On the Serbian battlefield, the Neretva Legion began displaying its tremendous might. With the Neretva region's population exceeding six hundred thousand, the Austro-Hungarian Empire naturally could not turn a blind eye to it.
This became a key recruitment area along the Austro-Hungarian Empire's frontier. Large numbers of Chinese and mixed-blood descendants were enlisted, and the original Neretva local forces were used as the framework for the newly formed Neretva Legion. Unlike Bosnia's other forces, it was set apart and sent to the Serbian battlefield.
This change also demonstrated the Neretva region's rising status. After all, the Neretva region had originally been a subordinate area of the Province of Bosnia, mixed with part of southern Croatia's territory.
Now, due to setbacks at the front, the Austro-Hungarian Empire made a major decision in order to win over the local government and civilians: after the war, the region would be incorporated into the New Kingdom of Dalmatia.
Mostar.
As the Neretva region's capital, it had been elevated into the temporary capital of the New Kingdom of Dalmatia. Now, the new kingdom's government was actively cooperating with the Austro-Hungarian Empire Government in conducting local recruitment.
Hiepel said, "This time, the Empire has truly staked everything. If we perform well on the battlefield, every one of us will become a meritorious subject of the Kingdom of Dalmatia. After the war, we must at least become an autonomous region like Croatia."
Before 1815, the Kingdom of Dalmatia had been the Illyrian Province of the French Empire. Later, it fell into Austria's hands and became one of its subordinate kingdoms.
In order to win over the local population, the Austro-Hungarian Empire planned to integrate the Neretva region into Dalmatia, separating it from the Province of Bosnia to form a new Kingdom of Dalmatia.
Naturally, this was also