Charles I or Karl I was Emperor of Austria, King of Hungary, King of Croatia, King of Bohemia, and the last of the monarchs belonging to the House of Habsburg-Lorraine to rule over Austria-Hungary.
He made secret attempts to negotiate Austria-Hungary's exit from the First World War but was unsuccessful. Despite Charles's efforts to preserve the empire by transforming it into a federal union, Austria-Hungary hurtled towards disintegration: Czechoslovakia and the State of Slovenes, Croats and Serbs were proclaimed, and Hungary broke monarchic ties to Austria by the end of October 1918. Following the Armistice of 11 November 1918, Charles "renounced participation" in state affairs, but did not abdicate. The Republic of German-Austria was proclaimed the following day, and in April 1919 he was formally dethroned by the Austrian Parliament and exiled to Switzerland.
The man who was the last to command the so-called "Kornilov Battalion", otherwise known as the Czechoslovak Engineer Regiment, which was formed in January 1918 on the Don in General Kornilov's Volunteer Army. A man who personally took part in 59 combat engagements with the Bolsheviks.
The traveler, composer and soldier Kryštof Harant made a significant impact on our history " with a gun in his hand ", which also became fatal for him.
During his life, he became the founder of three air forces, three different independent states.
He became a pilot and commander of the Austro-Hungarian Air Force, the Royal Yugoslav Air Force and the Air Force of the Independent State of Croatia. He was not destroyed by the enemies of Austria-Hungary, fascists or communists.
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