Austria-Hungary's Aggression: Annexing Serbia

Austria-Hungary's annexation of Bosnia and Herzegovina in 1908 upset the balance of power in the Balkans, enraging Serbia and pan-Slavic nationalists across Europe. The Austro-Hungarian Armed Forces occupied Serbia from late 1915 until the end of World War I, but they did not annex Serbia. Hungary refused to go to war with Serbia unless Austria agreed not to annex any Serbian land.

The annexation of Bosnia and Herzegovina

Austria-Hungary's annexation of Bosnia and Herzegovina in October 1908 upset the fragile balance of power in the Balkans, enraging Serbia and pan-Slavic nationalists throughout Europe. The annexation was the result of a plan formulated by Austro-Hungarian Foreign Minister Alois Aehrenthal to solidify Austria-Hungary's position towards Serbia. A bilateral commercial treaty between Austria and Serbia in 1881 included a secret annexe stating that Serbia would not permit any intrigue against the Austro-Hungarian monarchy, including in Bosnia and Herzegovina. However, by 1897, the Russian Imperial government had withdrawn its support for Austrian annexation of the provinces. In 1907, Aehrenthal's opportunity came in the form of a letter from Russian Foreign Minister Alexander Izvolsky, proposing Austrian annexation of the provinces as part of a deal to secure better access to the Turkish Straits for Russian naval vessels.

The Austro-Hungarian occupation of Serbia

Austria-Hungary's occupation of Serbia began in late 1915, after the country declared war on Serbia in July 1914. Following three unsuccessful Austro-Hungarian offensives between August and December 1914, a combined Austro-Hungarian and German offensive breached the Serbian front from the north and west in October 1915, while Bulgaria attacked from the east. By January 1916, all of Serbia had been occupied by the Central Powers.

Serbia was divided into two separate occupation zones, an Austro-Hungarian and a Bulgarian zone, both governed under a military administration. Germany declined to directly annex any Serbian territory and instead took control of railways, mines, and forestry and agricultural resources in both occupied zones.

Hungary refused to go to war with Serbia unless Austria agreed not to annex any Serbian land. Hungary was half of the empire, and their approval was necessary for war to happen, so Austria agreed to the condition. To annex Serbian land after winning World War I would have resulted in Hungary throwing a massive fit and crippling the empire utterly.

In 1907, Austro-Hungarian Foreign Minister Alois Aehrenthal began formulating a plan to solidify Austria-Hungary's position towards Serbia through annexation of Bosnia-Herzegovina. A bilateral commercial treaty between Austria and Serbia in the same year had a secret annexe, stating that Serbia would not permit any intrigue to be directed from her territory against the Austro-Hungarian monarchy, including Bosnia, Herzegovina and the Sanjak of Novi Pazar.

The Bosnian Crisis

Under the Treaty of Berlin, the Ottomans controlled the Dardanelles strait connecting the Mediterranean and the Black Sea. The Treaty prohibited the passage of any warships from any country into or out of the Black Sea. However, Russia wanted better access to the Turkish Straits for its naval vessels.

In 1908, Austria-Hungary announced its annexation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, upsetting the fragile balance of power in the Balkans and enraging Serbia and pan-Slavic nationalists throughout Europe. This included Russia, which viewed Austria-Hungary's actions as overly aggressive and threatening, despite assurances from Aehrenthal that he did not plan to take Macedonia, another disputed former Ottoman province.

In response, Russia encouraged pro-Russian, anti-Austrian sentiment in Serbia and other Balkan provinces, provoking Austrian fears of Slavic expansionism in the region. The crisis escalated further when the chief of staff of the Austrian army, Franz Conrad von Hotzendorff, approached his German counterpart, Helmuth von Moltke, to ask what Germany would do if Austria invaded Serbia and thus provoked Russia to intervene.

The refusal of Hungary to go to war with Serbia

Hungary refused to go to war with Serbia unless Austria agreed not to annex any Serbian land. Hungary did not want Austria to annex more land into the empire as it may have meant Hungary would have less of a say in imperial politics. Hungary was half of the empire, so their approval was necessary for war to happen. To win World War One and then annex Serbian land would have resulted in Hungary throwing a massive fit and crippling the empire utterly.

Austria-Hungary's annexation of Bosnia and Herzegovina upset the fragile balance of power in the Balkans, enraging Serbia and pan-Slavic nationalists throughout Europe. The weakened Russians were forced to submit, but they still viewed Austria-Hungary's actions as overly aggressive and threatening. Russia's response was to encourage pro-Russian, anti-Austrian sentiment in Serbia and other Balkan provinces, provoking Austrian fears of Slavic expansionism in the region. In 1909, at the height of the Bosnia-Herzegovina crisis, Franz Conrad von Hotzendorff, the chief of staff of the Austrian army, asked his German counterpart, Helmuth von Moltke, what Germany would do if Austria invaded Serbia and thus provoked Russia to intervene on the latter's behalf.

In 1907, Austro-Hungarian Foreign Minister Alois Aehrenthal began formulating a plan to solidify Austria-Hungary's position towards Serbia through the annexation of Bosnia-Herzegovina. This was part of a deal to secure better access to the Turkish Straits for Russian naval vessels. Under the Treaty of Berlin, the Ottomans controlled the Dardanelles strait connecting the Mediterranean and the Black Sea. The Treaty prohibited the passage of any warships from any country into or out of the Black Sea.

A bilateral commercial treaty between Austria and Serbia in 1881 had a secret annexe, stating that Serbia would not permit any political, religious or other intrigue to be directed from her territory against the Austro-Hungarian monarchy, including Bosnia, Herzegovina and the Sanjak of Novi Pazar. However, by 1897, under the new Tsar, Nicholas II, the Russian Imperial government had managed to withdraw its support for Austrian annexation of Bosnia-Herzegovina. The Russian Foreign Minister, Count Michael Muraviev, stated that an Austrian annexation of Bosnia-Herzegovina would raise "an extensive question requiring special scrutiny". Serbia allowed its obligations under the commercial treaty of 1881 to lapse in 1899. In 1903, King Alexander Obrenovic of Serbia was assassinated in a coup and the pro-Russian Karađorđević dynasty came to the throne.

The Austro-Hungarian Armed Forces occupied Serbia from late 1915 until the end of World War I. Austria-Hungary's declaration of war against Serbia on 28 July 1914 marked the beginning of the war. After three unsuccessful Austro-Hungarian offensives between August and December 1914, a combined Austro-Hungarian and German offensive breached the Serbian front from the north and west in October 1915, while Bulgaria attacked from the east. By January 1916, all of Serbia had been occupied by the Central Powers. Serbia was divided into two separate occupation zones, an Austro-Hungarian and a Bulgarian zone, both governed under a military administration. Germany declined to directly annex any Serbian territory and instead took control of railways, mines, and forestry and agricultural resources in both occupied zones.

The fragile balance of power in the Balkans

Austria-Hungary's annexation of Bosnia and Herzegovina was part of a plan formulated by Austro-Hungarian Foreign Minister Alois Aehrenthal to solidify Austria-Hungary's position towards Serbia. The plan was proposed by Russian Foreign Minister Alexander Izvolsky as part of a deal to secure better access to the Turkish Straits for Russian naval vessels. However, the annexation upset the balance of power in the region, as it gave Austria-Hungary control over a disputed former Ottoman province.

Serbia had previously signed a bilateral commercial treaty with Austria, which included a secret annexe stating that Serbia would not permit any intrigue against the Austro-Hungarian monarchy, including in Bosnia, Herzegovina, and the Sanjak of Novi Pazar. However, under the new Tsar Nicholas II, the Russian Imperial government withdrew its support for Austrian annexation of Bosnia-Herzegovina. Serbia allowed its obligations under the commercial treaty to lapse in 1899, and in 1903, King Alexander Obrenovic of Serbia was assassinated in a coup, with the pro-Russian Karađorđević dynasty coming to the throne.

Hungary refused to go to war with Serbia unless Austria agreed not to annex any Serbian land, as Hungary did not want Austria to annex more land into the empire, which could mean Hungary would have less say in imperial politics. During World War I, the Austro-Hungarian Armed Forces occupied Serbia from late 1915 until the end of the war. Serbia was divided into two separate occupation zones, an Austro-Hungarian and a Bulgarian zone, both governed under a military administration. However, Germany declined to directly annex any Serbian territory, instead taking control of railways, mines, and agricultural resources in both occupied zones.

Frequently asked questions