Austria-Hungary's Invasion Of Serbia: What Happened?

The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand and his wife, Sophie, in June 1914 was the catalyst for Austria-Hungary's declaration of war on Serbia, which marked the beginning of World War I. The conflict was underpinned by a history of animosity and competing interests in the Balkans region, with Austria-Hungary seeking to crush Serbian nationalism and maintain control over its multi-ethnic empire. Serbia, meanwhile, aspired to unify the Slavic people of southeast Europe and break free from Austrian influence. Following the assassination, Austria-Hungary, with German encouragement, issued an ultimatum to Serbia, intending to provoke a rejection that would justify military action. When Serbia accepted all but one of the ultimatum's demands, Austria-Hungary severed diplomatic ties and declared war on July 28, 1914, setting off a chain of events that escalated the localised conflict into a global war.

Austria-Hungary declares war on Serbia

On July 28, 1914, Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia, marking the beginning of World War I. This declaration came exactly one month after Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria and his wife were assassinated by a Serbian nationalist in Sarajevo. The assassination heightened existing tensions between the two countries, with Austria-Hungary viewing Serbia as a threat to the stability of its multi-ethnic empire.

Austria-Hungary had long been suspicious of Serbian ambition in the tumultuous Balkans region. The assassination provided the pretext for Austria-Hungary, with the support of its powerful ally Germany, to prepare for a possible military invasion of Serbia. On July 23, 1914, Austria-Hungary presented Serbia with an ultimatum, demanding, among other things, the suppression of all anti-Austrian propaganda and the allowance for Austria-Hungary to conduct its own investigation into the archduke's killing.

Serbia accepted all but one of the demands, but Austria-Hungary was determined to go ahead with its military plans. On July 25, it broke diplomatic relations with Serbia, while Russia, Serbia's ally, began mobilising its military in anticipation of conflict. The rest of Europe watched with trepidation, recognising the potential for the conflict to escalate into a wider European war.

On July 28, Austria-Hungary officially declared war on Serbia. That night, Austrian artillery divisions initiated a brief bombardment of Belgrade across the Danube River. This marked the start of a cataclysmic conflict that would devastate Europe and bring an end to the Austro-Hungarian Empire.

The declaration of war by Austria-Hungary set off a chain reaction of alliances and hostilities that quickly escalated the conflict. Germany's support for Austria-Hungary and its subsequent declarations of war on Russia and France played a significant role in expanding the war beyond the Balkans. Britain's entry into the war, prompted by Germany's invasion of Belgium, further internationalised the conflict, leading to a global war that reshaped the world in the 20th century.

The Serbian response

On 25 July 1914, Pašić delivered Serbia's response to the Austrian ambassador, Baron Giesl von Gieslingen. Serbia accepted almost all of the terms of the ultimatum, except for one: it would not allow Austria-Hungary to participate in any internal inquiry, stating that this would violate its constitution and criminal procedure law. This response garnered Pašić and Serbia the support of international observers. However, it made little difference to the Austrians, who were determined to go to war.

Gieslingen, who had already packed his bags in anticipation of Serbian defiance, promptly broke off diplomatic relations and left for the train station. Three days later, on 28 July 1914, Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia, marking the beginning of World War I.

Russia's support of Serbia

Russia and Serbia have a long history of diplomatic relations, cultural ties, and military cooperation. Both countries are predominantly Slavic and Eastern Orthodox, sharing a strong cultural heritage and affinity. Here is an overview of Russia's support for Serbia, particularly in the lead-up to World War I.

Historical Context

Russia and Serbia established official diplomatic relations in 1816 between the Russian Empire and the Principality of Serbia. The two countries have been close allies for centuries, with Russia offering support to Serbia during various conflicts. This support was based on several factors, including cultural affinity, geopolitical interests, and a shared religious background.

Cultural and Religious Affinity

Russia and Serbia share a Slavic cultural heritage and Eastern Orthodox Christian faith. After the Ottoman invasion of Serbia in the 14th century, Serbian refugees found refuge in Russia. Additionally, the worship of Saint Sava, a significant Serbian religious figure, was established in Russia in the 16th century. This cultural and religious connection formed a basis for mutual support and cooperation between the two nations.

Geopolitical Interests

Russia's support for Serbia was also driven by its geopolitical interests and ambitions in the Balkan region. Russia sought to counter the influence of rival powers such as the Ottoman Empire and Austria-Hungary in the Balkans. By supporting Serbia, Russia aimed to establish reliable client states and expand its influence in the region.

Pan-Slavism

The idea of Pan-Slavism, which emphasized the unity and solidarity of Slavic peoples, gained traction in the 19th century. Russia, as the most powerful Slavic nation, was viewed as a natural leader and protector of other Slavic countries, including Serbia. This ideological movement further strengthened the bond between Russia and Serbia.

Defense of Serbia

Russia's support for Serbia became particularly prominent in the years leading up to World War I. When Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia in July 1914, Russia mobilized its armed forces to defend its ally. Russia's entry into the conflict was driven by a desire to maintain its influence in the Balkans and its status as a major power. Additionally, Russia sought to deter Austria-Hungary from invading Serbia and punishing it for the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand.

Military Cooperation

Russia and Serbia have a history of military cooperation, with Russia providing military aid and equipment to Serbia. In recent years, Serbia has purchased advanced military hardware from Russia, including the Pantsir-S1 air defense system and Kornet anti-tank missiles. This military cooperation continues to strengthen the relationship between the two countries.

In conclusion, Russia's support for Serbia has been multifaceted and enduring. It has been driven by cultural and religious ties, geopolitical ambitions, and a shared Slavic identity. Russia's defense of Serbia during World War I and their continued military cooperation demonstrate the depth of their alliance.

The Balkan Wars

The Second Balkan War began on June 16, 1913, when Bulgaria, dissatisfied with the loss of Macedonia, attacked its former allies. Bulgaria faced a united front of Serbia and Greece, who counter-attacked with superior numbers, invading from the west and south. Romania, which had not taken part in the first conflict, invaded Bulgaria from the north, in violation of a peace treaty between the two states. The Ottoman Empire also attacked Bulgaria, regaining Adrianople and advancing in Thrace. The Treaty of Bucharest ended the war, and Bulgaria managed to regain most of the territories it had gained in the First Balkan War, but it was forced to cede southern Dobruja to Romania.

The background to the wars lies in the incomplete emergence of nation-states within the European territory of the Ottoman Empire during the second half of the 19th century. By the early 20th century, Bulgaria, Greece, Montenegro, and Serbia had achieved independence from the Ottoman Empire, but large elements of their ethnic populations remained under Ottoman rule. The Italo-Ottoman War of 1911 and the Albanian Revolts in the Albanian Provinces revealed the weakness of the Ottoman Empire, encouraging the Balkan states to form the Balkan League and declare war.

The ultimatum

On the evening of July 23, 1914, the Austro-Hungarian ambassador to Serbia, Baron Giesl von Gieslingen, delivered an ultimatum to the Serbian foreign ministry. This was nearly a month after the assassination of Austrian Archduke Franz Ferdinand and his wife by a young Serbian nationalist in Sarajevo, Bosnia. The ultimatum was issued with the full support of Austria-Hungary's allies in Berlin, and it was designed to provoke a military conflict with Serbia. The plan, developed in coordination with the German foreign office, was to force a swift and decisive Austrian victory before Serbia's powerful ally, Russia, had time to react.

• An official condemnation of the political campaign to unite the southern Slav peoples under Serbian leadership, which challenged the territorial integrity of Austria-Hungary.
• The purging of the Serbian army and civil service of anti-Austrian agitators.
• The suppression of anti-Austrian propaganda in the Serbian press.
• Legal proceedings against extremist secret organisations operating against Austria, including the Black Hand, which was believed to have aided the archduke's killer, Gavrilo Princip.
• The acceptance of Austro-Hungarian officials to participate in the investigation of the assassination, which would infringe on Serbia's state sovereignty.
• The arrest of two specific individuals allegedly involved in the assassination plot.

While the world awaited Serbia's response, Germany worked diplomatically to contain the fallout of the ultimatum. However, the other great powers were not inclined to see Austria-Hungary, with its relatively weak military, as acting alone. By 1914, the battle lines had been drawn in Europe: if Germany stood with Austria-Hungary against Serbia, then Russia's allies, France and Britain, would likely join the conflict as well.

On July 25, just before the deadline, Serbia's response was delivered to Baron Giesl, who had already packed his bags in anticipation of a diplomatic break. Serbia accepted all the demands except one: it refused to allow Austro-Hungarian officials to participate in any internal inquiry, stating that this would violate its constitution and criminal procedure law. This response appealed to international observers, but it made little difference to Austria-Hungary. Baron Giesl broke off diplomatic relations and left Serbia. On July 28, 1914, Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia, marking the beginning of World War I.

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