The United Danube Empire was a state that existed from 1919 until 1969. The multinational federal state is a constitutional monarchy and is the historical successor of Austria-Hungary.
Name[]
The realm's official name was United Danube Empire - given due to its location on the Danube River.
Creation[]
The State was created after the Great War on 1 January 1919 when the recently formed Danube Council accepted the constitution proposed by the former Austrian Imperial Council and the Croatian National Council was accepted.
The constitution included the Federal division. The Empire was divided into four entities:
- Archduchy of Austria
- Kingdom of Hungary
- Principality of Slavia
- Kingdom of Croatia
division of the U.D.E.
Government[]
The United Danube Empire had one major Parliament in Vienna (Reichsrat) with 203 members and 4 separate national councils for every entity of the empire, Austrian and Croatian councils have each 81 members and Hungarian and Slavian councils have each 101 members. Each Entity had its own prime minister.
Reichsrat[]
The Reichsrat had its seat in Vienna and was legislature in the empire. It had 203 members of which 81 were elected by the whole empire in one election. The other 122 members were divided into 4 groups:
- Austrian deputy council (Abgeordnetenrat) 31 members
- Hungarian deputy council 31 members
- Croatian deputy council 30 members
- Slavian deputy council 30 members
These were elected by each entity respectively.
Voting rights[]
Since 17 May 1928 Women have suffrage in the Empire. Every Man and Woman over the age of 16 may vote except if he is suffering of mental illness or he is a criminal.
Economy[]
The capitalist way of production spread throughout the Empire during its 45-year existences. It was an heavily industrialized country, though the western provinces of the empire were far more developed especially the areas around Vienna, Graz, Prague, Brno, Zagreb and Trieste. The least developed provinces were east of the Danube. The empire had its first economic boom in 1921 which led to a massive growth in the Automotive, Electronic, pharma and after the discovery of oil in Pannonia and Galicia in the oil industry.
1923 it founded the Alpine Economic Community (later European Economic Community) along with Switzerland and Lichtenstein. A entry of Italy in the AEC was discussed but 1929 it was given up.
Automotive industry[]
The empire had five car manufacturer companies: Audi, Austro-Daimler, Skoda, Steyr-Automotilwerke and Gräf & Stift
Military[]
The Austro-Hungarian Armed Forces were the military forces of the United Danube Empire It comprised three main branches: The Army (Landstreitkräfte), the Navy (Kriegsmarine) and the Aviation Troops (Luftfahrtruppen). The Army in turn consisted of its own Five branches: The Common Army and the four national armies. Supreme Commander of the armed forces was the Emperor the professional leader was the Chief of the General Staff and the head of the joint Ministry for military affairs was the Minister of War. Its size was approximately 520.000 Men (1936) of which 156.000 were in the Common Army, 13.000 were in the Austrian National Army, 105.000 were in the Slavian Army, 85.000 were in the Croatian Army and 161.000 were in the Hungarian Army.
Conflicts:
- World War 2
- Post War Balkan Conflict
- Danubian Civil War
Dissolution[]
The United Danubian Empire was dissolved on 5 January 1965.