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An Inquiry Into Methods Used by Anti-Habsburg Nationaists to Gain Support for a Sovereign Czechoslovak State

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An Inquiry Into Methods Used by Anti-Habsburg Nationaists to Gain Support for a Sovereign Czechoslovak State University of Nebraska at Omaha DigitalCommons@UNO Student Work 6-1-1960 An inquiry into methods used by anti-Habsburg nationaists to gain support for a sovereign Czechoslovak State Ward Maynard Koons University of Nebraska at Omaha Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.unomaha.edu/studentwork Recommended Citation Koons, Ward Maynard, "An inquiry into methods used by anti-Habsburg nationaists to gain support for a sovereign Czechoslovak State" (1960). Student Work. 399. https://digitalcommons.unomaha.edu/studentwork/399 This Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by DigitalCommons@UNO. It has been accepted for inclusion in Student Work by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@UNO. For more information, please contact [email protected]. AN INQUIRY INTO METHODS USED BY ANTI-HABSBURG NATIONALISTS TO GAIN SUPPORT FOR A SOVEREIGN CZECHOSLOVAK STATE A Thesis Presented to the Faculty of the Department of History The University of Omaha In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree Master of Arts by WARD MAYNARD KOONS June I960 UMI Number: EP73037 All rights reserved INFORMATION TO ALL USERS The quality of this reproduction is dependent upon the quality of the copy submitted. In the unlikely event that the author did not send a complete manuscript and there are missing pages, these will be noted. Also, if material had to be removed, a note will indicate the deletion. UMI Dissertation Publishing UMI EP73037 Published by ProQuest LLC (2015). Copyright in the Dissertation held by the Author. Microform Edition © ProQuest LLC. All rights reserved. This work is protected against unauthorized copying under Title 17, United States Code ProQuest’ ProQuest LLC. 789 East Eisenhower Parkway P.O. Box 1346 Ann Arbor, Ml 48106- 1346 PREFACE The study of the formation of the Czechoslovak State, following World War I, has proved most rewarding No new Nation, arising out of the remnants of the once- great Habsburg Empire, achieved its independence in a more interesting manner* I wish to express my appreciation to Dr* A* Stan ley Trickett, who patiently guided the study tp its completion, and to my wife, Mary, for her great under­ standing and assistance. TABLE OF CONTENTS CHAPTER PAGE I. HISTORICAL BACKGROUNDS A NATION IS SUBMERGED . 1 "Defenestration of Prague" . .............. 2 Bohemia Laid Waste . ........................... 3 Rebirth of Czech Nationalism 4 Austro-Hungarian Ausgleich 6 Masaryk Calls for Federalism . ......... • • 7 II*. THE WAR OFFERS A CHANCES THE STEP IS TAKEN .. 9 Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand • • . 10 Masaryk Turns to the West . ., . 13 The "Maffia" Is Formed ............ 14 Austrian Government Rules by Decree ...... 1? Emlgr^ Leaders Divide duties .... 19 Funds Arrive from America • ••.•••••, 21 The John Hus Address «•••••••••••• 22 Inaugural Lecture at King’s College • • • • . 23 American-Czechoslovak Organizations ..... 24 Problems in Russia ...... .... 25 Czech Foreign Committee Declares War ..... 27 Czechoslovak National Council Formed ..... 29 III. THE CZECHOSLOVAK LEGIONS: A MOVE TO THE FRONT . 33 Czechoslovaks Desert Austro-Hungarian Armies . 3k Settlements in Russia Recognize the National Council 37 iv CHAPTER PAGE Czech Forces Formed • 38 Masaryk Goes to Russia......... ...............* 40 French Agree to Removal of Czech Forces from Russia to France. ................. 42 Treaty of Brest~Litovsk ..•.••*»•••. 45 Autonomous Czechoslovak Army. .............. 48 Czech Legions in Entente Countries. .. .............50 Italo-Yugoslav Friction . * 53 United States Enters the War......... ...... 56 IV. ACTION AT THE FRONT HAS MANX EFFECTS AT HOME. 58 Relchsrat Prorogued ......... 59 Government Turns to Repression. .............. 64 The "Maffia" Continues Its W o r k ............... 65 "Manifesto of Czech Writers". .................. 67 Epiphany Day Meeting. ........... 69 Jubilee of Czech National Theatre ........... * 70 National Committee Formed in Prague ... 71 Czech Deputies Reject Autonomy. • ...............72 Austrian Peace Note ••••• .................. 73 Manifesto of Emperor Charles. ....••••• 73 Wilson Replies to Peace Offer .•••••••• 74 V. ACTION AT THE FRONT AFFECTS ALLIED DIPLOMACY. 76 British Friends Support Independence. ...... 77 Propaganda Begins in America. .••«••••. 79 Czechs , Slovaks Work Together •••••*... 82 V CHAPTER .PAGE Peace Negotiations of 1 9 1 6 # ................• • 84 Carnegie Hall Meeting * . * ................. 88 U. S# Declares War on Austria-Hungary . .. 89 The Fourteen Points Speech. .... • • . ? 89 Lansing Favors New States . « . 91 "Congress of Oppressed Nationalities" . * 94 Britain Recognizes Czechoslovak Army. ..... 95 Masaryk Arrives in America# ......... 96 The "Pittsburgh Convention" * ............. 97 Czech Uprising Causes Sensation ........ 98 Masaryk Meets President Wilson.................. 100 Britain Recognizes Belligerency ...... 101 VI. RETURN TO THE EASTERN FRONTt THE ALLIES INTERVENE . ........... 103 Difficulties With the Soviets . • 104 Chelyabinsk Incident........... 106 Czechs Seize Trans-Siberian Railway • • • .. 108 Entente Leaders Favor Intervention. • ... * . * 110 Japanese Land at Vladivostok. 116 America Decides for Intervention. • • . .. ♦ 118 Aide Memoire. • . ♦ . * . ... ... * 120 United States-Japan Disagree. * • « . .121 Soviets Oppose Intervention ......... * • 124 vi CHAPTER PAGE VII. THE ANABASIS TO VLADIVOSTOK: THE ROAD TO INDEPENDENCE. * . * * . ♦ 128 Trotsky Orders Legions to Disarm ....... 128 Legions Overrun Siberia. • . • . 129 American Mediation Efforts •••••••.•• 130 Czechoslovaks Return to the West ...... 131 Gajda Is Successful* . • • • . 133 Legions Begin Retreat. ♦ . ♦ . .137 Omsk Government. ..*••.................... 138 Reaction Sets In . • ♦ • . « • • . • . * . 140 -American Public Favors Intervention. ..... 143 General Graves Follows Orders* .... ♦ . 144 Czechs Begin Repatriation. • . 145 Japanese Intervention Continues. ....... 146 VIII. FREEDOM AT LAST? A NEW NATION IS CREATED. 148 America Recognizes Czechoslovaks ....... 148 Czechoslovak Provisional Government. 150 Wilson Turns Down Austro-Hungarian Peace Offer. 151 Czechoslovaks Meet at Geneva ............. 152 Revolt in Prague 153 Slovaks Declare for Czechoslovakia ...... 153 Declaration;of Geneva. • • .................... 154 Emperor Charles Withdraws. ... ... • . • . 155 vii CHAPTER PAGE Masaryk Elected President. .......... 156 Legions Begin to Return Home .... ♦ . 15? IX. CONCLUSION........................... 158 CHAPTER I HISTORICAL BACKGROUND? A NATION IS SUBMERGED The history of the Czecho-Slovak nation is a proud one. During the long course of time it records how a nomad­ ic Slav tribe developed into a modern-day nation of culture and industry, and yet one which retains many characteristics of a nation of another era. Basically, the Czechs and Slovaks both spring from the same racial and linguistic background, but they have experienced a different history. The Czechs (Bohemians and Moravians) developed largely under their own leadership, either Independently or-under the:Habsburg Crown; while the Slovaks very early came under the domination of the Magyars of Hungary and long were held in subjugation by that and other groups of Asiatic background. The rapid advance of the Turks into Europe early in the Sixteenth Century, under the great Ottoman ruler, Suleiman the Magnificent, caused consternation among the Christian nations. Much of Hungary was overrun, and with the death, at the Battle of Mohacs on August 28, 1 $;26, of King Louis Jagellon, who occupied both the Hungarian and Bohemian thrones, the Estates of Austria, Hungary and Bohemia united, in a free federation. Ferdinand, Archduke of Austria and Louis® brother*In«law, was chosen to unite the forces of the three embattled states and with them resist the advance of the Moslems. 2 Under terms of the federation, each of the three in­ dependent states, bound together solely through the person of the monarch, was to retain its sovereignty unimpaired* As the Moslem drive lost its vigor and Christian forces be­ gan the long struggle to drive the Turks out of Europe, however, the Bohemian State was even more closely linked with Habsburg interests, until, during Ferdinand II*s re­ gime, unwilling to accept his religious aims regarding Catholicism and centralization of power, the Czechs rebel­ led in 16X8, deposed the Habsburgs, and chose Frederick ofthe Palatinate as King of Bohemia* The Czech struggle for independence began when the Bohemia nobles, defending their feudal rights and their Protestant religion, literally threw the royal officers out of the windows of Hradcany Castle on May 23, 1618, in the famous "defenestration of Prague*" This event culminated the efforts of Ferdinand, an ardent Catholic, to decrease Bohemian rights earlier granted in the so-called Ma.lestats- brief (Letter of Majesty) issued by Rudolph II in 1609 to assure freedom of religion to the Bohemian peoples* Ferdinand did not delay long in accepting this chal­ lenge to his royal absolutism and Catholicism* Frederick and his forces fought valiantly, but were defeated in the humiliating Battle of White Mountain during November, 1620, when the Imperial forces under Tilly were aided by Maximil­ ian I of Bavaria. Although the son-in-law of King James I 3 of England, and fully expecting support in men and money from the Island Kingdom, Frederick5 s pleas for assistance were ignored by James, with the result that the embattled Bohemian ruler and his allies were decisively defeated
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