Page - 145 - in THE FIRST WORLD WAR - and the End of the Habsburg Monarchy, 1914 – 1918

An Empire Mobilises 145 ries of the Dual Monarchy were not, however, affected to the same extent by military measures. The centre and the periphery had their own individual experiences. City and country, garrison town or remote hamlet, were only on a level footing to the extent that they were affected by the first wave of conscription. Initially only comparatively few of the inhabitants were conscripted, but later many would be called up. This was because for ‘war scenario B’ initially around only 400,000 men had to be mobilised. Only after the addition of ‘war scenario R’ did the complete mobilisation commence. As a result of the composition of the Imperial and Royal 2nd, 5th,and 6th Armies, which were mobilised for ‘war scenario B’, initially no order to mobilise was issued by the regular army and the territorial armies to the majority of active soldiers and reserves. On 20 July, however, the mobilisation of the Landsturm (reserve forces) was initiated. As a result of the imperial ordinance and the royal ordinance, respectively, the mobilisation and enlistment of the Landsturm took place in both halves of the Empire. All mem- bers of the Landsturm located abroad had to return home immediately. In Hungary, no Landsturm conscript was permitted to leave his district without permission. Even before the general mobilisation on 31 July, the Habsburg Monarchy thus resembled an anthill. Everywhere a tremendous commotion could be observed. The whole thing assumed mass psychotic features of incomparable proportions. In all countries in the grip of mobilisation, the images were so alike as to be almost indiscernible. One person pulled the next one along with him and from day to day this collective feeling and ac- tion escalated until the deployment of the regiments. If we look at how these days were acted out in Vienna, Budapest or Prague, in Upper Austria, Slovenia or Bukovina, then these images contain at most regional or temperamental differences. Everyone surged on to the streets, the newspaper offices and telegraph desks were besieged. Coffee houses were open through the night, not due to business but in order to offer the opportunity to immediately hear about and discuss the latest news, even in the night. Groups, which quickly grew bigger, crowded the streets ; marching music was played and songs were sung, for example the Emper- or’s Hymn and the German patriotic song, the Deutschlandlied. There were standing ovations in front of the apartments of the respective regimental, brigade, corps or army commanders. The homages were also paid to the allies. Thus, in Vienna, spontaneous demonstrations took place not only in front of the German embassy but also in front of the Italian embassy. In the case of the Italians, however, the Foreign Ministry ap- parently orchestrated things a little. The waving of hats and handkerchiefs, jubilation, cheering, excitement  – such images were reported from practically every town. On 31 July, on the occasion of the general mobilisation, this mood was given an additional boost. Posters showing the general mobilisation order were put up on 31 July and 1 August. Not everyone understood them. The cheers were already interspersed with tears. In the countryside the alarm bells were ringing. Messengers on bicycle and on