Public life in Graz during the outbreak of WWI

This dissertation examines the outbreak of the First World War in Graz by means of a microhistorical approach. The focus of this examination is directed on the public life in the city of Graz, whereas private life situations remain unattended. The observation period ranges from the assasination in Sarajevo to December 1914. The obtained information derives from magazines and booklets as well as from files and reports, which was essential to receive a diversified perspective on the topic. Intending to describe and explain the transformational process from a gradual militarized society at peace to a martial society, this thesis analyses various war related aspects, such as war enthusiasm, the unification process, the so-called sense of duty as well as the populations concerns and fears. Furthermore it is important to emphasize that the so-called Begeisterung had a differnt meaning back then. Nowadays the term means certain forms of joy, pleasure and relaxation. Over hundred years ago the term also meant forms of devotedness, decisiveness and restlessness. The evidence of this study suggests a variety of new factors related to the way we understand and interpret the so-called war enthusiasm and the Burgfrieden. Consequently, this dissertation reveals that the social cohesion of the city has fundamentally changed during the first months of the war. Due to peoples various different notations concernig the right way of living and, particularly, the proper way of warfare, countless conflicts as well as cooperations arose in the city. In the end the situation resulted in support and courtesy, but also in invectiveness, brawls, knifing and denunciations. At the same time lots of people, especially women of lower classes, withdrew money from the banks. In addition to that they accumulated coins, because they thought that their paper money would depreciate. Besides that, a lot of people, especially women, foraged food. They were afraid that catering would break down. Spies and aliens were feared likewise. So-called shirkers, profiteers and conmen shaped streetlife, too. And people out-of-work were regarded as potential trouble spots. All in all, this means that the social cohesion of the city had fundamentally changed during the first months of the First World War.