Distribution of the numerous nationalities in the Austro-Hungarian Empire in 1911

There was a rise in nationalistic feeling - the fervent loyalty to people of close language and geography - in Europe in the years before World War I. These powerful forces had resulted in the reunification of Italy in 1861 and the unification of Germany in 1871. The Franco-Prussian war left France bitter over the loss of the French province of Alsace-Lorraine and there was strong and powerful feeling in France that this territory should by rights be French.

The Austro-Hungarian Empire was host to many nationalities, and struggled with nationalistic movements of people who longed to be free of Hapsburg rule, such as the Serbian nationalistic feeling which led to the Archduke Ferdinand's assassination in 1914.

World War I Part of The Great War Exhibit copyright 1998-2008 HistoryWiz
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