(artillery blasting)
(dramatic music) - [Narrator] The
First World War, the so-called war
to end all wars, brutality on a scale
never before witnessed, and a world on the
edge of an abyss. The Habsburg Empire is facing
its own imminent demise. The young Emperor Charles I has only just ascended
to the throne, but must now save
both his empire and his dynasty at any price. (speaking in foreign language) - [Interpreter] His primary
goal is to end this war. (speaking in foreign language) - [Interpreter] For
Emperor Charles, peace must come
by way of France. (tense string music) - [Narrator] It is a
game of high stakes. Peace negotiations
with the enemy behind the backs of
the German allies. (speaking in foreign language) - [Interpreter] From
their point of view, this was total betrayal. - Do you wish to declare
war on Austria-Hungary, your majesty?
(hatchet thumping) (tense string music) - [Narrator] The final
journey of an emperor, Charles I of Austria's
Habsburg dynasty and his wife Zita,
board the ship that is to take them into exile. The First World War has cost
the Habsburgs their crown and their empire. Now, Austria's last emperor is leaving the
historical stage forever. - Mr. Habsburg, Mrs. Habsburg. I'm Captain Arthur Snagg. Welcome onboard HMS Glowworm.
- Thank you, Captain. - [Arthur] I must
ask for your word that there will be
no attempt to flee as long as you
are in my custody. - Certainly, sir. I have received instructions. I hereby give the
captain my word that during my journey,
while I find myself under his supervision, I
will certainly not make any attempt whatsoever
to regain my freedom. With this promise, I
consider myself bound in honor to him personally. (paper crinkling) - Signed, the
Emperor of Austria, King of Hungary.
- Certainly. A ruler can never abdicate. He can be ousted or executed. Good, that is violence. But abdicate? No, no, no.
- So be it. Your majesties. - [Zita] Where
are you taking us? - There has been
no order as yet. Please.
(ship horn blaring) (gentle music) - [Narrator] The
journey of HMS Glowworm will take the former
imperial couple down the Danube,
through the countries that once belonged to
the Habsburg Empire. Emperor Charles had hoped
to save Austria-Hungary and end a war he did not start. In order to achieve his aims, Charles entered into
a dangerous conspiracy which began at the
height of the bloodshed during the First World War. (artillery blasting) Autumn 1916. For more than two years, the
armies of the Central Powers, Austria-Hungary and Germany, have been fighting
the Triple Entente of France, Great Britain,
and Russia on several fronts. (gentle string music) Millions of soldiers
have fallen, and millions more
face the same fate. The conflict is taking
its toll across Europe. For the Habsburg Empire, it
is no longer merely a matter of military survival,
but of the survival of the empire's population. (ominous string music) In Vienna, a new emperor
has recently ascended to the throne, but tens
of thousands of people who line up at the
soup kitchens every day place all their hopes
in the young monarch. Every day of famine places
more pressure on Charles I. - [Zita] Don't send the
war minister to the front, your majesty. That remains the least
of our problems for now. Send him to the
outskirts of Vienna, to Ottakring, to Favoriten, where the almost
unrecognizable forms of starving women clutching
emaciated children are queuing up in
front of the stores. - Hunger is our greatest enemy. It worsens the social divisions. - Then show the masses
that you are with them. - [Narrator] Emperor
Charles and Zita have inherited an
empire that is in danger of being consumed
by war and hunger. (speaking in foreign language) - [Interpreter] It was clear that we would not
survive another winter. It was therefore necessary
to secure peace at any price. That was paramount, the
most important thing. - [Interpreter] It
was widely accepted that if the war was not
swiftly brought to an end defeat would be just
one consequence. The entire political system
would go up in flames. In fact, the end of the monarchy was already foreseeable
at this stage. (ominous music) - [Narrator] The differences
between the two Central Powers could not have been greater. Germany's military commanders, Paul von Hindenburg
and Erich Ludendorff, were committed to
the idea that peace would only be achieved
through victory. Their distrust of their
brothers in arms grew rapidly. (speaking in foreign language) - [Interpreter] There
was a lot of prejudice against the Austrians. From a Prussian point of view, they were considered
somewhat negligent. They weren't efficient enough. They weren't well-trained. They weren't
sufficiently motivated. Increasingly, the Germans
felt that they were fighting for people who
didn't deserve it. (speaking in foreign language) - [Narrator] In truth,
without Germany's assistance, Austria's troops would no longer be able to fight effectively. As a result, Emperor
Wilhelm's generals increasingly take control
of the military campaign. - If we don't get the
Austrians under control, we will face the
risk that they drag the entire German
empire down with them. - What would you
suggest, gentlemen? - Lieutenant Colonel Stolzenberg has produced a
report I asked for. It suggests the
best thing we can do is to get the heir to
the throne on our side. - Charles? I disagree. Everybody knows he is
no friend to Germany. - Then we make the
emperor our friend. Let us embrace him while
we can still shape him. Hm?
(man chuckling) (gentle music) - [Narrator] However,
Emperor Charles is unwilling to be embraced. Instead, he does his
best to extricate himself from Germany's clutches. This is also a result
of his family situation. His wife, Zita, is of
the House of Bourbon, part of a Franco-Austrian
connection dating back to the days of Maria Theresa. (speaking in foreign language) - [Interpreter] The heir
to the throne's attitude to the Germans can be
summed up very simply. He didn't like them much. He respected them, but
he didn't like them. And the moment he sensed
their growing power, he liked them even less. (gunshot blasting)
(glass shattering) (soft music) (footsteps tapping) - I fear I'm out of practice. - At the front, did
you not shoot there? - [Charles] Of course not. - Well, your soldiers did, and at my countrymen, no less. - I did not want this war. I never wanted this war. - You could have ended it. You are, you were the emperor. - I tried everything. Believe me. (speaking in foreign language) - [Interpreter] He had
set him off three goals. The first was to
avoid a revolution and maintain the
dynastic system. (gunshot blasting) (speaking in foreign language) The second was to preserve
some sense of unity among the many different
nations of the empire. (gunshot blasting) And thirdly, he
hoped to make peace after two and 1/2 years
of the insanity of war. (gunshot blasting)
(glass shattering) And go down in history as the
emperor who brought peace. (soft music)
(footsteps tapping) (energetic string music) - [Narrator] In January 1917, the imperial offices
in Baden, near Vienna, become the center
of Habsburg power. Charles sets about
achieving his goals. - We should now try to make
peace, if it is possible. - [Narrator] Charles assumes
command of his troops and moves his military
headquarters to Baden. Now, he hopes to take
his armies out of the war as fast as possible. He is aware that he
will receive no support from the Germans, so he
decides to act on his own. Initially, the emperor
enjoys the full backing of his new foreign minister,
Count Ottokar Czernin. - Count Czernin.
- Your majesty. (footsteps tapping) - [Narrator] But the
most important support is provided by his wife,
Zita of Bourbon-Parma. (speaking in foreign language) - [Interpreter] Two aspects
define Zita in particular. She was the more
intelligent, ambitious, and politically
active of the two. And she was also the
person who clearly and confidently led the way, which many people disliked. Zita was never merely
the beautiful empress responsibile for representing
the imperial family in public. Charles always
considered her an equal. (speaking in foreign language) (footsteps tapping) - [Charles] See here, a new
memorandum from Czernin. - Considerations
for ending the war. - I find it
extremely insightful. - What does he write? - That continued fighting
will be our downfall, that is a mathematical
certainty. We should accept the
wounds we have received, abandon territory and
ambitions, and make peace. That is what I have been saying. The Entente cannot be defeated. - I have asked my mother to talk to my brothers to make contact. Then we will know what the
two of them can do for us. - Sixtus and Xavier. (gentle music)
(footsteps tapping) - [Narrator] Family ties
will hopefully provide a path to peace. Charles has been close
friends with Zita's brothers since they were children. Now, they are also
related by marriage. Charles' wedding to
Zita of Bourbon-Parma in October 1911 may have
been an arranged one, but it is founded on love and brings the Habsburg
and Bourbon dynasties even closer together. Six years after the wedding, at Zita's suggestion,
Charles' brothers in law, Sixtus and Xavier, are tasked with extending a
peace offer to France. (ominous music) (door clattering) (footsteps tapping) However, the war has
divided the families. Both Sixtus and Xavier
serve in the Belgian Army. Nonetheless, blood remains
stronger than nationality. The Bourbon princes are members of France's former royal family and Charles considers them to
be the perfect go-betweens, even if they no longer
have any official influence in the French Republic. (Sixtus sighing) (speaking in foreign language) - [Interpreter] The two of
them continued to maintain pronounced pro-French and
anti-German political positions. In addition, Sixtus
and Xavier had a number of contacts at higher
levels of government, including direct
access to the president of France, Poincare. (speaking in foreign language) - [Interpreter] The
family connections in all directions were a
source of great strength despite the war and all
the other difficulties. (speaking in foreign language) - [Narrator] What follows
will go down in history as the Sixtus Affair, Charles I's secret peace
negotiations with France behind Germany's back. (footsteps tapping) (door clicking) For more than a century,
what really happened behind closed doors remained
shrouded in mystery. (ominous string music)
(footsteps tapping) Now, new evidence
has come to light which can finally clarify
the historical events that might have saved
the Habsburg Empire and brought the First World
War to an earlier end. In February 2017, the diaries of one of Emperor
Charles' closest friends and confidantes were
discovered in Vienna. Thomas Erdody recorded the
events of those significant days in minute detail, while also
playing an important role. But are these diaries genuine? Historian Manfried
Rauchensteiner and the Austrian State Archives are determined to find out. (speaking in foreign language) - [Interpreter] A
certain level of mistrust is always appropriate
when one is dealing with historical
records, particularly
journals or diaries. So much is sugarcoated. (speaking in foreign language) (exciting music) Erdody's memoirs are compared
with official documents from the archives to
provide authentification. Does the handwriting match? Erdody used a modern
style of writing in 1917, which makes the
comparison easier. The evaluation of the
handwriting reveals that Thomas Erdody's journals
are, in all likelihood, the real thing. (speaking in foreign language) - [Interpreter] Thomas Erdody's
records are so interesting because they are authentic and were written as
the events took place. It allows us to
establish a chronology we didn't have before. He did not write
this with the public or future historians in
mind, but rather for himself, and one has the sense
that he was fully aware of the intrigue
that surrounded him and that he was a part of. (speaking in foreign language) (mysterious music) - [Narrator] The dramatic
events of the Sixtus Affair unfold over the
following three months. From the outset,
the Austrian emperor places responsibility for the
greatest diplomatic challenge of his reign in the hands of
his friend, Thomas Erdody. - [Thomas] 8th of
February, 1917. Today, his majesty unexpectedly
required my presence. (boots slapping) - Thomas, wonderful. Tell me, how are we
doing with food supplies? - Well, you know, your
majesty, we need some time. - Time is precisely
what we don't have. Please, Thomas, are you able
to travel to Switzerland this evening?
- With pleasure. - It is a very delicate
and very dangerous matter. - Whatever your majesty desires. - Good, you will take the
7:30 p.m. express to Zurich. - [Narrator] As the
emperor's special emissary, Thomas will play a central role in the secret
negotiations with France. - Yes.
- Zita. - Your majesty?
(heels clicking) - Thomas, greetings. - [Narrator] Charles and
Zita are unwilling to entrust the delicate issue to
their regular diplomats. - You will go to Rue du
Pommier 7, in Neuchatel. - [Narrator] Erdody's
first mission takes him to Switzerland. - An old man, Monsieur Boy de
la Tour will open the door. He knows that you are coming. There you will meet
Sixtus and Xavier. Give my brothers these letters. (footsteps tapping)
(tense string music) - [Thomas] Will there be
negotiations with the French? - Listen, Thomas. Your only order is to
hand over these letters. You will explain that
you are not at liberty to receive any
information at all. Answer no questions that
Sixtus or Xavier may ask you. Do not discuss the
situation of the monarchy, the lack of food, the atmosphere
in the country, anything. Do you understand? - Do the Germans know of this? - I don't plan to abandon them, but I hope to force them
to make concessions. It is a risky step. Watch out for spies.
- Mm-hmm. - So, my friend, Godspeed. (tense music) - Should you be captured,
neither his majesty nor the foreign ministry will
have any knowledge of you. And now, go with God, Thomas. (ominous string music)
(footsteps tapping) - [Narrator] The
stakes are high. Holding secret
negotiations with the enemy behind the back of
the German allies could prove disastrous. (speaking in foreign language) - [Interpreter] That is
the incredible thing. These weren't the actions
of the Austrian government. It was a private initiative
of the emperor and his wife. (speaking in foreign language) - [Interpreter]
This was the result of a sense of
dynastic superiority. They simply assumed that
the word of an emperor carried more weight
than that of a president or any other politician. (soft string music)
(bird cawing) - [Narrator] But how
would France react to the signals from
the enemy camp? Sixtus had held
initial discussions with the French President
Poincare in advance to determine whether
peace efforts at a family level
should go ahead. In fact, France is facing many of the same
difficulties as Austria. The population is tired of war. Mutinies are breaking out, and many fear that the
impending revolution in Russia could strengthen Germany. The peace initiative from Vienna provides a glimmer of hope. (cart rattling) (speaking in foreign language) - [Interpreter] French
expectations of Emperor Charles were very clear. They wanted to make
a separate peace. To put it another way,
the aim of the French was to drive a wedge between
Germany and Austria-Hungary. (gentle music) - [Narrator]
Neuchatel, Switzerland. Throughout the First World
War, the neutral country is a playground for
spies, and a hub for the transfer of
secret information among the warring powers. Sixtus and Xavier arrange to
meet the emissary carrying the Austrian emperor's
message of peace in a house near the lake. (chain rattling) - 1335, it is time. - [Narrator] Thomas
Erdody is traveling in the guise of an
Austrian merchant. In his recently
discovered journals, Erdody describes events
in Neuchatel in detail. - In the name of his
majesty, the emperor, I thank you for coming. - I have a letter from
the emperor for you. I found myself in a
beautifully furnished room. Here you are. (gentle music) (seal cracking) We confirmed each
other's identities and I then handed
over the papers. (paper crinkling) The emperor hopes that
this will be followed by a personal meeting. - I cannot leave here
with empty hands. I need a concrete offer. - [Narrator] The
message is clear. There will be no peace with
the Entente without sacrifices. - Serbia must have sea access. Belgium to be restored
with the Congo, and the return of
Alsace-Lorraine to France. - [Thomas] The princes
now told me the wishes of the Entente, which are
largely impossible to fulfill. I made a note of everything, and then Prince Sixtus
confirmed the demands with his signature.
- Thank you. Farewell.
(footsteps tapping) (speaking in foreign language) - [Interpreter] This
is a very interesting, important section. The demands the Entente
conveyed to Count Erdody were undoubtedly
extremely ambitious, and there was little chance
of all of them being met. (gentle music) - [Narrator] The issue
of Alsace-Lorraine is by far the most significant. Chateau du Haut-Koenigsbourg is now a French
national monument, but at the time, the castle was the personal property of
the German emperor, Wilhelm II. It was therefore
symbolic of the struggle between France and Germany
for control of the territory, a struggle which had lasted
more than 1,000 years. (lofty music) Germany had annexed
Alsace-Lorraine during the Franco-Prussian
War in 1871, a national humiliation
for the French. Now, the Great War has
transformed the region between Verdun, Metz, and
Nancy into a wasteland. France's President Poincare
is himself a native of Lorraine, and
hopes for the return of his homeland to France. (hopeful music)
(water trickling) (paper crinkling) Emperor Charles informs
Poincare almost immediately that a return of Alsace-Lorraine
may be negotiable. - Hmm. This is a promising start. - [Narrator] The stage is
set for further negotiations. (match flaring) (speaking in foreign language) - [Interpreter] In his
memoirs, Poincare wrote that he considered
Austria responsibile for the outbreak of
the First World War. Perhaps he believed,
following a certain logic, that Austria would also
bring the war to an end. (flashbulb popping) - [Narrator] The cloak and
dagger efforts continue. The Princes Sixtus and Xavier are sent to Austria to
enter into negotiations, and Thomas Erdody is
tasked with removing all traces of their presence, even going so far as
to buy the photo plates used to produce
their travel papers. (train whistle blowing) Traveling under assumed names, the princes take a
train from Switzerland to Liechtenstein, and
then on to Austria to meet the emperor. (car engine rumbling)
(bell ringing) After 36 hours the Bourbon
princes reach Laxenburg Castle, Charles and Zita's
residence south of Vienna. (car door clunking) (tense string music) Entering in secret via a
narrow spiral staircase, the two princes are accompanied by Thomas Erdody, who
will subsequently record many salient details
of the meeting that takes place in the
imperial couple's private rooms. - Your majesties. (footsteps tapping) The subsequent reunion
was extremely touching. Her majesty had not
seen her brothers for almost three years,
and embraced them both with tears in her eyes.
- Xavier. - Charles.
- My dear Sixtus. Serve us.
- It's a pleasure. - Xavier.
- Charles. - Gentlemen. (doors clattering) - [Narrator] Thomas
Erdody guards the door. Nothing of what is to be
discussed may leave the room. (gentle music)
(crickets chirping) Negotiations continue
through the night of the 23rd of March,
1917, in Laxenburg, as the parties work
to formalize an offer which will allow Austria-Hungary to make peace with France, if not the other Entente powers. - They were positive
about your intentions. - Excellent. - [Narrator] Foreign
minister Czernin, however, is concerned.
- Your majesty, do not forget that you
have responsibilities as a German ally. - I have not forgotten,
Count Czernin, but one thing at a time. First, we must reach
agreement with France, then we will have to
convince the Germans. If we fail, we're on our own. (ominous music)
(paper crinkling) We have to make the-- - [Narrator] The
experienced politician knows where the greatest problem lies. If Charles promises
France the return of Alsace-Lorraine,
this would be tantamount to betrayal of an ally. - I am aware of this fact. I will take it
under consideration. Gentlemen? (speaking in foreign language) - [Interpreter] From
Charles' point of view, his offer to France
to convince Germany to make concessions
concerning Alsace-Lorraine was easy to make. After all, it
wasn't his country. On the other hand, it
would be unfair to say that Germany was
completely opposed. Some Germans believed
it was important to make concessions in the
case of Alsace-Lorraine. (tense string music) - [Narrator] The burden
of the Habsburg dynasty must have weighed heavily
on Charles' shoulders during those tense
weeks in early 1917. 12 emperors and 19 empresses, including Maria
Theresa, lie buried in Vienna's imperial crypt. The future of this
dynasty, with its long and glorious past, now
hangs on the success of Charles I's peace initiative. The rise of the
Habsburg dynasty, which originated in Switzerland, began along the
Danube in Austria at the end of the 13th century. Originally, the Habsburgs
were mere counts, but they rose to become emperors of the Holy Roman Empire. On the 17th of August, 1887, the young archduke
Charles is born at Persenbeug Castle
in Lower Austria. Few people take note. The new arrival is eclipsed
by the shining lights of the Habsburg universe,
Emperor Franz Joseph and his wife Elisabeth, the legendary Empress Sisi. Nobody could have
predicted that Charles would eventually succeed
the great Franz Joseph, and yet, this photo
Charles' mother requests of the emperor with her
son seems eerily prescient. Several twists of fate will
eventually bring the archduke from the back of the
line of succession to the very front. (letter opener clattering) (paper crinkling) The last of these
fateful events occurs on the 28th of June, 1914, and is destined to change
both Charles' life, and the course of
history itself. (footsteps tapping) (ominous music) - My god. - Were they both
killed outright? - [Narrator] It is
the spark that ignites the First World War. In Sarajevo, the
student Gavrilo Princip has assassinated
Archduke Franz Ferdinand, the heir to the Habsburg
throne, and his wife. - A Serb. For God's sake. - [Narrator] At this moment, it becomes clear that Charles will eventually become emperor. (speaking in foreign language) - [Interpreter] Undoubtedly, this development also placed
incredible strain on him, as he was never prepared
for the role of emperor. (crow cawing) - [Narrator] The aging
Emperor Franz Joseph no longer has the time or
strength to prepare Charles for his future responsibilities. After 68 years in power, he
dies, aged 84, in November 1916. (door clicking and creaking) (footsteps tapping) (speaking in foreign language) - [Interpreter] As
we left the room in which the emperor died, his former adjutant,
Lobkowicz, approached us. With tears in his eyes, he
made the sign of the cross on his forehead and said-- - May God protect you,
your majesty, amen. (speaking in foreign language) - [Interpreter] And
that was the first time Charles was
addressed as emperor. All the responsibility was
placed on his shoulders. I supported him as
much as I could. Like any Austrian woman would
have done for her husband, if she believed she could help. (speaking in foreign language) - [Interpreter] When
Charles became emperor, the public was
largely enthusiastic about the new imperial couple. Of course, they
presented themselves as the perfect young family
with lovely children. In the beginning, they
were very popular, and people were optimistic
about his reign. The emperor himself
was very accessible, friendly, and willing to listen. His subjects placed a
lot of faith in him, and there was an extremely
positive atmosphere. (dramatic string music) - [Narrator] However,
Charles and Zita have assumed control
of a crumbling empire, incorporating a number of
different nationalities. Austria-Hungary had
become a powder keg. A satirical map from 1911
shows the ethnic prejudices that drove the 11
main nationalities, with their own
languages and religions, further and further apart. The outbreak of war had
united the different factions under the Habsburg
flag once more, but as the situation at
the fronts deteriorates, pressure mounts internally. Austria-Hungary's ally, Germany, plays an ever greater role
in maintaining stability. (speaking in foreign language) - [Interpreter]
Increasingly, Austria was seen as a burden. However, politically
and militarily, it remained the only ally
that could still be considered at least somewhat compatible. As such, Germany was trapped. The German Empire
was forced to assume the weight of the problems
that Austria-Hungary faced, but there was simply
no alternative. (soft music)
(crickets chirping) - [Narrator] Now,
however, Charles I is prepared to betray
his brothers in arms to save his own empire. (speaking in foreign language) Following his meeting
with the Bourbon princes, Charles drafts a letter
nominally addressed to his brother in law Sixtus. In fact, the letter
is actually directed at President Poincare of France, and therefore, also at
France's ally, England. - [Charles] My dear Sixtus. The end of the third
year of the war that has brought so much sadness and suffering to the
world draws near. - [Narrator] Charles
agonizes over every word. He will compose more
than a dozen versions before he is satisfied. - [Charles] It is,
therefore, my great pleasure to acknowledge that although
we are currently adversaries, my empire and France
are not divided by insurmountable
conflicts of interest. - [Zita] And? Are you making progress? - Yes. Could you just? (speaking in foreign language) - [Interpreter] Zita
certainly took the lead and was the driving force. Thomas Erdody's journals have
now provided confirmation that she was present
during the writing of the Sixtus letters. (dramatic music) - [Narrator] Prince Sixtus
carries the emperor's letter to France and
personally delivers it to President Poincare
in the Elysee Palace. - [Charles] I therefore
ask you to convey to the president of
the French Republic in secret and unofficially. - [Narrator] Two weeks later, news of the emperor's
letter reaches the British Prime
Minister Lloyd-George. - [Charles] That I
will use all the means at my disposal with my allies to support France's just demands pertaining to the return
of Alsace-Lorraine. And finally, England's
King George V. - In the hope that we can
together end the suffering of so many millions of people. Charles. (paper crinkling) This means peace, Prince Sixtus? - God willing, your majesty. - [Interpreter] This, of course, took events to a
whole new level. The Austrian emperor
was now using his personal relations
to open negotiations with the French and
English governments. The fact that he neglected
to inform the Germans at such an important
phase of the war was politically short-sighted. (dramatic music)
(train chugging) - [Narrator] Emperor Charles
hopes to rectify the situation and present his allies
with his peace plan just days later,
during a meeting with the German Emperor Wilhelm. However, face to face with
the German military command, Charles' courage fails him, and he is able to do little
more than drop vague hints. (train whistle shrilling) (speaking in foreign language) - [Interpreter] Emperor
Charles had told his German counterparts that
if we did not make peace soon, the people would take
matters into their own hands and that this would
be to their detriment. (motor rumbling) - [Narrator] Charles
eventually leaves without admitting
to his actions. However, his allies
suspect something, and their suspicions
are reinforced by reports from the
intelligence services. (footsteps tapping) - His troops can be
trusted, but can he? - [Narrator] The Germans
know that they cannot afford to break with Austria,
politically or militarily. (tense music) - I heard a saying recently. We are obliged to consider
everyone we meet a good person until they convince
us of the opposite. (speaking in foreign language) - [Interpreter] It
was widely known that Austria was
interested in peace. However, most assumed
that their interest lay in a general end to hostilities rather than peace at
the expense of an ally. That came as a big surprise. (dramatic music) - [Narrator] Charles makes
a further grave error. He ignores the role
played by Italy. (explosion blasting) Originally allied with Austria at the outset of the war,
Rome had switched allegiances in 1915 and now has
far more to gain from a victory over Austria than from any compromise. Above all, Italy hopes
to claim the pride of the Habsburgs,
the port of Trieste. (lofty music) During a meeting
in the French Alps, the British and French attempt
to persuade the Italians to grasp the
opportunity for peace. However, the conference
in Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne on the 26th of
April, 1917, fails. Charles simply cannot
afford, politically, to make concessions to a
country he considers traitorous. (speaking in foreign language) - [Interpreter] In his
memoirs, Poincare records that the Italians were
absolutely furious. (speaking in foreign language) - [Interpreter] The dilemma
was that the Italians had been offered a
lot to convince them to fight on the side of
the English and French. There was now no way
they were prepared to make compromises or
take a smaller share of the treasure they
had been promised. - [Interpreter] As a
result, these very complex and vigorous efforts,
and the high hopes associated with them,
came to nothing. (eerie music) - [Narrator] The brief
chance of peace vanishes as quickly as it appeared, and the drums of war
beat louder than ever. (guns blasting) Germany intensifies
its U-boat warfare, and any ship is liable to
be sunk without warning. As a result, the
USA enters the war. Unexpectedly, German and
Austrian troops celebrate an overwhelming victory
over the Italians at the 12th Battle
of the Isonzo. (gentle music) The Central Powers
and their adversaries now increase the use of
a controversial weapon which adds to the horror of
the conflict, poison gas. (explosions blasting) After two revolutions,
Russia withdraws from the First World War, and its soldiers lay
their weapons down. Half a million German soldiers
can now be transferred to the West for the final push. (artillery booming) The spring offensive
begins in March 1918. It is the largest
military campaign the world has ever seen,
and the German Empire is now all but certain that
victory lies within its grasp. Even the otherwise circumspect
Austrian foreign minister, Count Czernin, allows
himself to be swept up in the spirit of victory. One year after his emperor's
peace initiative comes to nothing, he gives a speech
at city hall in Vienna. Contrary to all accepted
diplomatic practice, he claims that France's
Prime Minister Clemenceau has secretly asked him to
open negotiations for peace. (soft music)
(speaking in foreign language) - [Interpreter] And
then it all blows up. Czernin makes his speech, and
Clemeanceau promptly responds that it's all a lie, and that
he has the letters to prove that the Austrians
approached France in secret to negotiate a separate peace. (speaking in foreign language) - [Interpreter] It's an
early 20th century version of a fake news war. There is no Twitter, but
Czernin publicly makes a false claim and Clemenceau
can't possibly let it stand. He has to find some
way of bringing facts back into the debate. (dramatic music) - [Narrator] Within a few days, the affair becomes an
international scandal, with each side accusing the
other of spreading lies. Eventually, the French
prime minister releases incontrovertible
proof to the media, the Austrian emperor's
letters of March 1917. (speaking in foreign language) - [Interpreter] On the
13th of April, 1918, Erdody wrote in his journal. Today, the letter is
in all the newspapers. It has caused great commotion. It is a letter from the
emperor to Prince Sixtus that I remember well. (speaking in foreign language) - [Interpreter] Unfortunately,
Charles' reaction was the wrong one. Instead of standing
by his efforts and admitting that they failed, he says, "I have no
knowledge of any letters." (saw buzzing) - [Narrator] It is a personal as well as political
disaster for Charles. He has been revealed
to be a liar on the international stage, in full view of
his German allies. - No man shows me gratitude. My faith was misplaced. - Your majesty, I told you Austria was
not a suitable country for a political alliance. - Do you wish to declare
war on Austria-Hungary, your majesty?
(hatchet thumps) - Be silent, Ludendorff. Make yourself useful and
get me the Austrian emperor. (speaking in foreign language) - [Interpreter] Naturally,
the Germans are appalled by the revelations
that there were offers of talks and negotiations
with the Allies. From the German point of view, at a time when the
country believed it would eventually
be victorious, this amounted to total betrayal. The Germans certainly
wanted revenge. (pensive music) - [Narrator] Emperor
Charles is unable to deal with the mounting pressure. Czernin demands the emperor
issue a formal statement that the foreign
minister had nothing to do with the letters,
an outright lie. (footsteps tapping) - Count Czernin. You cannot possibly expect
the emperor to sign this. - The emperor has
compromised himself. He must choose. Abdicate or deny everything. (paper ripping) - Sir, you must be insane. (footsteps tapping) - [Narrator] These
events are also recorded by Thomas Erdody in his journal. - Then you must take
responsibility, Thomas. - I wouldn't dream of it. (footsteps tapping) I'm here to act on
the emperor's orders, not to cover for some minister. - If you refuse,
then I am a dead man. Then a bullet is my only option. So?
(gun clicking) (gun thumping) (soft music) - So be it. (footsteps tapping) - [Narrator] Charles'
reign would appear to have come to a shameful end. Czernin even attempts
to force the emperor to relinquish power and
accept a provisional regent. (footsteps tapping) (ominous music) (rook thumping) - [Charles] That was,
however, his final move. I got rid of him. The empress gave me
back my confidence. - Captain Snagg. Don't you think that the
emperor and I deserve to know where you were
ordered to take us? I had to read in the paper
that it is probably Madeira. - Oh, I hope so, for your sake. - You hope so?
- The admiral seems to think that Ascension
might be possible. - Ascension? (chair scraping) (footsteps tapping) - Here, Ascension. A small volcanic
island, population 100, governed by an English officer. Tropical heat worse
than St. Helena. - Napoleon's St. Helena?
- Exactly. That's why I say Madeira, before those in London
change their minds. (soft music) - [Narrator] How would
Austria-Hungary's German allies react to the emperor's betrayal? On the 12th of May, 1918,
in the Belgian town of Spa, Charles is summoned to appear
before Emperor Wilhelm. The German emperor makes
no secret of his disdain. (speaking in foreign language) - [Interpreter] When Wilhelm
receives the Austrian emperor, he makes it very clear
that he considers him both weak and a traitor
and that he plans to punish him as you
would a naughty schoolboy. As part of Germany's revenge, Charles is forced
to sign everything the Germans demand of him. From that point on,
Austria is no more than a vassal
state of the Reich. (dramatic music) - [Narrator] The memorandum
of the meeting in Spa is a protocol of the complete
and utter subjugation of Emperor Charles,
and essentially
makes Austria-Hungary a part of the German Empire. As a result, Germany
now has total control over the armies of
the Central Powers. The war will be decided
on the battlefield. (footsteps rustling)
(crow cawing) Thomas Erdody, Charles' friend, is at the emperor's side in Spa. He knows the end is coming. - We can count ourselves lucky if the Germans don't attack us. - Excuse me, your majesty. Does your majesty know
what the Viennese call you? - Well? - Charles the Last. (martial music) - [Narrator] On the
17th of August, 1918, Charles celebrates his
last birthday as emperor, surrounded by his inner circle. He is just 31 years old,
and a resounding failure. At the beginning of his reign, people had considered Charles and the Austro-Hungarian Empire an important check
on German power. Now, everything has changed. (speaking in foreign language) - [Interpreter]
Essentially, the Allies had made their decision. As it was impossible to
negotiate a separate peace with Austria, they
saw no alternative to the complete defeat and
capitulation of the two powers. (speaking in foreign language) - [Interpreter] The
short version is that the Sixtus Affair and
Charles' actions contributed to the end of the empire. However, the question
is whether the monarchy had any chance of
survival at all once the war broke out. (explosions blasting) - [Narrator] Charles
hoped to achieve peace, but his once great empire
descends into total war. There is nothing left for the
pious emperor to do but pray. - Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. (ethereal music) - [Narrator] In August of 1918, Austrian and German
resistance begins to crumble across Europe. At the end of October, in
the course of a few days, the nations of the
Austro-Hungarian Empire declare their independence. The Habsburg, Romanov
and Hohenzollern families are forced to accept
their subjects' demand for self-determination, bringing their historical
reigns to an end, once and for all. The old Europe of the
aristocrats has vanished, but what will replace it? (pensive music) (crowd cheering) The peace treaties of
Versailles and Saint-Germain create a new order and sow the
seeds for future conflicts. Just two decades later, these seeds will give rise
to an even more savage war that will once again set
Europe and the world on fire. - [Charles] Now, and at the
hour of our death, amen. (sorrowful music) - [Narrator] Emperor Charles
I wanted to end the war and save the Habsburg Empire. Both ventures failed. (speaking in foreign language) - [Interpreter]
He allowed himself to be driven rather than
being a driving force himself. He did not believe he could
have a significant impact. This may have been an
aspect of his character, his personality. Above all, however, I
believe it was a result of the course of the war. (motor rumbling)
(soft music) - [Narrator] One week
after Austria's surrender on the 3rd of November, 1918, the imperial family leaves
Vienna's Schonbrunn Palace. The following day,
the establishment of the Republic of German
Austria is proclaimed. (footsteps tapping) - What happens now? - Now? Everything ends, your majesty. - [Narrator] Charles
is forced to relinquish all his political functions, but he refuses to abdicate. Over the next few
years, assisted by his friend Thomas Erdody, he will launch two
attempts to reclaim the crown of Hungary,
without success. (door slamming) After almost 650 years, the
era of the Habsburgs is over. (speaking in foreign language) - [Interpreter] Perhaps
Charles was actually the right person
at the right time, in that he so clearly
demonstrated the problems associated with monarchies, that certain people
inherited so much power that they were not
qualified to deal with, people who simply lacked the
ability to lead a country. (soft music) - [Narrator] Following the
failure of the attempted coups by the former imperial couple, the victorious
Entente powers decide to solve the problem
once and for all. Charles and Zita's journey
into exile takes them along the Danube, through
the new countries established by their former subjects, and to the Romanian river
harbor town of Galati. It is the humiliating end to
an empire of many nations, united under the banner
of a single dynasty. (soft music) (footsteps tapping) Empress Zita is
never able to accept the new Europe of nation states. Until her death at 97,
she continues to maintain that the Habsburgs have
a divine right to power. Exile does nothing
to change her views. - Madeira, you say?
- Yes. - It has been an honor to
have you onboard my ship, your majesties. - Farewell, captain.
- It was a pleasure. - [Narrator] Just
four months later, Charles dies of pneumonia
in Madeira at the age of 34. How will the last
Habsburg emperor eventually be
remembered by history? For his sincere ambition
to secure peace? Or for the somewhat inept
betrayal of his ally? (soft string music)
(water splashing)
I’ll just save that to watch later. Thanks pal!