Baron Max Hussarek von Heinlein (1865-1935) was the Prime Minister of Austria during the last 15 months of World War 1.
Born on May 3, 1865 in Pressburg, Slovakia (present-day Bratislava), Hussarek was a professor of canon law at the University of Vienna before deciding to begin a career in politics.
Before his appointment as Prime Minister in July 1917, Hussarek held a succession of lessor government posts. From 1911 to 1917 he served as Minister of Education in three successive governments.
Succeeding Count Heinrich von Clam-Martinitz as Prime Minister on July 25, 1917 Hussarek began restructuring the federal underpinnings of the Habsburg empire as the only means of saving Austria-Hungary from collapse, ultimately without success.
To this end he proposed the creation of an autonomous Croatian state within the wider confines of the empire and, on 16 October 1918, presented Emperor Karl I’s October Manifesto with its proposals for a federation of autonomous states. Its subsequent rejection by Hungarian opposition led to his resignation eleven days later.
After the war Hussarek returned to his academic post, although he later served with Red Cross administration in Vienna and lower Austria in 1923.
Baron Max Hussarek von Heinlein died on March 6, 1935 at the age of 69.