Central European Wars 1918-21: Revolutions and Border Wars in the Former Austro-Hungarian Empire

by Philip Jowett, Adam Hook (Illustrator)

Overview

Depicts the forces involved in uprisings and border conflicts after the break-up of the Austro-Hungarian Empire.

The Austro-Hungarian Empire during World War I had included peoples of German, Hungarian, Polish, Czech, Slovakian, Serbian, Bosnian and other origins, whose ambitions for independent nationhood were complicated by mutual religious and ethnic hostilities. In this fully illustrated study, Philip Jowett examines the organization and appearance of the forces involved in the internal risings, border disputes and full-scale wars that followed the break-up of the Empire, as the composition and frontiers of new national states emerged from the immediate chaos.

Principally, Poland restored and defended the nationhood it had lost in the 18th century, while the new republic of Czechoslovakia was established after hostilities against both the Poles and Hungarian communists. Austria became a republic, and its paramilitary Freikorps fought Slovenians in Carinthia and various Serbo-Croat forces. The Hungarian republic defeated a Hungarian Soviet Republic led by Bela Kun, and suffered temporary Romanian occupation of territory including Budapest, while Hungarian nationalists fought Austrian gendarmes. The colourful and diverse armies of these nascent countries are described and illustrated in this lively account of their foundational years.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781472867148
Publisher:	Bloomsbury Publishing
Publication date:	06/19/2025
Series:	Men-at-Arms , #563
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	48

About the Author

Philip Jowett has written a number of books for the Men-at-Arms series, with a strong focus on under-researched subjects worthy of closer attention.

Adam Hook specializes in historical reconstructions, and has illustrated Osprey titles on subjects as diverse as the Aztecs, Roman battle tactics and the modern Chinese Army.
Philip Jowett was born in Leeds in 1961 and has been interested in military history for as long as he can remember. His first Osprey book was the ground-breaking Men-at-Arms 306, Chinese Civil War Armies 1911–49, and since then he has published numerous other titles for Osprey including MAA 414, The Russo-Japanese War 1904–05, MAA 532, Japan's Asian Allies 1941–45 and NVG 19, Armour in China 1920–1950. He lives in North Lincolnshire, UK.
Adam Hook studied graphic design, and began his work as an illustrator in 1983. He specializes in detailed historical reconstructions, and has illustrated Osprey titles on subjects as diverse as the Aztecs, the Ancient Greeks, Roman battle tactics, 19th-century American subjects, the modern Chinese Army, and the history of fortification. His work features in exhibitions and publications throughout the world.

Table of Contents

[subject to confirmation]
Introduction
Emerging nations and armies, 1918–19
The Carinthian War, 1919
The Czech Legion and Army, 1919–20
The Polish–Czechoslovak War, 1919
The Hungarian Red Army, 1919
The Romanian Army, 1919–20
The Hungarian National Army, 1920–21
Royalist rebellions in Hungary, 1921
West Hungary, 1921
Uniforms of the combatant forces
Bibliography
Plate commentaries
Index