Page - 454 - in THE FIRST WORLD WAR - and the End of the Habsburg Monarchy, 1914 – 1918

454 Factory War and Domestic Front, 1915 their commanders had to bear an additional burden, since they were now under pres- sure to achieve success and had been given highly ambitious goals by the Army High Command. Ultimately, however, the Army High Command, which was equally under pressure to achieve its aims, did not tire of interfering in the command to an increasing extent, and instead of being satisfied with simply naming the overall goals, also began to want control over the details. Nevertheless, there was reason to question whether the idea of ‘de-mixing’ had been such a good one, and how long the Army High Command would be able to maintain its independence from the German ally. If it failed to do so, it could already be assumed that the Army High Command would be entirely overrun by the wheels of the German Supreme Army Command and would forfeit its equal status. A further factor played a role in the proceedings in the east, namely the negotia- tions with Bulgaria regarding its entry into the war on the side of the Central Powers. While the Imperial and Royal armies were threatened with defeat in their ‘black-yellow’ offensive, the German political and military leadership was making intensive prepa- rations for the conquest of Serbia. Here, the relationship with Romania also played a part, which the Central Powers had attempted to woo through successes in the Russian theatre of war, but towards which Austria once more appeared in a weaker position. It was no coincidence that Germany again demanded from the Danube Monarchy that it make territorial concessions to Romania in Bukovina and Transylvania. A victorious Imperial and Royal Army and an Army High Command that now inspired confidence would have been able to withstand all this pressure with ease. By contrast, a weakened army and an Army High Command that had been compromised in its degree of com- petence were forced to become merely a plaything. This meant that it was no longer the policies pursued by the Ballhausplatz (Austro-Hungarian Imperial Chancellery) that were the touchstone for the position of the Habsburg Monarchy, but almost entirely the strength of the army. Instead of an operation with a broad reach, as had initially been planned and ordered, attacks were made ever more directly towards the east. There was another reason for this, however. The Austro-Hungarian army leadership was aware of the fact that the Russians were bringing in as many reinforcements wherever they could spare them, and that it was therefore necessary to penetrate eastwards as quickly as possible, since it could be anticipated that this advance would very soon come to an end. For this purpose, and for the operation beyond Lutsk towards Rivne, sacrifices were made. The troops who were already intended for deployment in the Balkans in order to participate in the campaign against Serbia with considerable forces were directed back and thrown once more into the battle in the east. Initially, only one corps was affected. It was taken into account that no reinforcements could be released for the south-western front, and a series of crises were provoked there since success was still being sought in the north-