Război şi propagandă în Bucovina austriacă. Misiunea lui Nathan Eidinger la Bucureşti (1915)

Ana-Maria-Ioana LUPĂŞTEANU

DOI: 10.47743/asui-2025-0017

Abstract: This paper explores how the province of Bukovina, located on the eastern frontier of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, experienced both the military and informational dimensions of the First World War. It focuses on the figure of Nathan Eidinger, a Jewish merchant from Rădăuţi, who became a key intermediary for the Austro-Hungarian authorities in their propaganda efforts directed at neutral Romania between 1914 and 1916. Eidinger used his commercial and social networks to promote pro-Austrian narratives, aiming to keep Romania neutral or aligned with the Central Powers. His activities included establishing communication channels with Romanian elites, proposing economic cooperation (notably in grain exports), and influencing the Romanian press, particularly through newspapers such as “Universul” and “Adevărul”, by publishing articles emphasizing Russian atrocities in Bukovina. These media operations sought to discredit Russia and the Entente, portraying Austria-Hungary as a protector of civilization. Despite some initial success, the propaganda ultimately failed when Romania entered the war on the side of the Entente in 1916.

Keywords: Austro-Hungarian Empire; Bukovina; propaganda; diplomacy; First World War.