German grand strategy, at least in the preparation of offenses in 1914 and 1916, had
not changed much. It appears they were still intent on winning a short war. Austria-
Hungary’s strategy was much the same, the consensus in Vienna being that Serbia ‘be
reduced in size’ before full Russian mobilisation was complete. 9 Conrad von Hötzendorf
favoured action against Serbia for historical reasons, to ‘arrest the decline’ of Austria -
Hungary. 10 Swift, decisive action would be imperative to Austro-Hungarian strategic success
as their military was significantly weaker than their peers. 11 Austro-Hungarian strategy
emphasised the need for offensive warfare in pursuit of the initiative. 12
The bellicosity of Hötzendo rf’s intended and executed plan, as noted by Maurer,
seemed to ignore the balance of forces between Austria-Hungary and its enemies. 13 For
example, the Serbian army of veterans, fresh from the 1912-13 Balkan Wars, who inflicted
casualties of over a quarter-million on Austro-Hungarian forces during their invasion. 14 The
Austro- Hungarians failed to ‘reduce Serbia’ in 1914. In response to their failure, and the
enlistment of the Ottomans to the Central cause, Hötzendorf was ‘obliged’ by Oberste
Heeresleitung to renew the offensive into Serbia, in the aim of establishing rail connection
between Berlin and Constantinople. 15 The second campaign was a success, and thus Serbia
was ‘reduced’. 16 Austro-Hungarian strategy was not altered in practice following its initial
failure, as Serbia remained the weakest link in the chain of opponents.
9 ‘Minutes of Ministerial Council on affairs of State held at Vienna, July 7 1914…’, in Source Records of the Great War , Vol. I, Ed. Charles F. (Horne: National Alumni, 1923), p. 5 10 John H. Maurer, The Outbreak of the First World War: Strategic Planning, Crisis Decision Making and Deterrence Failure (Westport: Praeger Publishing, 1995), p. 18 11 Simkins, Jukes, & Hickey, p. 187; Strachan, p. 12 12 Maurer, p. 21-23 13 Maurer, p. 27 14 John Terraine, The First World War: 1914-1918 (London: Papermac, 1984), p. 22 15 Boyd, pp. 31-34 16 Boyd, p. 39
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