77;Google ScholarSinger, Ladislas, Ottokar Graf Czernin (Graz, 1965), pp. 13–33.Google Scholar

69 Czernin's original instructions are from Berchtold, 26 Nov. 1913, Ö.-U.A., VII, no. 9032. Origins. I, 527–32. The memorandum, dated 24 June 1914. is in Ö.U.A., VIII, no, 9918

71 See, e.g., Czernin to Franz Ferdinand, 30 Dec. 1913, MKFF, carton 203/9; Bardolff's ‘Daten fur ein Höchstes Handschreiben an den Grafen Czernin’, n.d. but late Jan. 1914, ibid.

72 E.g., Franz Ferdinand to Berchtold, 12 Apr. 1914, in Kann, , ‘Franz Ferdinand und Berchtold’, pp. 274–5.Google Scholar

73 Hantsch, , ‘Franz Ferdinand und Berchtold’, pp. 188–91;Google ScholarKann, , ‘Franz Ferdinand und Berchtold’, pp. 275–8.Google Scholar

74 On Berchtold's visit, see Hantsch, , Berchtold, II, 544–51;Google Scholar on the Russian visit, Albertini, , Origins, I, 527–32.Google Scholar The memorandum, dated 24 June 1914, is in Ö.-U.A., VIII, no. 9918.