Bosnia-Austria-Hungary: The Spark That Ignited Wwi

The annexation of Bosnia and Herzegovina by Austria-Hungary in 1908 was the primary cause of rising tensions between the two nations. The annexation was a unilateral action that sparked protests from all the Great Powers and Austria-Hungary's Balkan neighbours, particularly Serbia, which shared geographic and ethnic connections with Bosnia and Herzegovina. This annexation upset the fragile balance of power in the Balkans, enraging Serbia and pan-Slavic nationalists across Europe. The crisis was eventually resolved without immediate warfare, but it permanently damaged relations between Serbia and Austria-Hungary, contributing to the outbreak of World War I.

Austria-Hungary's annexation of Bosnia and Herzegovina

The annexation of Bosnia and Herzegovina by Austria-Hungary was a unilateral action that sparked outrage and protests from all the Great Powers and Austria-Hungary's Balkan neighbours, Serbia and Montenegro. The annexation was announced on 5 or 6 October 1908, timed to coincide with Bulgaria's declaration of independence from the Ottoman Empire.

The provinces of Bosnia and Herzegovina were formerly within the sovereignty of the Ottoman Empire but had been under Austro-Hungarian administration since 1878, when the great powers of Europe awarded the Dual Monarchy the right to occupy the two provinces, with the legal title to remain with Turkey. This decision was a stopgap to preserve the delicate balance of power in Europe. However, the largely Slavic population of the two provinces had nationalist ambitions, and their fellow Slavs in nearby Serbia yearned to annex them to further their pan-Slavic ambitions.

In 1908, when rebellion by the Committee of Union and Progress, or the "Young Turks", took the Ottoman government by storm, Baron Aloys von Aerenthal, foreign minister of Austria-Hungary, saw his empire's chance to assert its dominance in the Balkans. He took advantage of the sultan's weakness and Russia's preoccupation with the aftermath of the Russo-Japanese War and internal revolution. On 16 September 1908, von Aerenthal met with the Russian foreign minister, Aleksandr P. Izvolsky, at Buchlau, in Moravia, and secured his agreement that Russia would not object to the annexation. In return, Austria-Hungary pledged not to object to opening the Bosporus and Dardanelles straits to Russian warships, an advantage that had been denied to Russia since 1841.

On 6 or 7 October 1908, Emperor Franz Joseph announced his determination to recognise and grant the people of Bosnia and Herzegovina an autonomous and constitutional regime under his authority as their annexing sovereign. This announcement upset the fragile balance of power in the Balkans, enraging Serbia and pan-Slavic nationalists throughout Europe. Serbia demanded that Austria cede a portion of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Izvolsky, pressed by anti-Austrian opinion in Russia, was forced to support the Serbian claims. Austria, however, firmly supported by its ally Germany, threatened to invade Serbia if it persisted in its demands.

The resulting embittered relations between Serbia and Austria-Hungary, as well as Russia's resentment at having been deceived and humiliated, contributed to the outbreak of World War I.

Austria-Hungary's diplomatic victory

The annexation of Bosnia and Herzegovina by Austria-Hungary in 1908 was a diplomatic victory for the latter, but it also had far-reaching consequences, including the deterioration of relations with neighbouring countries and a shift in the balance of power in the Balkans, which ultimately contributed to the outbreak of World War I.

The annexation of Bosnia and Herzegovina by Austria-Hungary in 1908, known as the Bosnian Crisis, was a complex diplomatic manoeuvre that resulted in a short-term diplomatic victory for Austria-Hungary. Here is an examination of the key elements of this victory:

• Timing of the Annexation: The announcement of the annexation on October 5 or 6, 1908, by the Dual Monarchy of Austria-Hungary was strategically timed to coincide with Bulgaria's declaration of independence from the Ottoman Empire. This unilateral action caught many off guard and sparked protests from the Great Powers and Austria-Hungary's Balkan neighbours, particularly Serbia and Montenegro.
• Agreement with Russia: Prior to the annexation, Austro-Hungarian Foreign Minister Alois Aehrenthal, also known as Baron Aloys von Aerenthal, met with Russian Foreign Minister Alexander Izvolsky at Buchlau Castle in Moravia. In these secret meetings, Aehrenthal secured Russian approval for the annexation in exchange for concessions, such as allowing the passage of Russian warships through the Dardanelles strait.
• German Support: When faced with strong opposition from Serbia and other Balkan nations, Austria-Hungary received crucial backing from its ally Germany. Germany's Chancellor, Bernhard, prince von Bülow, explicitly warned Russia that continued demands for an international conference on the annexation would be considered a hostile action, increasing the risk of war.
• Amendments to the Treaty of Berlin: In April 1909, the Treaty of Berlin, which governed the disposition of the Balkan provinces, was amended to reflect the annexation. This amendment signalled a diplomatic success for Austria-Hungary, as it legally recognised their control over Bosnia and Herzegovina.
• Concessions and Compensations: Austria-Hungary made strategic concessions and compensations to various parties to solidify their diplomatic victory. They agreed to withdraw their troops from the Sanjak of Novi Pazar, paid the Ottomans 2.2 million Ottoman lira for public land in Bosnia-Herzegovina, and provided financial compensation to Italy as per their alliance treaties.
• Serbian Acceptance: Despite initial fierce resistance, Serbia was forced to accept the annexation. In March 1909, under intense pressure and the threat of war, Serbia issued a declaration committing to accept the annexation and improve relations with Austria-Hungary.

Long-Term Consequences

While the annexation appeared to be a diplomatic victory for Austria-Hungary, it had significant long-term consequences and contributed to the outbreak of World War I. The annexation permanently damaged relations between Austria-Hungary and its neighbours, especially Serbia, Italy, and Russia. It inflamed Serbian nationalist sentiments and led to strained relations that eventually resulted in the two countries declaring war on each other in 1914. Additionally, the annexation upset the fragile balance of power in the Balkans and heightened fears of Slavic expansionism in the region.

Serbian nationalism

After 1878, Serbian nationalists merged their goals with those of Yugoslavists, claiming that Serbia sought not only to unite all Serbs in one state but also to be a South Slavic Piedmont that would unite all South Slavs in one state known as Yugoslavia. This idea of a unified South Slavic state became a popular political ideology in the region, including in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Serbian nationalists supported a centralized Yugoslav state that guaranteed the unity of the Serbs while resisting efforts to decentralize the state.

The origins of Serbian nationalism date back to the 19th century, with the 1804 uprisings against Ottoman rule that eventually led to the creation of an independent Serbian state in 1878. However, Serbian nationalists themselves cite the Battle of Kosovo in 1389 between Serbia and the Ottoman Empire as the true origin of the movement.

Following the recognition of Serbia as an independent state in 1878, both South Slavs and the Serbian government considered their peoples in Habsburg-ruled Austria-Hungary to be under occupation. This resulted in increasing antagonism between Serbia and Austria-Hungary from the late 19th century to the early 20th century.

In 1908, when Austria-Hungary formally annexed Bosnia and Herzegovina, it sparked outrage among Serbian nationalists, who had their own ambitions to annex these provinces to further their pan-Slavic ambitions. This annexation inflamed Serbian nationalists and contributed to the deterioration of relations between Austria-Hungary and Serbia, ultimately leading to the outbreak of World War I.

In 1914, Austrian Archduke Franz Ferdinand was assassinated by Bosnian Serb revolutionary Gavrilo Princip, resulting in Austria-Hungary accusing Serbia of involvement and subsequently declaring war on Serbia. This clash of alliances and rivalries between Austria-Hungary and Serbia, fueled by Serbian nationalism, set the stage for the eruption of World War I.

Austria-Hungary's containment of the South Slav movement

The Austro-Hungarian Empire's containment of the South Slav movement was a key aspect of its policy towards the Middle East, which was focused on preserving the Ottoman Empire and curbing Balkan nationalism. The empire was vulnerable to the forces of Slavic nationalism and pan-Slavism, which threatened to break up both the Austro-Hungarian and Ottoman Empires.

To contain these forces, Austria-Hungary adopted a dual strategy: helping to preserve Ottoman rule over the Slavs where possible, and ensuring it was Austria, not Russia, that gained when preservation of Ottoman authority was no longer possible. This involved providing financial support to the Ottomans and improving communications by sponsoring the construction of the Vienna-Istanbul railway.

In the 1870s, Austrian statesmen became concerned about the potential breakup of the Ottoman Empire and its implications for Austria. Austro-Hungarian Foreign Minister Julius Andrássy called for autonomy for Bosnia-Herzegovina and Ottoman reform of its administration of the Balkan provinces. He also worked to curtail Russian pan-Slavism and its support for Serbian and Bulgarian expansion. This led to the Treaty of San Stephano, which resulted in a vastly enlarged Bulgaria and a clear advantage for Russia in the Balkans. However, Andrássy sided with the British to revise the treaty in Austria-Hungary's favour at the 1878 Congress of Berlin. As a result, a virtual protectorate over a technically autonomous Bosnia-Herzegovina was given to Austria-Hungary.

Despite these efforts, nationalism in the Balkan Peninsula continued to grow, and the idea of a unified South Slavic state became popular in the region, including in Bosnia and Herzegovina. To counter these forces, Austro-Hungarian administrators advocated for a pluralist and multi-confessional Bosnian nation. They endorsed Bosnian nationalism in the form of "Bosniakhood", aiming to inspire a feeling of belonging to a great and powerful nation among Bosnia's people. They also tried to insulate Bosnia and Herzegovina from their irredentist neighbours (Eastern Orthodox Serbia, Catholic Croatia, and the Muslim Ottoman Empire) and marginalise ideas of Serbian and Croatian nationhood among Bosnia's Orthodox and Catholic communities. However, these policies had mixed results, and by the early 20th century, nationalism had become an integral factor in Bosnian politics.

In 1908, Austria-Hungary formally annexed Bosnia and Herzegovina, which had been under its administration since 1878. This provoked the Bosnian Crisis, as it upset the fragile balance of power in the Balkans, enraging Serbia and pan-Slavic nationalists. This ultimately contributed to the outbreak of World War I.

Serbian and Montenegrin protestations

The Serbian campaign was a series of military expeditions launched in 1914 and 1915 by the Central Powers against the Kingdom of Serbia during World War I. The first campaign began after Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia on 28 July 1914. The campaign was dubbed the "punitive expedition" by the Austro-Hungarian leadership and was commanded by Austrian General Oskar Potiorek.

The Serbian campaign was precipitated by the Bosnian Crisis of 1908–09, which was caused by Austria-Hungary's annexation of the former Ottoman territory of Bosnia and Herzegovina. This unilateral action angered Serbia and its neighbour Montenegro, which protested the annexation alongside all the Great Powers. Serbia mobilised its army and on 7 October, the Serbian Crown Council demanded that the annexation be reversed or that Serbia receive compensation in the form of a strip of land in the Sanjak of Novi Pazar.

Serbia's patron, the Pan-Slavic and Orthodox Russian Empire, also vehemently opposed the annexation. The Russian Foreign Minister, Alexander Izvolsky, demanded an international conference on Bosnia and threatened to support Serbian claims. Russia's stance was informed by its desire to maintain influence in the Balkans and prevent further Austrian expansion in the region.

In response to Serbian and Montenegrin protestations, Austria-Hungary, with German support, threatened to invade Serbia if it persisted in its demands. Ultimately, Serbia was forced to back down and accept the annexation in March 1909. However, the Bosnian Crisis permanently damaged relations between Austria-Hungary and its neighbours, especially Serbia, and contributed to the outbreak of World War I.

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