esk rozvod s c. a k. monarchi Martnek Miloslav (2026)

In the summer of 1914, the Austro-Hungarian army entered the war full of optimism. Wearing new uniforms and accompanied by bands playing Zachovej nm, Hospodine and the Radetzky March, as well as pan-German melodies, it marched into a conflict that would last four years and erase Austria-Hungary from the map of Europe. Czech politics changed profoundly during this period. At the beginning of the war, no significant political party in the Czech lands openly advocated an independent state. Only the growing pressure of militarist circles, which undermined democratic institutions in the Austrian part of the monarchy, and Austrias rapprochement with Prussian Germany led Czech political representatives at home and in exile towards independence. Czech leaders rejected Emperor Charless hesitant attempts to federalize Austria and, through the group around T. G. Masaryk that organized the Czechoslovak Legions, gained the support of Allied statesmen. At the end of October 1918, when the Czechoslovak state entered into existence, street bands once again played, this time replacing Austrian military marches with melodies by Frantiek Kmoch.