Seite - 240 - in THE FIRST WORLD WAR - and the End of the Habsburg Monarchy, 1914 – 1918

7. Gallows in Serbia, 1914. In the areas close to the front in the Balkans and in Galicia, there was an almost irrational fear of spies. Thousands were convicted or accused of collaboration by Austro- Hungarian authorities. Finally, hostages were also taken. Summary court-martial proceedings and the use military courts became commonplace. Even Emperor Franz Joseph’s appeals for leniency and justice went unheeded.