Life in Sušak During the First World War

Abstract

The First World War has been extensively studied in Croatian historiography, including the region of Rijeka, which underwent significant changes and turbulence during and especially after the war. However, existing research has focused primarily on political and military history, while studies of everyday life and the circumstances of the population east of the Rječina River – the separate settlement of Sušak at the time – are almost entirely lacking. In connection with the 110^th anniversary of the outbreak of the First World War, this paper aims to contribute to our understanding of the general living conditions in the municipality of Sušak immediately before and during the war. Its purpose is to provide an overview of the social circumstances and to present the various developments and aspects of urban life during the war years, highlighting how the realities of wartime affected postwar changes. The analysis is based on original archival materials from the State Archive in Rijeka, particularly the minutes of the Sušak Municipal Council from the wartime period (June 17, 1914, to October 29, 1918). Additional sources include periodicals such as Riečki novi list, Primorske novine, and Ilustrovani list, which offer valuable contributions and testimonies that enrich the historical picture of wartime Sušak. The paper is organized into several sections, covering the historical context of the prewar years, the municipality’s material conditions during the war, mobilization, economy and social welfare, healthcare and society, the functioning of public schools during the war, and wartime daily life.