1912 and 1913 were frustrating years for Austrian ambitions in the Balkans.

Not one, but two Balkan wars redrew the map of the peninsula with minimal input from Austria.

And it left Serbia, Russia's best ally and Austria's worst nightmare, more powerful than ever.

And on top of all that, multiple scandals at the highest levels in Vienna made everyone wonder,

Who is in charge around here? Is anyone in charge around here?

It's small wonder that in 1913, a Viennese newspaper editorial, drawing upon a Yiddish word

that means something like pathetic loser, declared that Austria, the nation that was once the

continent's most formidable land power, was now the Shlemiel of Europe.

Welcome to the history of the 20th century.

The 20th century. Episode 70, the Shlamele of Europe

Last week, we followed the story of the 1912 Shlamil of Europe.

Last week, we followed the story of the 1912 War in the Balkans.

As you may recall, the European part of the Ottoman Empire was attacked at once by the four states of the Balkan League, Montenegro, Serbia, Bulgaria, and Greece.

The Ottomans were losing ground on all fronts,

and the Bulgarians had even gotten tantalizingly close to Constantinople,

but not quite close enough for Tsar Ferdinand to be able to pull his Byzantine emperor

get up out of the closet just yet.

And if the Turks don't have enough headaches already, well, the Albanians

are rising up and demanding independence too. The great powers have been caught flat-footed.

The Russians aren't happy at the thought of Bulgaria controlling the all-important straits

between the Black Sea and the Mediterranean. The Austrians actually mobilized their army

over the prospect of Serbia getting an Adriatic sea coast and becoming yet another naval rival

...